When the owner of this very lightweight racing bike retired, he decided that he didn’t want to sit back, play golf, or “just ride the lanes”, but that he would enter a race series and train seriously. The fact that he won the 2014 Toachim Vets series against some very stiff ex-pro competition shows how determined he was in his goal. Dave Duke, the aforementioned owner, also had some considerable experience of racing in the 1960s, and he brought that to bear when securing this title.
As part of the ‘campaign’ a suitable race bike was needed, and Dave eventually plumped for a custom-made SOMEC Falkon 1.2. The frame features bonded and wrapped high modulus carbon fibre tubes. This technique means that it is not a monocoque frame, as many modern carbon fibre bikes are. Dave also wanted a shorter top tube and longer stem combination, which this process allowed. A tapered head tube and fork steerer would improve ‘stability for cornering and descending’ said SOMEC too.
Next, a pair of Zipp 202 wheels were chosen. The rims are 32mm deep, but still provide some aero effect. There was also a bulbous rim profile version, however in this case the non-bulbous version was chosen as there wasn’t enough room to fit them and still have working brakes! The important part is that they are stable in a crosswind, which can matter more if you’re a lighter rider. Add in tubular tyres, for lighter weight, and the climbing-focussed wheelset provides punchy acceleration. Also one Alberto Contador was using them at this time too. That’s a solid recommendation.
Then a Campagnolo Record 10-speed groupset was chosen for the build. Featuring 53/39 chainrings and a very close ratio 12-23 cassette, you’ll need those light wheels to accelerate up the climbs. In fact, in his research Dave had noticed that the 50-mile long races often featured an uphill finish, and he had geared accordingly. Canny!
The very swoopy saddle, with a pronounced drop nose, is a Selle SMP Drakon, which is apparently very comfortable. The extended seat tube uses a Torx bolt to secure the seatpost. The bolt is neatly located behind the seat tube, just below the word ‘Thecno’ in the picture above. The extended seat tube offers more ‘rigidity and safety’ than a traditional seatpost and clamp system according to SOMEC, but there is a small weight penalty. SOMEC offered either type as an option on the Falkon frameset however.
The bike weighs in at a very respectable 7kg, so only 200g more than the UCI minimum of 6.8kg. It certainly felt light in the hand when picking it up to move it around to take these photos.
You may notice a similarity to a certain Italian car brand featuring on the head badge – however, the Cavallino’s tail hangs down rather than up, which is the case for Ferrari. Also the two companies are only about 55 miles apart, with Ferrari based in Modena and SOMEC in Lugo, close to neighbouring Bologna. The ‘prancing horse’ symbol had been used by a WW1 pilot and fighter ace Francesco Baracca, and apparently both companies had agreed to use the symbol, as long as the tail was different. The tulip symbol that sits behind the horse represents elegance, durability, and SOMEC’s vibrant, custom paint finishes. Sometimes, on their steel bikes, the lugs are cut using this tulip shape, but there are no tulip details other than the head badge on this carbon fibre frame.
Unusually for an Italian cycling brand SOMEC takes its name from the Societa Mechanica formed in the 1960s by Giro d’Italia mechanic Oliviero Gallegati, rather than Gallegati himself, as would often be the case for other Italian makes. Gallegati opened his own shop in 1973, and produced small numbers of high end bikes. SOMEC only made bikes using steel or aluminium tubing for many years, but in 2007 they started to offer carbon fibre as an option.
The League of Veteran Racing Cyclists organised the Toachim Vets sponsored Points Series, and in 2014 when Dave won the series. The best nine results by a competitor were counted towards the final result. Dave remembers racing against ex-pro riders such as Geoff Wiles, Tony Woodcock and Mick Ives, and that they were formidable adversaries.
Dave had started his racing career in 1960 with the North London Cycling Club. They had entered him in a BCF Junior race, a month before he turned 16, which wasn’t strictly legal apparently! He then became the Eastern Counties Champion and quickly moved up from a Cat 2 rider to a Cat 1 with about ten wins under his belt.
With Tom Simpson wearing the maillot jaune as an inspiration, Dave moved to France in 1962 to join the Bordeaux Velo Club, which was a great experience, but he realised that the dream of becoming a professional rider wasn’t going to happen. Then in 1966, while on a training ride in Epping forest, a car driver hit Dave from behind and he suffered a fractured spine.
After a long recuperation he returned to racing, and by 1968 managed to bag another win. By the early 1970s racing had finished as a serious pursuit and, like for many others, real life intervened – although he continued to ride and participate in local races. Retiring allowed Dave to return to those dreams, and achieve an impressive racing title.
As Rumi the 13th-century Persian poet says “Be motivated like the falcon, hunt gloriously”. This Falkon facilitated to motivation to ‘hunt gloriously’ and enabled the prize to be captured. An impressive achievement from a strong rider and a modest man.
