Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Road Test/Bike Review (1973) Crescent "Pepita" Special

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Road Test/Bike Review (1973) Crescent "Pepita" Special

Old 04-10-19, 10:45 AM
  #1  
SpeedofLite 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
SpeedofLite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,987

Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 433 Post(s)
Liked 3,443 Times in 994 Posts
Road Test/Bike Review (1973) Crescent "Pepita" Special

I sure hope someone has a color photo to share. That head tube and head badge area is eye-catching even in grey scale!

__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.














SpeedofLite is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 12:22 PM
  #2  
Cl904
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 315
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
Cl904 is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 12:31 PM
  #3  
ryansu
Senior Member
 
ryansu's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 2,841

Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage

Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 796 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times in 367 Posts
Originally Posted by Cl904
Looks like that old swede has seen a bit of salt air..
ryansu is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 12:33 PM
  #4  
Cl904
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 315
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
Originally Posted by ryansu
Looks like that old swede has seen a bit of salt air..
A bit. She’s hanging stripped right now waiting to find someone to rebraze the brake bridge... before. I got it someone tried to cold set to 130 and it didn’t work too well.
Cl904 is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 12:34 PM
  #5  
SpeedofLite 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
SpeedofLite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,987

Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 433 Post(s)
Liked 3,443 Times in 994 Posts
Yikes! So maybe they don't age well.
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.














SpeedofLite is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 12:37 PM
  #6  
Cl904
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 315
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
Originally Posted by SpeedofLite
Yikes! So maybe they don't age well.
it’s ugly, but I had another in my size that was a great ride. Some are French treaded and some are Swiss... weird bikes.
Cl904 is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 02:11 PM
  #7  
juvela
Senior Member
 
juvela's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,243
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3801 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times in 2,170 Posts
Originally Posted by Cl904

-----

The house brand headset and Gran Sport shift levers suggest a 319 model rather than a 320.

Magazine article covers a model 320.

-----
juvela is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 02:13 PM
  #8  
Cl904
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 315
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
Originally Posted by juvela
-----

The house brand headset and Gran Sport shift levers suggest a 319 model rather than a 320.

Magazine article covers a model 320.

-----
same frame, different component specs. I think the 320 I had was Swiss threaded for the bottom bracket, with a campy record bottom bracket. This one had a cottered Stronglight, and is French threaded.
Cl904 is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 02:22 PM
  #9  
juvela
Senior Member
 
juvela's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,243
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3801 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times in 2,170 Posts
-----

thanks for the response.

have not previously heard tell of a 318/319/320 with a CH shell.

the 319 & 320 models i recall were all metric ("french") shell.

IIRC some ot the 318's with the MAEDA ends set came through with BSC shells.

-----
juvela is offline  
Old 04-10-19, 03:30 PM
  #10  
Cl904
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 315
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
Originally Posted by juvela
-----

thanks for the response.

have not previously heard tell of a 318/319/320 with a CH shell.

the 319 & 320 models i recall were all metric ("french") shell.

IIRC some ot the 318's with the MAEDA ends set came through with BSC shells.

-----
On the 320 I had in the past I was told by my lbs it was Swiss when they removed the fixed cub for me. The 319 is French, which I found out after trying to remove the fixed cup thinking it was Swiss. Much easier the other way.

the metric sizing isn’t even the same as normal French metric either... I know my 320 had a 27.0 seatpost.
Cl904 is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 04:37 AM
  #11  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,592

Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3854 Post(s)
Liked 6,448 Times in 3,188 Posts
I bought a Crescent on Sunday. It has Suntour forged drops and some nice stuff on it, like Campy high flange hubs ... and some crap, like a Suntour Spirt front derailleur. It's orange, with a long section on the top tube with missing paint. I'm wondering how I should proceed with that problem: touch up or respray. I think the easiest solution would be to find a matching can and do some spot fill work...
SurferRosa is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 04:47 AM
  #12  
Deal4Fuji
minimalist cyclist
 
Deal4Fuji's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,745

Bikes: yes please

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1119 Post(s)
Liked 1,638 Times in 943 Posts
Originally Posted by SurferRosa
I bought a Crescent on Sunday. It has Suntour forged drops and some nice stuff on it, like Campy high flange hubs ... and some crap, like a Suntour Spirt front derailleur. It's orange, with a long section on the top tube with missing paint. I'm wondering how I should proceed with that problem: touch up or respray. I think the easiest solution would be to find a matching can and do some spot fill work...

Pics ?
Deal4Fuji is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 05:11 AM
  #13  
76SLT 
Senior Member
 
76SLT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Earlville, IL
Posts: 659

Bikes: Some Schwinns, Raleighs, Centurions, Crescent, Bianchi

Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 248 Post(s)
Liked 286 Times in 124 Posts
I bought this early last year. I believe it's a model 318. The derailleurs were upgraded at some point but other than that, I believe it's all original. Suntour dropouts, Mafac Racer brakes, AVA tubular rims, Sugino Mighty Competition crankset with Mikashima pedals. It had a Regina Oro 13-19 but I changed to an IRD. I had that Cinelli handlebar on for a while but I went back to the original SR Road Champion.



