Historic Pro Bike: Andy Hampsten's 1988 7-Eleven Huffy Giro d'Italia

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  Andy Hampsten (7-Eleven) conquered the Gavia and the Giro d'Italia on this machine in 1988.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  True Temper was once the 'must have' tubing for steel bikes.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  The 1" straight head tube looks tiny in comparison to today's massive tapered front ends.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Housing stops like these used to require stepped-down ferrules.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Andy Hampsten's (7-Eleven) brake levers sport team-only graphics.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Note to the keen-eyed: that race number is laminated, not printed.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Radial front lacing was generally only used for time trial wheels back in the day.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Framebuilders would typically use very slender seat stays in 1988 and interestingly enough, the practice has returned in more recent years.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Andy Hampsten (7-Eleven) pounded these aluminum box-section tubulars over the Gavia pass in 1988.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  A Cinelli Volare SLX saddle sits atop a Shimano Dura-Ace seatpost.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  These Campagnolo seat binders were once as good as gold.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Integrated, schmintegrated - a good, old-fashioned telescoping seatpost resides in Andy Hampsten's (7-Eleven) old Huffy.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Cinelli's XA stem was among the most sought-after in its day.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  The old Avocet sensors mounted down by the fork tip. Missing is the original magnet ring, though.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Andy Hampsten (7-Eleven) preferred more stable handling back in his racing days and still continues with those preferences today.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Horizontal dropouts feature built-in fine adjustment screws.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Andy Hampsten (7-Eleven) used a deep-drop Cinelli handlebar back in the day.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  A Shimano Dura-Ace cup-and-cone bottom bracket resides in the lugged shell. Note the separately brazed chain stay bridge, too.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  This Shimano Dura-Ace single-pivot brake caliper is over twenty years old but the high-polish aluminum look would still fare well today.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Soldered cable tips present a more nicely finished appearance than end caps.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Andy Hampsten's (7-Eleven) custom-built 'Huffy' wear a seven-speed cassette today but wore a prototype eight-speed one during the '88 Giro.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  This SRAM chain is one of the only major standouts from what is otherwise a well restored vintage rig.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  The slim (by modern standards) chain stays gracefully taper from end to end.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Avocet computers were in their heyday during the height of Andy Hampsten's (7-Eleven) career.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Shimano's Dura-Ace crankarms once wore a spartan, blocky form.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  The frame decals have dried and cracked after years in the arid Colorado climate.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Just a hint of rust marks the chromed cage of this Shimano Dura-Ace front derailleur.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Many still miss the days of classic-looking polished aluminum components.

  Photo credit © James Huang

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  Andy Hampsten (7-Eleven) may not have been the champion of France on these tires but he was certainly the champion of Italy.

  Photo credit © James Huang