|
OldRoads.com
For current Discussions, go to our main site: OldRoads.com |
| Does anyone know how to date Gitanes? I recently bought this Professional Tour de France. I think it is late '60s or early '70s. I would like to date it as close as possible. There is some confustion on the part of the guy I bought it from as to it's vintage. One interesting thing about this bike is the crankset is a Sugino Super Maxy which the previous owner claims is original. I thought it would have come with a Stronglight 93. Thanks. |
| Does it look like the picture at cyclesdeoro.com? Check out the star-shaped Stronglite crank http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/Gitane_tour_de_france.htm |
| It is similar to the pictured bike but the decals are a little different. That star shaped crankset is the Stronglight 93 that I thought should be on mine. Correction: Mine has the Sugino Mighty Competition, not the Super Maxy that I stated previously. Mine also has Simplex derailleurs and shifters unlike the bike at Cyclesdeoro. |
| Say if a guy was riding his Gitane sometime between now and 30 years ago, and CRUNCH, his crank broke. When he went to the bike shop, the guy had a choice between an expensive Stronglite from la belle France, or an excellent Japanese crank for less money. Maybe he went with the Sugino. During your bike's time, France was one of the largest bike parts makers in the world. Surely the Sugino was not original but a great choice to repair a rider. Just a guess. |
| The Sugino crank may be original, or it may have replaced a cottered steel French crank. During the 1970s, Gitane did depart from its French heritage by specifying various Japanese components, including SunTour derailleurs, Sugino cranks and pedals, and DiaCompe brakes. |
| Initially torn between selling the bike I bought when I was 14 and buying something new or restoring it, I am now leaning towards the latter.It is a circa 1972 Bottecchig Giro racer. Columbus double butted frame with mostly Campy components, Universal center pull brakes and a Sugino cotterless crankset(The original Nervar broke long ago). I stupidly had the frame painted in 1979, loosing all of the original Bottecchia paint and decals forever. Does anyone know where I can get Bottecchia decals? Also, I need a pair of gum hoods for the Universal hand brakes. The 18 year old at my local bike store was no help at all. Any ideas? Thanks! |
| OK Dean,so first I know nutton bout vintage lightweights.I was just reading to learn some about them.But I say don't sell if at all possable,buy something new if you want.Take your time with the old bike and restore it.It might take a while to find what you need,but thats the fun of a restoration project.If you sell it's gone for ever,your choice. |
| Hello All: I just got a pair of Magistroni Cranks from my Dad and I am wondering what they are worth. I have the chainring, bottom bracket and a Regina block chain, all NOS. Is a cog for this set hard to find? I am going to put together a track bike, but not anytime soon. Any info I get on this crankset is appreciated. Thanks! |
| I have a double chainring skip-tooth front crank (for a really old tandem?) This part was in the shop when it was burned during the 67 Riots. It is charred but certainly re-chrome-able. Actually many of the parts survived and are still usable. The shop was re-built and is one of my favorite places to look around however I have picked it clean and am wishing to discover more goodies elsewhere. |
| i have a radio flyer tricycle.it has wooden spokes for wheels. |
| this trike is very old but in good shape it has white wall tires .would like to know year and approx. value. |
| This is a VINTAGE LIGHTWEIGHT discussion area, please keep the discussion on what a layman would call '10-speeds.' Thanks! |
| if i dont know what i got how am i supposed to know where to go and i thought this was a disscussion area not a place for dumb assess like you willy |
| HEY, BE GOOD OUT THERE!! |
| Me again. Anyone heard of a Mancini? It has Simplex derailleurs, and some sort of Italian tubing (as near as I can figure). Is this a good bike. |
| What are the other components, Tim? If it has a 3-piece cottered steel crank with half-step gearing, it is probably of early 1960s vintage. Alpine and crossover gearing, with 52/42 or 52/40 chainwheels became popular in the mid 1960s. Is the Simplex front derailleur operated by a conventional cable (1960s and later) or directly by a "suicide lever" running up the seat tube (1950s)? Is the rear derailleur hanger an integral extension of the right rear dropout (indicating a higher-end bike), or is it a bolt-on plate (typical of low-end production bikes of that era)? Does it have side-pull or center-pull brakes? Are they Universals, which were popular on Italian bikes for many years? |
| I would only add, when you ride it, can you hear the theme from "The Pink Panther"? |
| THanks for all the info. Does that mean you have heard of a Mancini, (other than Henry!), or is this just good general info? Either way, I shall check out the details. |
| I would paint it pink if I were you! I have never heard of this brand before. |
| Sorry, this may not be vintage, but I just acquired an amazing, and a bit strange, handcrafted frame from Japan. It is a Zunnow, and the amount of work someone put into it is amazing. Every corner has some labour intensive tube treatment, etching, or graphic. It is all some kind of alloy, but shaped and finished in ways I can't even begin to describe. The paint and graphics are over the top. Under the BB is a fine etching, partly through the tube, of a bird (the Zunnow marque?), and 'Made in Osaka'. Looks like the maker's name, or maybe the intended owner, is on it (Terry Folkstead), both stamped into the fork and in script on the top tube. I am collecting parts to build it, and expect it will be an amazing ride. Anyone know about this maker? I have seen 3 other Zunnow frames, and each seems to be individually unique. |
| I've never heard of it, but I'd sure like to see some photos of it and its detailing. It sounds fantastic! What a great find. |
| I am sure that just like in Britain there were and still are small, unknown, one- man framebuilders that are very talented. |
| My buddy has a digital camera. I will try to get a photo on-line, for your interest. Thanks. By the way, its Zunow, not Zunnow. Probably still noone has heard of it. Maybe they only came into Vancouver? |
| I need two pairs of new (or VG to EXC used) reflectorless rubber pedal blocks, square profile, 4 5/16 inches (11cm) long for my old Swiss OLTENIA bicycle; I’ll buy complete pedals to get the pedal blocks if necessary. Can anyone recommend a source? |
| I recently bought an older Bianchi and was wondering if it is worth restoring (I have always wanted to restore a high quality Italian road bike from the 70's or 80's). It has several campy parts but not all. I would appreciate any info on the bike - especially on the frame - if it is a better Bianchi I will work on it if not I will wait for something better to restore. Here is description of the frame: Color: Bianchi mint green, CELESTE colored Large Bianchi name decal on the down tube, black Gold Sticker on the bottom of the seat tube that reads: Manufactured by F.I.V. E. Bianchi Italy July 1980 Type 0.7.92 Bianchi stamped in black on the top of the forks Decal on the top tube that says: Rekord 748 Two decals on the front tube that read: Vespa and Plaggio Bianchi drop outs front and rear Serial number on bottom bracket: 70123 |
| As a completely biased fan of Italian bikes, I recommend fixing it up. How much Campy does it have? For comparison, here are the original specs on my Bianchi Campione d'Italia: >year of manufacture: 1982-3 (?) >tubing: I cannot read the down-tube mounted decal. The main tubes are butted Columbus; I am still trying to find out the composition of the fork and stays >dropouts: chrome Campy >brazeon bosses: downtube shifters, 1 water bottle holder >color: dark brown (rare for a Bianchi) >decals: red-trimmed gold BIANCHI on seat tube & downtube >derailleurs: Campy N.R. >brakes: Modolo "Speedy" >cranks: Ofmega, 144mm bolt circle, 52/42T >pedals: Campy road quill w/ toeclips >hubs: Ofmega low flange >freewheel: Regina America 13-23 6-speed >stem & bars: TTT w/ BIANCHI engraved on sides of stem If you learn anything more about it, please post again! Good luck on your project. |
| I have an old (60's) track bike. Decal says TYPE COURSE. Only other decals are from a bike shop in NY. (Pre-zip code address). Fixed-gear, no brakes. It has Bayliss-Wylie hardware on the bottom bracket, and one crank is stamped WILLIAMS. Decrepit Brooks saddle. Sew-ups. Anyone know what I've got? Any input appreciated. Thanks. |
| I may know what this bike is any other part description or a picture. |
| Anyone know anything about a "Criterium" 10-speed made in Cologne, Germany 30-35 years ago? Campy (gran sport?)drivetrain, mafac centerpulls, phillippe stem, aluminum rims (sew-ups?). Any info appreciated. Thanks |
| I'm working on a Torpado, an Italian bike from the 70's. It sounds like the Atala below: Campy Valentino derailleurs, Balilla brakeset and a cottered crank (52-46). It looks beautiful even if it is a little low-end. The orange and white paint scheme is nicked in a few places. Under the paint, I would expect to find primer, but instead it's shiny bare metal. I was wondering if this bike is chrome underneath. (This is particularly true on the head tube.) It doesn's have chrome fork ends. What gives? Do you think there's chrome down there, or didn't they use primer? Thanks. |
| Michael: Your bike frame is probably made of chrome molybdenum steel or as its commonly called, chrome moly steel. It would not be merely plated. I have seen bikes made of this material, stripped of paint, and polished all over. Some bikes are sold this way however they are usually clear coated. I saw a new Jamis with this finish just last week. |
| I have an Allegro (swiss) frame that is about the same vintage as your torpado with valentino derailleurs and it had been painted with a clear coat that was old and yellowed and underneath the chrome moly polished up nicely. I also had a Scapin the was all chrome. If paint nicks easily it's usually a tip off that there is some overpainting going on. I have a LeJuene that is a salmon color and it even has decals but it just feels like it's not original paint. |
| I am looking for information on a bike I have which is approximately 45 years old and I have had it since it was new. It is a Hermes and says made in Germany. It is green with a coaster brake and 1 hand brake. It is original except for the seat. |
| Picked up a pre-Raleigh Hercules Falcon with a 3 cog rear hub and a "Herailleur" derailleur...(1st generation Huret?). The licence plate on the bike is '54...any other info you guys can give me on possible date for this bike? |
| Warren, The Falcon is in my 1950 Hercules catalogue. Nice bike.(HERCULES GENT'S "FALCON" RACER MODEL "OB"). The Herailleur was optional on this model, but there's no illustration of it. Could it be a Cyclo design licensed to Hercules? I don't know when they stopped making the bike, just that they were selling it in 1950. The colors that year were: Metallic Blue, Sapphire Blue, Maroon or Metallic Green, with double panel lining, and silvered cables. If you want the specs, E-mail me. |
| I have aquired an Italian road racing frame with the name on the head badge reading ATELA. It is finished in a purple/blue colour and has chrome ornate lugs. I would like to complete it. What parts do I look for? Any information! |
| I've seen 80's vintage Atela bikes with Campagnolo Nuovo Record components. I've also seen one from the early 70's with Campy lower-end pieces, like the Valentino derailleur, Universal center pull brakes, and a no-name cottered crank. |
| Your "ATELA" is an "ATALA" and your description exactly matches the 70's Atala that I also have. Restoring it should not be difficult because of the bikeyard surplus of lower-end parts of this era. To get more information, go to info@atala.it |
| Atala made a range of frames, from basic carbon steel utility to double-butted Columbus-tubed road racing models. What is your philosophy regarding this bike, i.e., do you want a fun, practical daily driver, or do you want an authentic collectible or showpiece? Unless the paint is in pristine original condition, I recommend putting function and budget ahead of strict authenticity. For example, if you have 126mm rear dropout spacing, go with a 7-speed cassette instead of the original 5- or 6-speed freewheel. Sheldonbrown.com can tell you all about Italian component dimensions and thread pitches. Let us know how it turns out. |
| According to the following "Classic Corner" article, 1980s Atalas are actually Bianchis: http://www.cyclingutah.com/april/april98/classapr.htm |
| The now-defunct Bicycle Arts of Idaho imported Atala city bikes only a few year ago, so the brand's still out there. I think John raises an excellent point by asking what is your purpose for the bike -- to collect(because you appreciate it, or for investment), to ride (what kind of riding), or to sell? Lower-end European bikes were imported by the 100,000s in the early 70s. Will a Raleigh Record or Peugeot UO-8 10 speed ever be collectable? Not in our lifetime, but they may make excellent bikes for commuting or short distance (25 miles or so) club rides. I see a lower-end Atala at our local Library often -- it has the Campy Valentino described above, and doubtless has the basic carbon steel tubes. It's been kept clean and, at age 25 or so, it's still being used for basic transportation! The ornate chrome lugs on your suggest a higher-end model. To confirm this just check the dropouts -- if they're plain with no hanger, it's not a high-end bike. If they're Campy, then it confirms you've got something pretty nice. |
| A couple more ideas: my impression is that the major labels began to switch away from more ornate lugs (like Nervex pros) to plainer lugs in the late 70s -- could this be an indication of age? Also, the style of dropouts eventually changed in the 80s, did it not? Long, adjustable, horizontal Campy dropouts were eventially shortened sometime in the 80s, weren't they? (One of you knows!) Dating would give you an idea of a "correct" groupo, if that's your goal. |
| Ok, I know chicago schwinns aren't lightweight, but bear with me. I just found this Super Sport that I thought was very interesting. I've never seen one quite like it before. It has the small Chicago Schwinn headbadge, full Sprint componetry including high flange hubs, a chrome fork, a brooks b-15 saddle, and the frame has huret dropouts. The tires say that they fit Schwinn k-2 rims. Any idea whether or not a normal 27" tire will fit it? |
| Unlike their uniquely sized 26" rims, the Schwinn 27" K-2 will accommodate a standard 27 x 1 1/4" tyre, or even a 27 x 1 3/8" knobby, for cyclocross or mild multitrack trails. Congratulations on finding one of Schwinn's better specimens of that period. |
| For more information on the Super Sport, check out Sheldon Brown's web site: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/schwinn-braze.html I toured France and Switzerland on my Super Sport (though with updated components) and found it to be a very stable bike for loaded touring (60 lbs. of gear). The low bottom bracket really helps for this. |