Ultimate Bike Thread....

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

A guy I am doing some vinyl work for has 5 of these frames left.....various sizes. He is retailing them for $500. Includes seat stem, front fork and bearing. 2012 models he says.

What say the collective?

Mike- I might be complete off base as I've never owned one or any criteria to judge them by. However, a LBS owner whom I often join in on club rides is a dealer. Overheard that he can get prior MY and or demo's for 50c on the buckaroo. And I'm assuming that's based on his wholesale cost. The deal is passed onto team riders who foot their own tab.

(I'm not in the market and never asked but probably could get a near type of savings or help in a referral. I recently sent him one customer and was blown away by the deal for a very late model but used bike.... quite sure it was sold $600 under current market and could have easily had that much more... it was a very kind favor by him.)

Back to the frameset. Thinking of getting one? Might suggest trying one that's fully dressed and see if the geometry isn't too harsh. Purely purpose built machines. The brand has an excellent reputation and I dig their CF frame technology. (Secretly, the devil is bribing me to get a CF with Di2 ) Although when I look at their aluminum frame models, the joints appear crude and reflects lower quality. It probably performs excellent and again, just a visual opinion.

Comparatively, my bargain find Giant with ALUXX SL fluid formed tubing looks and performs well beyond my expectations. The technology for an aluminum frame is way cool and the joints are beaut. (Funny, it does have a CF fork but because the joints and paint are perfect, I'm often get asked if its a carbon frame.) I can bear century rides / 100m on it, climbs like crazy and is all around a blast but I'll take a pass on it for the long haul. Much rather be on a traditional steel ride.

Lastly, the best bargains are two or three year old Tri bikes. I often see them listed by athletes who test and then bail out of the sport. More novice type frame / builds yet still may have retailed for $4k but now in that $1,200 range (with a lower end trainer wheelset). If your hooked on one of those S22 in your size, then shop for a used tri bike, could be an easy swap out budget build.

[gatotom]

CurtEgerer, I have a 74 Motobecane La Champion with all campie hanging in my storage room. If interested can take some pics for you.

[Joe Bob]

I'm thinking lite weight fixie for beach bombing.....

[intakexhaust]

you fixie crazies Did a youboob search last night on Cinelli and found this one. More than skids in the shorts

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by gatotom

CurtEgerer, I have a 74 Motobecane La Champion with all campie hanging in my storage room. If interested can take some pics for you.

Absolutely. Would love to see some pics

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by look 171

When I raced for the PAA for those few years, I have not heard of any issues with those frames. Those guys beat the heck out of them because they didn't have to pay for them, and it was to be returned to the club at the end of the year. Hell, I crash them into the back of the cars too if I had one. Wait, I did, only through the back passenger window and it was my frame that was destroyed. Those exchanged hands for three full racing seasons and had no issues that I know of.

Good to know. At my advanced geriatric age, my bikes don't get ridden too hard any more. Shouldn't be a problem ....

[intakexhaust]

^^jeezo, what a pic!

A motherload of vintage / classic pics. (Suggest to select your browser translate.)

Vintage pictures : - Version imprimable

[intakexhaust]

some kind of folding bike but unable to figure out the drive train. weird

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Absolutely. Would love to see some pics

yessir, me too!

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Good to know. At my advanced geriatric age, my bikes don't get ridden too hard any more. Shouldn't be a problem ....

bullsiht, once a hammer head, you are always gonna to be a hammerhead. There's a certain expectation from a bicycle for guys like you. You are going to get off the saddle and throw it around coming out of a corner, lean hard around the corners coming down the mountain, so that Gitane will hold up just fine. Hey, I don't think you are an old fart yet if you are stil l riding

[CurtEgerer]

I'm actually thankful this is not my size .... 753 w/ original paint & decals

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by look 171

bullsiht, once a hammer head, you are always gonna to be a hammerhead. There's a certain expectation from a bicycle for guys like you. You are going to get off the saddle and throw it around coming out of a corner, lean hard around the corners coming down the mountain, so that Gitane will hold up just fine. Hey, I don't think you are an old fart yet if you are stil l riding

look171- Funny you mention. Just this Summer, met two octogenarian's big into cycling. Leather skinned tough guys. Both looked like they could tackle most twenty something's with ease.

One who told me rides 7k miles a year. Told me while near their TX residence, spends considerable time riding. Mentioned he once had a flat, nothing on hand for flat repair... go figure... blistering hot, out of water, no cell phone and hiked 7 miles back.

The other I met was a fellow on a CF tricked out ride. Was at a gas station with a few other riders and while this hardcore rider shows up with his son. The area is a well known cycling haven with some challenging steeps. Anyhow, both this guy and son were doing 200 miles for the day.

[intakexhaust]

Picked this 'soopa sporty' up for thirty five buckaroos from original owner. Needs a little luv but overall decent.

