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OldRoads.com
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| NOS appearing 27" x 1 1/4" tires. Don't look to have been mounted or ridden, dusty from years in the barn. Fits Schwinn S-6 tubular or K-2, MAde in USA. Great for correct restoration. Let's talk! |
| LETS NOT! |
| About a year ago I acquired a late 70s Raleigh Super Course -- 531 main tubes, Suntour Cyclone, yadda yadda. I modifed it by adding a triple crank, fenders, and wider tires, and used it for commuting. But it was kinda too small (55cm), and I eventually took it apart and made it into a fixed gear bike, and loaned it to a friend who wanted to try out fixies. I used a cottered steel crank from and old 3-speed, and it gave it a club bike look. My friend kept it for about 8 months. When I got it back, I rode it as a fixie, but since I already have one that I really like, I decided to try something else. So, I set it up once again with a triple, with diffetent bar and stem, but, nevertheless, I felt the fit was still off. Then, I decided I'd try hanging a pair of one-piece aero bars on it, and make it into a sort of dedicated time trial bike. The fit was actually okay for that, but I stil wasn't satisfied. So, last Saturday, when I stopped by the LBS, I found some alloy handlebars I've never seen before. They're Nitto, but not "Falcon" (fka "Priest") or moustache bars -- they look more like the upright bars you'd see on a pre-was ballooner -- long straight section in the middle, lots of rise, and they come way back. Anyway, I set the bike up with those bars, with Suntour ratchet thunb shifters, and I love it. (It's similar to a setup suggested in a Rivendell Reader based on an old 12-speed, making it an upright lightweight using Falcon bars and thumb shifters.) I spend most of Sunday riding it around, for fun and on erands, and rode it to work today. The missing piece, for me, was the unusual handlebars. The puzzle is now complete (for the time being). |
| I have a set of those bars in the parts box. I was always wondering what to do with them. |
| I remember being a little kid and just being so excited about a neighbor's older brother who had a blue Gitane with chrome on the fork & stays. I thought I remember it being a "Tour de France"-at the time I thought it was the nicest bike I ever saw. The next year I took my money from my paper route & bought what I could afford-a Fuji Finest in blue with chrome on the fork & stays. The only eleven year old with a bicycle that expensive in the neighborhood. My parents and friends thought I was nuts-so begins the life of another bicycle collector! |
| My original bike lust started in much the same way. My next door neighbor, who was in his teens, started cycling in hte late 60s. He had a used black Schwinn Paramount P-13. All Campy, chrome Nervex lugs, chrome stays -- Cool! At the time I was about 11, and I was still riding my purple Schwinn StingRay (and loving it). Well, against my wishes and the advice of my neighbor friend, my dad bought me a Schwinn Varsity. Not a bad bike for knocking around, but I wanted to go on lkonger rides with the local AYH club. About six months later I put some of my own money down, sold the Varsity and, at age 12, bought a new Gitane Interclub, and started club riding in 1970. A friend of mine had a Gitane Tour de France, which I coveted along with many other higher end bikes. I'm not sure whether I'm a collector -- I acquire and then un-acquire many bikes: I clean and fix them, modify them sometimes, ride them and then either sell them at cost, trade or give them away. |
| Out of the 25 or so bikes I own (mostly sixties vintage Schwinn "lightweights" but also a '71 Paramount P15) I think my favorite is my '70 or '71 Tour de France. It just has a really sweet feel to it. I think my wife hates that bike because whenever we are riding together and I am on that bike I leave her in the dust. I just can't seem to ride the bike slowly. It seems to want to be ridden fast and hard. I have also lusted after one of these since a friend had one in the early seventies. I couldn't afford one then but never forgot it and finally picked this one up on ebay a couple years ago. I know the real bike guys say that the quality on these isn't all that great but I love it. |
| I know what you mean about the "real-quality" police. To me a bicycle is more than quality anyway-it's a feeling that goes deep into the consciousness of all that has followed in our lives. If I wanted real quality, and wanted to out snob the snobs-I'd get a Richard Sachs bike, from what I've seen up close, no one before or since gets a bicycle more right on target. Pity I can't afford one! |
