Is the Zeus Competition French threaded?
11-30-20, 03:24 PM
#1
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Is the Zeus Competition French threaded?
Hey everyone,
My current project is a early 70s Zeus Competition that someone turned into a commuter bike so I am in the process of bringing it back to something more period correct. I am in the process of refitting it with mostly Zeus components but I was wondering if this is French threaded or not I have heard rumors that some Zeus's if not all are French threaded and I don't know if this is accurate or not. I would keep the existing headset but it is not original and very cheap looking. So should I be looking for a French threaded headset or a British standard headset?
Any insight would be helpful as I have gone this deep into a build before,
My current project is a early 70s Zeus Competition that someone turned into a commuter bike so I am in the process of bringing it back to something more period correct. I am in the process of refitting it with mostly Zeus components but I was wondering if this is French threaded or not I have heard rumors that some Zeus's if not all are French threaded and I don't know if this is accurate or not. I would keep the existing headset but it is not original and very cheap looking. So should I be looking for a French threaded headset or a British standard headset?
Any insight would be helpful as I have gone this deep into a build before,
11-30-20, 03:39 PM
#2
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it is 100% metric/BNA/"french" dimension
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it is 100% metric/BNA/"french" dimension
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11-30-20, 06:09 PM
#3
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Thanks for the help!
11-30-20, 06:29 PM
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1983-84 was when Spanish bicycle manufacturers began the transition to ISO dimension
if you have any additional questions about the Competition feel free to post them
have owned three examples from the early 1970's, so plenty of hands-on experience
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1983-84 was when Spanish bicycle manufacturers began the transition to ISO dimension
if you have any additional questions about the Competition feel free to post them
have owned three examples from the early 1970's, so plenty of hands-on experience
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11-30-20, 07:42 PM
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French thread ?
I'm still learning and I can't say for certain which is which. I own two 1973 Zeus Professionals and discovered they are two different threads.
I bought a few pairs of Shimano SPD pedals thinking if I used the same pedals on differing bikes I wouldn't need a set of shoes for toe clips.
The pedals threaded easily into one crankset but not the other.
Any body know where I can find a nice pair of antique leather shoes with flat soles ?
Enjoying the ride...
I bought a few pairs of Shimano SPD pedals thinking if I used the same pedals on differing bikes I wouldn't need a set of shoes for toe clips.
The pedals threaded easily into one crankset but not the other.
Any body know where I can find a nice pair of antique leather shoes with flat soles ?
Enjoying the ride...
12-01-20, 11:30 AM
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FWIW By July 1977, Zeus Catalog 103, Zeus was offering a full range of "Metric BNA, English BSC and Italian (SAE)"
Cheers.
Brad
Cheers.
Brad
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Better bike .. Better life!
Better bike .. Better life!
12-01-20, 12:36 PM
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I'm still learning and I can't say for certain which is which. I own two 1973 Zeus Professionals and discovered they are two different threads.
I bought a few pairs of Shimano SPD pedals thinking if I used the same pedals on differing bikes I wouldn't need a set of shoes for toe clips.
The pedals threaded easily into one crankset but not the other.
Any body know where I can find a nice pair of antique leather shoes with flat soles ?
Enjoying the ride...
I bought a few pairs of Shimano SPD pedals thinking if I used the same pedals on differing bikes I wouldn't need a set of shoes for toe clips.
The pedals threaded easily into one crankset but not the other.
Any body know where I can find a nice pair of antique leather shoes with flat soles ?
Enjoying the ride...
https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/200...l-threads.html
12-01-20, 01:26 PM
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Unless you have very small/narrow feet, those original pedals will cripple you.
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12-01-20, 01:28 PM
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I own two 1973 Zeus Professionals and discovered they are two different threads.
I bought a few pairs of Shimano SPD pedals thinking if I used the same pedals on differing bikes I wouldn't need a set of shoes for toe clips. The pedals threaded easily into one crankset but not the other.
I bought a few pairs of Shimano SPD pedals thinking if I used the same pedals on differing bikes I wouldn't need a set of shoes for toe clips. The pedals threaded easily into one crankset but not the other.
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12-01-20, 01:29 PM
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...of the original components, the most iffy one is the rear derailleur, but it works OK, if you accept the limitations of the design. If yours has been a commuter, it's not unlikely some of the original stuff has been replaced. AS stated above, it's all metric, a French bicycle manufactured in Spain.
...of the original components, the most iffy one is the rear derailleur, but it works OK, if you accept the limitations of the design. If yours has been a commuter, it's not unlikely some of the original stuff has been replaced. AS stated above, it's all metric, a French bicycle manufactured in Spain.
12-01-20, 04:22 PM
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...of the original components, the most iffy one is the rear derailleur, but it works OK, if you accept the limitations of the design. If yours has been a commuter, it's not unlikely some of the original stuff has been replaced. AS stated above, it's all metric, a French bicycle manufactured in Spain.
...of the original components, the most iffy one is the rear derailleur, but it works OK, if you accept the limitations of the design. If yours has been a commuter, it's not unlikely some of the original stuff has been replaced. AS stated above, it's all metric, a French bicycle manufactured in Spain.
The Zeus one has the advantage of being paired with a front mech of equal if not greater bling. The best of the Campy and Huret rears were equally shiny, but their fronts were drab.
12-01-20, 09:06 PM
#12
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.
...of the original components, the most iffy one is the rear derailleur, but it works OK, if you accept the limitations of the design. If yours has been a commuter, it's not unlikely some of the original stuff has been replaced. AS stated above, it's all metric, a French bicycle manufactured in Spain.
...of the original components, the most iffy one is the rear derailleur, but it works OK, if you accept the limitations of the design. If yours has been a commuter, it's not unlikely some of the original stuff has been replaced. AS stated above, it's all metric, a French bicycle manufactured in Spain.
12-02-20, 01:18 PM
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I actually don't think there is a single thing made by Zeus on this frame sadly, luckily I ordered super alfa breaks, a Zeus competition crankset and a criterium derailleur so eventually most of it will be Zeus except perhaps the headset. Knowing what I know now I'm looking at a Velo Orange french threaded headset.
...the deal with those is that they have a pretty big stack height, compared to the originals. Which is a shame. But if you have enough fork steerer to make one work, they are good quality for the price they sell them at. There was one window of time when they were closing out the old Stronglight A9's. They were cheaply priced, and I wish I'd had the good sense to buy a few more of them.