76SLT is offline  
Likes For 76SLT:
Old 04-11-19, 05:11 AM
  #14  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,592

Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3854 Post(s)
Liked 6,448 Times in 3,188 Posts
Originally Posted by Deal4Fuji
Pics ?
No, not yet, sorry. I uploaded one from the craigs ad and one on the ferry right after purchase in this thread. Doesn't show much. The missing paint is on the nds top tube. The seat tube is an inch shorter than my keepers, so that complicates things as well.
SurferRosa is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 06:16 AM
  #15  
big chainring 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wilmette, IL
Posts: 6,878
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 751 Post(s)
Liked 726 Times in 350 Posts
Originally Posted by 76SLT
I bought this early last year. I believe it's a model 318. The derailleurs were upgraded at some point but other than that, I believe it's all original. Suntour dropouts, Mafac Racer brakes, AVA tubular rims, Sugino Mighty Competition crankset with Mikashima pedals. It had a Regina Oro 13-19 but I changed to an IRD. I had that Cinelli handlebar on for a while but I went back to the original SR Road Champion.

Mercy!
big chainring is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 10:01 AM
  #16  
cyclophilia 
Full Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Desert Southwest
Posts: 220
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
Liked 101 Times in 63 Posts
Here are a couple of color photographs of a Crescent Pepita frame in its original paint and decals:



Crescent Pepita frame and fork


Crescent Pepita head tube badge
cyclophilia is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 06:04 PM
  #17  
xiaoman1 
Senior Member
 
xiaoman1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 4,867

Bikes: A few too many

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1360 Post(s)
Liked 2,175 Times in 1,180 Posts
I have mentioned this a few times, I feel that the top of the line Crescents are great rides, the orange color doesn't hurt either. I have one that is full Campagnolo and is as nice as many of my other bikes, I am still looking for the all stainless steel one in my size.
Best, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire

Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors



xiaoman1 is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 07:00 PM
  #18  
Ex Pres 
Cat 6
 
Ex Pres's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Mountain Brook, AL
Posts: 7,482
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 500 Post(s)
Liked 183 Times in 118 Posts
IIRC, @KHatful has restored one.




__________________
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff









Last edited by Ex Pres; 04-11-19 at 07:03 PM.
Ex Pres is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 07:15 PM
  #19  
uncle uncle
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: south kansas america
Posts: 1,910

Bikes: too many

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 411 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times in 140 Posts
Somebody needs to explain.. why "Pepita"? Isn't that basically "pumpkin seed"? By the way, I remember seeing a Cresent for the very first time at a bike swap and the first thing that caught my eye was the checkered flag pattern on the top tube... I just thought that was brilliant and special, all at the same time. Kudos to the Cresent graphic designers.
uncle uncle is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 07:36 PM
  #20  
cyclophilia 
Full Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Desert Southwest
Posts: 220
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
Liked 101 Times in 63 Posts
The Crescent Pepita is also legendary, some say "infamous," for toe clip overlap.
cyclophilia is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 07:46 PM
  #21  
bikingshearer 
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
 
bikingshearer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,636

Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1017 Post(s)
Liked 2,501 Times in 1,045 Posts
Originally Posted by uncle uncle
Somebody needs to explain.. why "Pepita"? Isn't that basically "pumpkin seed"? By the way, I remember seeing a Cresent for the very first time at a bike swap and the first thing that caught my eye was the checkered flag pattern on the top tube... I just thought that was brilliant and special, all at the same time. Kudos to the Cresent graphic designers.
Those of us of a certain age remember the Crescent ads in Bicycling magazine, c.1973. The first, second and third thing that caught my teen-aged eye had nothing whatsoever to do with anything about the bike. Nowadays, I would say such ads are blatantly sexist and objectifying of women. Such thoughts, however, did not occur to me when I was 16 and my little heart was going pitter-patter.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
bikingshearer is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 08:53 PM
  #22  
SpeedofLite 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
SpeedofLite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,987

Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 433 Post(s)
Liked 3,443 Times in 994 Posts
Originally Posted by bikingshearer
Those of us of a certain age remember the Crescent ads in Bicycling magazine, c.1973. The first, second and third thing that caught my teen-aged eye had nothing whatsoever to do with anything about the bike. Nowadays, I would say such ads are blatantly sexist and objectifying of women. Such thoughts, however, did not occur to me when I was 16 and my little heart was going pitter-patter.
Wait..... do you mean this ad?!

__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.














SpeedofLite is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 08:55 PM
  #23  
SpeedofLite 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
SpeedofLite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,987

Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 433 Post(s)
Liked 3,443 Times in 994 Posts
Or this one?


__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.














SpeedofLite is offline  
Old 04-11-19, 09:23 PM
  #24  
uncle uncle
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: south kansas america
Posts: 1,910

Bikes: too many

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 411 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times in 140 Posts
Originally Posted by SpeedofLite
Or this one?


"Move your leg lady... you're hiding the bestest part."
uncle uncle is offline  
Old 04-12-19, 12:12 PM
  #25  
bikingshearer 
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
 
bikingshearer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,636

Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1017 Post(s)
Liked 2,501 Times in 1,045 Posts
Originally Posted by SpeedofLite
Wait..... do you mean this ad?!

Uuuhhhh . . . no.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
bikingshearer is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.