| My own bike lusting began 6 years ago at the age of 44. I hadn't been on a bike since I had gotten my drivers permit at the age of 16, but had been thinking about getting one for exercise. My father-in-law had a bike he had purchased new in 1970 that had gone unused for years in his garage and offered it to me. It turned out to be a Peugeot PX-10 in almost mint condition. I cleaned it up, had new sew-ups put on and off I went. I loved it! So, I decided a couple of months later to get a new, upright riding position bike to switch on & off with. A Raleigh aluminum C40 was my choice, and I started sinking deeper and deeper into the "bike thing" as my wife called it. My son then turns me on to ebay and all the great old marcques that were then at my fingertips. Passing a garage sale one day and picking up a Motobecane Le Champion with full Campy didn't help the crazyness either! So.......6 years later I now have in my possesion almost 50 bikes. Road. Racing. Balloon. Middleweight. It doesn't really matter, because I love them all. I even restored a Schwinn '66 Panther, my first paint job. Black paint & chrome glisten. I ride quite a few of them, mainly the road & racing bikes. My neighbor commented one day as I left the house......."You keep painting the same bike a different color, right?". Hah! my wife wishes it was that simple. Fred A |
| I had a '68 Tour De France with a triple crankset back in the early seventies . In those days we never wore helmets To make a lomg story short, I was going down a long hill at speed, hit something in the road and had a close encounter with the pavement and a concussion. It was a great bike though and I wish I still had it. |
| When I began college at NC State in 1970, Mom and Dad bought me a steel framed Gitane 10 speed. This past Monday, after 32 years of service, I ran it into the back of a parked truck that was getting ready to paint lines on the street to designinate the bike lane. I was looking down at the road, lost in some thought, right before impact. I spent the day in the ER with the plastic surgeon putting my facial parts back in the right places. The front end of my bicycle sheared off so I think it is not worth trying to repair. Back in the first half of the 1970's, I worked at Flythe Sales and Service in Raleigh, NC. After my steel framed Gitane got stolen, I was able to buy a blue (with chromed forks) Tour de France. It was the sweetest riding bicycle I have ever ridden. I did 4 tours on the Blue Ridge Parkway at different times and made many casual treks across the state of North Carolina. I the meantime, the dumb crook brought my old Gitane back into the shop to be repaired so I got my original bike back. Eventually though, the thief wasn't the only one who showed his stupidity. I sold my Tour de France to get money for the down payment on my ex-wife's engagement ring. To condense 32 years, now I don't have that wife, I don't have that diamond ring, I don't have that Tour de France, and I don't have any bike at all. I would like to make this one point: AT FLYTHE CYCLERY, WE SOLD GITANE, PEUGEOT, SCHWINN, AND RALEIGH. I COULD HAVE HAD ANY OF THEM BUT THE TOUR DE FRANCE WAS THE BEST! |
| The feel of the Tour de France comes from the way the frame flexes. Almost like a bow, when you torque hard on the bottom crank, the bike winds up like a spring and shoots you forward releasing energy that is built up in the 531. I met Mel Pinto acouple of times in the early seventies. I have good french threaded components that are on my destroyed bike. I'd like to find a 25" Tour de France frame to build up. Any Ideas? I live in Orlando, Florida now. |
| There's 1973 60 cm Tour De France on EBAY right now I don't know anything about the seller or the condition of the bike but the pictures look good. If I didn't have eight bikes in my garage, I'd bid on it myself |
| The guy in California - who strips the bikes and converts them to fixed-gear and sells them on e-bay as "track" bikes....there were some posts about it a few days ago....here's the link....this one ending soon.....but I am in shock!!!! Hey, I've got one just like this one...I paid $6.99 for it. I think this one's up to $150 or so! I am amazed!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1584555316&category=7298 |
| Wow! I can't believe that! Amazing. |
