Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

A Rodaplana Lousa that raced in the Volta a Portugal

Rodaplana Lousa

Our man João Ribeiro is a proud chap. His Rodaplana is the first Portuguese marque to be listed on The Spoken.

Due to the small number of Portugese brands, it was never going to be a tough race — at least not as arduous as the racing career his beloved Lousa has endured.

Rodaplana Lousa
João was given his Rodaplana by a mate’s father, who had left it neglected in his barn for a few years. Only later did it come to light that during the early 80s, the bike had actually competed in two Voltas a Portugal under its first owner. The model designation is named after the territory of origin, Lousa.

Rodaplana Lousa
The pink hue of the frame was nearly replaced with another, but as the restoration process progressed, João fell in love with the color and the marks of wear, opting instead to retain and polish the (nearly) complete Dura Ace 7200 group.

A matching rear derailleur and hubs were found on eBay to round out the set. As João’s photos reveal, the traditional aesthetic of the steel racing bicycle only improves with use and respect.

Rodaplana Lousa
Rodaplana Lousa
Rodaplana Lousa