New daily rider: Windsor Carrera Sport Mixte
05-30-20, 02:38 PM
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New daily rider: Windsor Carrera Sport Mixte
Hey folks! New here.
Recently relocated to SoCal (love living in Long Beach!) and was desperately searching for an old steel bike (i've had a couple) to use as a daily rider around town/for errands/maintaining my sanity while social distancing.
I had some pretty specific needs (mixte frame bc hip problems) and a desire for upright bars (for the same reason) and skinny tires (gotta dodge those crazy drivers!) Finding a reasonably affordable bike that met these standards was tough--especially in the midst of the pandemic.
Finally found a bike just this side of the border in Imperial Beach and drove to pick it up yesterday. I definitely overpaid for what I got, but it was the same price or cheaper as some other rusted out garbage that was selling on the Los Angeles CL. I paid $220 for it (seller was very firm on price, had dropped from $300) and I'm very happy with it!
Meet my late 70s(?) Windsor Carrera Sport Mixte! It's not a high-end ride, but it's just my size and perfect for my needs. I had a great old Centurion LeMans a couple years back with similar-era & model Suntour derailleurs and I just love their consistency. Bike is in really great, ready-to-ride shape--fully cleaned and greased and tires inflated. It looks like it wasn't really ever used much, based on the state of the chainrings. Tires have some dry rot going on though, so I'll need to replace them sooner rather than later--the only thing really "wrong" with this bike IMO.
I haven't seen many of these online, so I figured I'd share pics of it! New member with <10 posts, so I saved photos in a linked PDF.
Anyone have any more info on this bike? Serial is 041032.
Recently relocated to SoCal (love living in Long Beach!) and was desperately searching for an old steel bike (i've had a couple) to use as a daily rider around town/for errands/maintaining my sanity while social distancing.
I had some pretty specific needs (mixte frame bc hip problems) and a desire for upright bars (for the same reason) and skinny tires (gotta dodge those crazy drivers!) Finding a reasonably affordable bike that met these standards was tough--especially in the midst of the pandemic.
Finally found a bike just this side of the border in Imperial Beach and drove to pick it up yesterday. I definitely overpaid for what I got, but it was the same price or cheaper as some other rusted out garbage that was selling on the Los Angeles CL. I paid $220 for it (seller was very firm on price, had dropped from $300) and I'm very happy with it!
Meet my late 70s(?) Windsor Carrera Sport Mixte! It's not a high-end ride, but it's just my size and perfect for my needs. I had a great old Centurion LeMans a couple years back with similar-era & model Suntour derailleurs and I just love their consistency. Bike is in really great, ready-to-ride shape--fully cleaned and greased and tires inflated. It looks like it wasn't really ever used much, based on the state of the chainrings. Tires have some dry rot going on though, so I'll need to replace them sooner rather than later--the only thing really "wrong" with this bike IMO.
I haven't seen many of these online, so I figured I'd share pics of it! New member with <10 posts, so I saved photos in a linked PDF.
Anyone have any more info on this bike? Serial is 041032.
05-30-20, 03:09 PM
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Thanks for posting your good find.
Tip -
the manufacturer's mounting instructions for the bicycle's Suntour VGT rear gear mech recommend to adjust so that the angle of the pantograph is parallel to the chainstay for optimun performance.
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Thanks for posting your good find.
Tip -
the manufacturer's mounting instructions for the bicycle's Suntour VGT rear gear mech recommend to adjust so that the angle of the pantograph is parallel to the chainstay for optimun performance.
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05-30-20, 03:25 PM
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thanks for the tip! I had to do some googling and looking at a “parts of a derailleur” chart and the Suntour catalog but I see what you mean.
05-30-20, 03:34 PM
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good to read it of help
my error for not making it more clear
---
in case you have any experience of spanner twisting on cycles there are two slightly odd dimensions here - at least odd in combination...
the bottom bracket shell of the frame is probably 68mm in width but of italian thread
the steerer for the fork is BSC/ISO threaded but its inside diameter and that of the handlebar stem is .833"
this last item is good to know in case at some point you find you would like to change the handlebar stem for a longer/shorter or taller one
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good to read it of help
my error for not making it more clear
---
in case you have any experience of spanner twisting on cycles there are two slightly odd dimensions here - at least odd in combination...
the bottom bracket shell of the frame is probably 68mm in width but of italian thread
the steerer for the fork is BSC/ISO threaded but its inside diameter and that of the handlebar stem is .833"
this last item is good to know in case at some point you find you would like to change the handlebar stem for a longer/shorter or taller one
-----
05-30-20, 07:12 PM
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all super good to know! Thank you! I have at best rudimentary bike repair skills, but who knows.
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good to read it of help
my error for not making it more clear
---
in case you have any experience of spanner twisting on cycles there are two slightly odd dimensions here - at least odd in combination...
the bottom bracket shell of the frame is probably 68mm in width but of italian thread
the steerer for the fork is BSC/ISO threaded but its inside diameter and that of the handlebar stem is .833"
this last item is good to know in case at some point you find you would like to change the handlebar stem for a longer/shorter or taller one
-----
good to read it of help
my error for not making it more clear
---
in case you have any experience of spanner twisting on cycles there are two slightly odd dimensions here - at least odd in combination...
the bottom bracket shell of the frame is probably 68mm in width but of italian thread
the steerer for the fork is BSC/ISO threaded but its inside diameter and that of the handlebar stem is .833"
this last item is good to know in case at some point you find you would like to change the handlebar stem for a longer/shorter or taller one
-----
05-30-20, 09:23 PM
#6
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Cool bike! Windsors and Motobecanes have always been my favorite late bike boom bikes. Yes, late 70s. 78 maybe? There is a 79 catalog posted at Velobase. Looks pretty much identical to the 79 Carrera Special.
https://www.radiolabworks.com/bikes/...ices%20too.pdf
It would have had dropped bars originally. The steel upright bars probably were installed before it went out the door of the bike shop.
BTW, it needs new tires, those are past their time. It's a safety thing. Good idea to get new brake pads at the same time. Rubber dries out.
https://www.radiolabworks.com/bikes/...ices%20too.pdf
It would have had dropped bars originally. The steel upright bars probably were installed before it went out the door of the bike shop.
BTW, it needs new tires, those are past their time. It's a safety thing. Good idea to get new brake pads at the same time. Rubber dries out.