| If you think that this is odd. Take a look at my auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7295&item=1971994283&rd=1 While these decal are indeed quite rare, I never expected to get anything near this much for it. Luckily, I have a few more left. |
| What I find hard to believe is the $35 charge to "prep & pack" the bike... then you add on the UPS charges! Outrageous! |
| I think we should all do it - I've got a few frames I could set up that way, and I'd love to get rid of them - for $180. A little competition might drive the prices down to a more reasonable level... |
| Yes, that's a $10 garage sale bike. The color's nice, though. But, I suppose some people are willing to fork it over so as not to have to go to garage sales. Calling any of these "track" bikes kinda gets me -- they are a world away from a real raceworthy track bike. |
| Yes, those bike certainly are not "track" bikes. Hey, I could do the same thing - I have several set-up as fixed - I could try them out on e-bay. However....it's just a thing with me - but I won't build up a fixed with those braze-ons along the top tube. It makes them look a little more "track" without those braze-ons. Currently, my Schwinn Traveler (Identical to this one)...has 6-speed freewheel and I recently added a third chain ring. |
| I believe having "track" in the title increases the "hits" when people search. If he expects anyone to believe it's a track bike I don't know. ebay is always a buyer beware deal anyhow. Like "not Campagnolo", helps the seller but a PIA when you're on there looking for something specific. |
| A track bike has different rear frame ends, doesn't it? |
| Some time ago, I found a Raleigh Technium in the trash. Is this bike old enough to be on this list?? The frame says it has the "thermal bonded" aluminum frame. Serial # is R834560076 I've heard that in general bonded aluminum frames don't do well with heavy riders (210 lbs in this case). Is this true for this particular case? If it's no good for me, is it in demand for other people? Worth anything? If not, maybe I'll just put the parts on some other frame. It needs rims, handlebars, seatpost and a quick release. Has Shimano derailleurs(not sure whether index or not), Dia COmpe brakes, and Sakae, as I recall. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks |
| I don't know - but I would think that if the frame is not damaged - that it is certainly worth saving. I'm sure there are folks who would like to have it. I just can't understand why people throw these bike in the trash. |
| My theory is that they were traumatized by an accident, or else they got so disgusted after the thing was bashed when parked that they tossed it. Handlebar and rims are damaged as if the bike had been crashed or bashed. If it turns out that the frame is ok for heavy riders, I'll probably keep it, if not, just the components and put on another frame. |
| The Techniums are great road bikes. Good components and light as heck. I've been riding mine for 10 years and had no problems. |
| I recently aquired a Technium bike at a St. Vincent DePaul sale for $30 and for just another $20 in a good used seat and bars and pedals and toe straps and I have a great touring road bike. Mine is an 18 speed configuration set up for touring. If you get yours on the road for a few rides it will grow on you. Mine is a very comfortable ride. I understand these came in a touring style and a shorter racing style. |
| Hello Lincoln - Raleigh made both road and mountain Techniums. The mountain versions that got well used off-road had a high failure rate. The road versions got painted with the same "failure-prone" brush, but their failure rate is about that for average road bikes. Cheers, skip |
| -Having trouble finding a bearing race thats the right size for the headset of my 1971 Raleigh International, I've parted out several 1970's & 80's bikes for the part but all the races are too big (diameter). What is the correct size and where can one be found? |
| How did you determine the races are too big? As discussed in an earlier thread, headset cups need to be tight, and a special tool is required to press them in (although you can make such a tool for about $10 with threaded stock, large steel and brass washers and nuts). In fact, if you can press a cup in and remove it by hand, it's too loose, and would require a shim. |
| For those who have not been to this site-check it out! Yes..it is a fee-based website, but the cost is small & probably helps the webmaster maintain his hobby. You can browse some of it for free too. The location is-http://www.cyclo-24.de |
| Carsten Rehbein, the site owner, is also one of the people who has the most interesting vintage bicycle components and bikes for sale on Ebay. I have helped with some of the translations on the mentioned web-site. |
| I am hoping someone can help me with what i think is an easy question. I believe I have a 1971 Raleigh Supercourse. I am trying to get the serial number to confirm the year. There is a number stamped in the dropout, but it does not seem to coinside with the chart on this site. Where should the serial number be located? Thanks so much, Jeff |
| I have a five-speed Campy rear axle complete with locknuts, cones, and spacers. (Skewer not included - never had it.) Drop me a line if you're in need. |
| Gone to a good home! |
| I sold a friend of mine the Mercian I found.He emailed me today this:Hey Sam,While riding the Mercian this afternoon and chatting with a friend we were passed by some yuppie on a $3500 Merlin titanium bike with all the bells and whistles.He didn't even say hello,so I was forced to chase him down and leave him gasping in my wake.I'd say he was about 25 years younger and $3400.00 behind me!!! Your friend,Hank |
| Ha ha ha ha ha! I love it when that happens! I race a 30 year old bike. I've yet to come in first, but I leave a lot of expensive metal behind me. |
| I've used my own '72 Mercian in similar fashion. There are Tuesday night rides here that become pretty competative, especially among the non-racers (we call them "B +s, Killer Bs, or Wanna-Bs). I drop a lot of carbon and ti, especially on the two short climbs toward the end of the ride. Lugged steel, friction shift, toeclips and straps. Fun! |
| The most important component of any bicycle is its engine. |
| Great. I did the same thing 2 days ago on my way home from work. I have never ridden less than 5 miles every day for the past 35 years when I got my 1st bike at the age of 9. As I came even with a young man in his early 20s on his exp. tit. bike he put the hammer down. Flat land here in In. I went into a full tuck on my schwinn Le Toue on a 2 mile strech Neck and neck for about a 1/4 mile I blew him away . Better than sex. At the stop sighn he was just a speck . Still pumping harn . The old men still has it. |
| New to the website. Where might I find information on the Vintage Peugeot U08 that I recall from the late 60's, maybe early 70's. I currently ride a early 70's Raleigh 10 speed here in the Reno area. Not all that thrilling. Would be interested in a U08 with a 23-24 inch frame, mostly original and ready to ride, if the price is right. |
| Welcome to the forum, Jack! I have owned two UO-8s, and, during the early 1970s, I serviced, assembled, and sold them. Although the UO-8 is a generic bike boom "10-speed," its plain carbon steel frame is not bad. The UO-8 delivers a comfortable ride and benefits considerably from replacement of the steel rims and cranks with aluminum. I find the steering frustratingly slow, but the generous mudguard clearance and stability make the UO-8 a pretty decent commuter. If possible, hold out for a PR-10 or PKN-10 (my current commuter, a 1980 model), whose Reynolds 531 main triangle will give you a lighter, more resilient ride. To me, the biggest downside of owning a French bike is the nonstandard threading, but www.Sheldonbrown.com compensates by containing a wealth of French bicycle information. |
| John E. If you are still looking for Peugeots, I have a tall, around 24" men's and a smaller Mixte. Both are complete. The men's has what I think is the original pump. It's aluminum with three bands (two dark blue and one red). I started to disassemble the men's bike and have cleaned the bottom bracket and steel wooled the cottered crank, but I may have run out of steam on completing the project. Both bikes are matching white models. If you are interestedand want more info, let me know and I'll come up with a killer (cleaning out the garage) deal for you. |
| Hi All, I just won an ebay auction for a bike frame... a "SR SEMI PRO". I presume the bike brand is "SR" and the model is the "SEMI PRO" - but I looked around online and couldn't seem to find anything about SR bikes. If anyone can offer any info on that brand, It would be greatly appreciated. Check it out on ebay under item number: 1584868264. Also, I picked up a nice Raleigh Super Course the other day (early 70's model). It's got great lugging around the headset. Does anyone know who supplied lugs for this model? If it helps, I believe this is a Carlton made bike frame. Thanks! Kevin |
| Hi, Kevin. I've seen green Super Courses from this era with Nervex Pro head and seat lugs, but with a plain (not scrolly Nervex) bb shell. These have plated fork and stay ends. I hope your 531 transfer is as intact as the one on my Super Course-- it's even more fragile than the Carlton Worksop transfer! |
| This bike was just just discussed on the CR list. I just finished building up an SR Triathalon frame and fork with all Suntour. Apparently SR was a company imported these bikes in the early 80's and they had nothing to do with the SR (Sakae?) components company apart from the name. It is unknown who actually manufactured the frames ie: Kuwahara. They made several frames in cro-mo, Tange #1 and Tange #2 and even an aluminum frame in the 90's. They are like many the the Japanese bikes of the period...well made but nondescript. I think you got a good deal. |
| Seeing that Warren mentioned the CR list, it might be interesting to those who are not familiar with the list to learn more about it. It makes a wonderful complement to this web-site. I you like this site, you may be interested to join the classic rendezvous (CR) newsgroup. There are about 700 vintage bike lovers that exchange information regarding lightweight bikes from the early 1900's up until the early 1980's. You can check what type of things get discussed by going to http://search.bikelist.org/ and then click on the archived messages from classic rendezvous. To join up (it costs nothing), go to http://www.phred.org/mailman/listinfo/classicrendezvous Many of the regular contributors here are also listmembers of CR. |
| A neighbor of mine has a 70s-ish-looking Super Course with head lugs that are far fancier than Nervex Pros (with very long points and scrolls), and I believe the same lugs are those depicted on an International on the CR website. In other words, there are variations, even within a model year. Given that this was still a human endeavor, you can imagine a frame workshop with shelves of lugs. One day, a builder reaches back and finds some dusty old fancy lugs, and so on. The CR list is wonderful -- the real high rollers and true experts are in charge. These are folks who, like Steven, embarass me with the scope and depth of their knowledge and experience. The only counterpoint is the number of eMails you'll get every day, and I've subscribed and unsubscribed for this reason. Try it -- at least for a while. |
| Kevin, I second Warren's opinion, you got a good deal and it's a nice quality frameset. Not bad looking either. I have a full 600 derailleur group from the same era as the crank shown in the ebay listing. Let me know if you're interested, I'd rather trade than sell. |
| The lugs on the '73 International are the same as the ones I saw on a Super Course: http://www.speakeasy.org/'tabula/raleigh/raleigh-inter.html |
| I swore I wouldn't pick up another bike with steel wheels but it's been so long. Yard sales are gone, the thrift shop has nothing, no good bikes to fix, and I was going crazy. So I brought home a Gitane Gran Sport Mixte frame to tide me over until better pickings. MAFAc Racer centerpull brakes, Simplex derailleurs and shifters, rigida steeel wheels 27 X 1 1/4, nothing special but I haven't worked on a Gitane yet. Two questions. 1. I found a 78 stamped into the frame by the head tube. Is this the year of manufacture?? 2. The bike came with a catalog of that year's models (I guess it is a 78) Is there a Gitane website that would like a copy of the catalog after I scan it?? Hope you are having a better time finding bikes than I am. |
| Bryant: I agree with you that our sources for used bikes are drying up in many areas. Fortunately my area is still fair pikings for good low to mid level bikes. My favorite shop always has a fair number of nice 70's and 80's road bikes as well as a good number of Raleigh 3 speeds. I have bought a good number of the Raleighs et.al,. You don't need to apologise for buying a decent bike with chrome parts. I am very attracted to nice bikes with good chrome rims and other components. Its the packrat or raven side of me that likes something shiny, I found a man's Schwinn Traveller 12 speed with infant seat at the local Salvation Army store recently. The traveller model is Badged, Chicago, and has all alloy components. It is probably the entry level for Alloy. To my regret I had just recently discarded a ladies matching frame because of bent chain stays. |