Late 80's Yapanese, lugged and with butted Tange Champion 2 tubing. Full SR - post, bars, stem, crank ////triple/// and dig the Suntour Cyclone derailleurs, rear hanging on Suntour dropouts. Like new fattie 700x35 rubber. Wheels were dialed-in true. Just did a quick once over degrease, years of thick grime on the components, greased the stem and seat post, quick adjustments, added -missing- front pads and she's rolling fine. A bit too big for me but I had to test it... slammed seat. Nice rider, shifts perfect and plenty of chainrings to play with. Has all the nice braze-ons for a tour rig. Sure wish it was a bit smaller. Pie plate must go-















Thinking maybe these 'stache' bars might work. Any thoughts where one could find a cheap bar like this?

stock photo - (don't think I'll need bother w/ bar end shifters)

[look 171]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

look171- Funny you mention. Just this Summer, met two octogenarian's big into cycling. Leather skinned tough guys. Both looked like they could tackle most twenty something's with ease.

One who told me rides 7k miles a year. Told me while near their TX residence, spends considerable time riding. Mentioned he once had a flat, nothing on hand for flat repair... go figure... blistering hot, out of water, no cell phone and hiked 7 miles back.

The other I met was a fellow on a CF tricked out ride. Was at a gas station with a few other riders and while this hardcore rider shows up with his son. The area is a well known cycling haven with some challenging steeps. Anyhow, both this guy and son were doing 200 miles for the day.

Hey even those guys would break the dropouts on that Gitane.

I see some of the same 60 year olds are still doing the club ride on Saturday just like they did 30 years ago. They were fast then and put the hurt on everyone, they are still pretty fast today. They were cat 1 riders. I spoke to one as couple of years back and learned that he got third in Grand Masters at the Worlds.

[gatotom]

Ok,here you go, took pics with my droid, not the best. Bike has been hanging in storage area from at least 20 yrs as you can see be the layer of dust. it is a 57cm with all campie components rims are mavic sew ups with high flange hubs. Everything works fine, its campie.

if someone is interested in buying it, I will clean it up and take nice pics

[gatotom]

Its a 1974 Motobecane La Champian, I bought it in 1975 from a bike racer in Milwaukee, WI.

I rode it for 10 yrs and retired the bike, bought a 1984 Rossin, all campie and rode it 8 yrs and bought my current ride a Dave levy custom ti bike.

had a bike wreck almost 4 weeks ago, caught the left rear bumper on a postal van delivering mail and the front tire rode up the bumper causing me to do a back flip landing on my right back. No damage to bike but finally torqued out the sew up rim in back so picking up new mavic clincher rims with tufo tubular clincher tires.

Bruised ribs are a *****, first week inner hell, second week outer hell, third week purgatory and now fouth week outer purgatory.

[CurtEgerer]

Wow, sounds like quite a spill!

Decided to go 'all in' with some vintage pedals for the Gitane. Couldn't justify $400-$500 for Super Record Ti but found some nice Galli Ti pedals for much less. It really makes the bike look 'right'. I've got a line on some shoes and will do a first ride later this week ... the tough part, after riding clipless for so long, is going to be remembering to reach down and loosen the straps when dismounting

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by gatotom

Its a 1974 Motobecane La Champian, I bought it in 1975 from a bike racer in Milwaukee, WI.

I rode it for 10 yrs and retired the bike, bought a 1984 Rossin, all campie and rode it 8 yrs and bought my current ride a Dave levy custom ti bike.

had a bike wreck almost 4 weeks ago, caught the left rear bumper on a postal van delivering mail and the front tire rode up the bumper causing me to do a back flip landing on my right back. No damage to bike but finally torqued out the sew up rim in back so picking up new mavic clincher rims with tufo tubular clincher tires.

Bruised ribs are a *****, first week inner hell, second week outer hell, third week purgatory and now fouth week outer purgatory.

Ha! Don't I know it about bruised ribs...I still can't take off with authority from a stop without a reminder of the time I crashed at the STP a few weeks ago - and I'm supposed to be riding a century next weekend...we'll just have to play that one by ear...

Feel better!

[intakexhaust]

Curt- Wow, beautiful build. Right-on for the toe clip / pedals. Vintage is all about the character... nostalgia coolness with toe clips, down tube shifters, etc. You'll really have a challenge in a paceline.. LOL and good luck.

(btw: Are those leather or nylon straps? I much prefer the leather as they don't flop loose like the nylon.)

[CurtEgerer]

Yeah, they're nice broken in leather straps. These are the shoes. $5 at the thrift store But I'm missing one cleat. If anybody has any leads on a cleat it would be much appreciated. I could fabricate one if I get desperate.




Fignon with the same Sidi shoes: