Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
Joe, thank you, it sounds very nice, but I'm looking for something even more retro.
Guys, tell me about the old Vitus frames, the lugged aluminum 979 and similar 1980's vintage frames. I listed after these back in the day, but I was into mountain biking then, so I bought my mountain bike instead. I think the 979 bikes cost over $2K then, too rich then and too rich now. I see those Vitus frames go for $150-250 on eBay now. Whippy? Comfy? I'm not a serious cyclist, this will be basically a posing around town bike - there, being honest. 180 lbs or will be soon, with the leg muscle of an anemic 120 pounder - who's 90 years old.
Or, I'd like to find an old Raleigh 531 frame, like my old Gran Sport (crashed at 35 mph, wasted the fork and cracked the head tube). They made a Gran Pro then too.
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The 979s are soft and comfy frames (Due to the small diameter alum tubes) with a lot of flex compare to a modern day racing bikes. Keep in mind they were design for racing, stage racing (They really aren't as bad as most people make it sound). So, don't expect it to ride like a beach cruiser. The only thing about a bonded frame is that they sometimes come apart. Some of the earlier models did. I am almost sure Vitus solved the issue with the newer 979. They survive Paris Roubaix. Toughest one day bike race on both the body and the machine. It must be good.
I have a Look KG171 from around the same era that I raced and beat the heck out of. It held up well for many years. People tell me the glue failed on those too. I suppose I was one of the lucky ones. The build is very similar to the Vitus, except it was all carbon tubes. That bike flexed, it was soft and comfortable. I raced a Canondale CADD 3 after that. It was great for racing, but on most of my long training rides, I find myself going out with the Look 70% of the time.
If you are just going out to mess around for fun with a occasional rides where you make other bleed and cough out a lung, the 979 should be fine. Have fun with it.
Jeff