| Yes, in my area - the bikes have pretty much dried up. It's been a while since I saw something I would even consider picking up. There have been just a coupld I would have considered - if the price was right - but so far it hasn't been. It's really been a long time since I saw a half-decent bike. I have lots of components, wheels, bars, ders, etc. - and I have kept my eye out for a decent frame to build up...but so far....nothing. I feel like I am going through withdrawal. I don't have anything to work on. I had planned to make some upgrades to an old hercules I have....well, I have already done that....I had planned to add a 3rd chain ring on a Schwinn Traveler....done that...and now....really, I have nothing to work on. I have also had my eye out for an old Gitane - but so far....nothing. I do have one....one of those small 20" wheel with 3-speed derailleur - I got it for my 7 year-old son....but I have been looking for a Gitane I could ride. Well, maybe it will pick up around here....I certainly hope so. |
| I keep an eye on the bikes that college kids ride and lock up as I ride through OSU Campus. Coincidentaly (or maybe not) my subjective impression is that more of them are riding drop-bar bikes than I've seen for years. I also see young folks riding 70s-early 90s drop bar bikes more often on the entire length of the bike path. I chaulk it up to several things: (1) Armstrong Effect; (2) dad has an old 10 (or 12 or 14) speed bike in the garage that he never rides (3) boredem with mountain bikes; and (4) influencre of local bike messenger subculture. The latter seems to be sort of a combination of elements of punk, gothic, anarchist, environmental and other alternative interests, all infused with cycling. I think these are reasons some vintage lightweights are being ridden rather then thrown garage-saled away. |
| I have a Gitane which seems to meet the same exact description. Even is stamped "78". 27 X 1 1/4 wheels, Grand Sport DeLuxe, I forget about the derailleurs, but I think they are also Simplex. Might want to keep the original seat. Anyone want to tell me what it's worth? Anyone near Waltham, MA interested? I'm afraid it's not much of a project bike. Once you replace the tires and grease the pedals it's pretty much ready to go. P.S. Anyone want to comment on Raleigh Technium? I found one of these in the trash and might fix it up some day. New wheels, seat and post, new bars and maybe free up the freewheel. P.P.S. old Triumph 3 speed also, see English Roadster list. P.P.P.S. You might want to contact me directly via email. I don't often read this list. |
| I am certainly no genius when it comes to lightweights,would appreciate any comments on the bike I bought today. The bike is a CCM Concorde,made in Canada,mixte frame,#E645233 on the lower seat tube,Reynolds 531,10 speeds .It seems to have a strange mix of components,at least to me,I do not doubt however that all parts could be original. Cranks Dura-ace (I assume an earlly style ,they have a groove running down the center of the arms. Rims Nisi-Evian Super Sport alloy Stem Cinelli Brakes Ceterpull Weinmann calipers and levers Hubs Very cheap looking Viscount high flange with even cheaper looking Q/R levers Changers front Simplex,rear Shimano Crane GS Shift levers Cheap looking Sun Race Fenders Nice black Zefal,I assume these were added but who knows Pedals I do not know the brand but I have seen the same on other inexspensive lightweights Seat Cruiser type with alloy upright unmarked bars. Age My best guess late 70's? Anyone have any feeling on the threads in this bottom bracet? |
| I thought I'd seen them all but yours is bizarro. I would have wagered "dimes to doughnuts" that CCM did NOT ever make a mixte frame in 531. In fact they made very few bikes with these tubes. Is the sticker under the clear coat or added on. I also suspect all of the better components on that bike to be add-ons and all of the cheaper stuff would be OEM. Late 70's, early 80's sounds right. I would set the good parts "free" from this frame unless you can verify that it is 531, preferably double butted. Even then... |
| Warren,thanks for your comments.After a better look in the daylight I notice the brake pads are kool stop,which of course would support your theory that the better parts were added. The 531 decal appears to be under the clear coat and I know of no way to determine if it is actually 531. My thought when I purchased it was to take the fenders and better parts off it,as you suggest, and toss the rest.I just wanted to be sure I was not breaking up a bike that should stay together. |
| Does anyone have any info about Royal Enfield bicycles?? I have a 10 speed road bike with lugged frame. I am guessing it is probably late 70's vintage. Any info would be appreciated, where it was made, quality, etc. Thanks. |