AeroIronBiker

Purchased a frame from France a few years ago to build up for triathlon training and could use some help identifying the frame. Zero plans to sell, just curious if it is an Artisanal Build or perhaps a less familiar Factory build. The frame is made from Super Vitus 980 Arcor and only came with a Sugino seat post and a Simplex braze on front Derailleur (Simplex A222 or A422?). As the frame had dents and surface rust I carefully stripped it and then repainted it. Based on the Front derailleur, if it is indeed original to the build the Frame seems likely to be no older the 1984? I will post photos shortly.

Chombi1 

I sort of remember Gitane building an aero bike of similar description.....
I think they are quite rare and sought after...
Also check out Mecacycle......
They made low production framesets with SV980.
They were known for the split seat tube frameset called the "Turbo", but I think they might have a couple of other models that might also match up to what you have.

T-Mar

The Gitane aero model was called the Profil. All the ones that I've seen have been Reynolds tubing.

Mercier had a Forumle 1 aero series that used Super Vitus on the top models (they were also available in hi-tensile steel). They had a unique and readily identifiable, profiled head tube. However, I haven't seen them with a Simplex front derailleur braze-on They typically used a seat tube that was aero at the top and middle but round at the bottom to accommodate a standard front derailleur clamp.

Motobecane also offered Profil models but again, what I recall doesn't fit the bill. They were used Columbus or hi-tensile aero tubing and used a standard braze-on for Shimano AX front derailleurs. They're readily identifiable by a grub on the font on the seat post to anchor the seat post.

The only Peugeot aero models that I recall are the Carbolite PH12 & P12.

AeroIronBiker

Thanks everyone, I’ve looked at both the Mercier Champion and Gitane Profil and there are definitely some similarities but no spot on match that I’ve see. I was also looking at Courtois and Krabo Frauschied with some likeness as well. Note the seat post is aero all the way through. As soon as I am able to post photos up, I will.

AeroIronBiker

Looks like I need a few more posts before I can thread photos in

AeroIronBiker

If I am locked out from posting further, tonight I can get them in tomorrow

AeroIronBiker

My next post should definitely include photos

machinist42

You can create an Album in the Gallery section of this site, and I'm sure someone will post your pics for you?

WGB 

You are capped at 5 posts a day until you hit 10. Then you have unlimited posts and can post photos.

AeroIronBiker

I was indeed held by the cap. Finally here are some photos.

[img]blob:https://www.bikeforums.net/fdc3b821-4822-4ba5-a9c5-e5a80a7036bc[/img]

[img]blob:https://www.bikeforums.net/6f6153be-04f7-482b-976e-24af734d6ce4[/img]

[img]blob:https://www.bikeforums.net/6351c6dc-3e08-452c-87a9-1786921d2891[/img]

[img]blob:https://www.bikeforums.net/0eb44f6f-1438-425e-832f-9ecfa8091a77[/img]

[img]blob:https://www.bikeforums.net/75fb6e89-cddf-4ad1-93a8-0a7807ae6607[/img]

[img]blob:https://www.bikeforums.net/1f17abe1-ad3e-4939-9c1c-8a7f19694346[/img]

[img]blob:https://www.bikeforums.net/78bf7648-ae12-4604-a6af-25763802268a[/img]

Chombi1 

Pics do not show up at my end.
I think you need to link your images into the thread through a hosting site like Imgur........

AeroIronBiker

AeroIronBiker

Hopefully these photos show up now. I believe the inline photos simply didn’t upload properly so I used import instead.

unworthy1

Interesting! Do not recognize this but clearly has "Vitus" connections...Sugino seatpost, huh? Will be watching for what the experts have to say.

T-Mar

Looks like these were branded as Vitus. Also found a reference to one branded as Hinault.

unworthy1

Nice job (again) T-Mar!
But some variation insofaras the example you found *seems* to be full lugless (or perhaps just something at the headtube) whereas the OPs has a conventional BB shell, except for the oversize/shaped sockets for the oversized/shaped tubes and stays! But I may be misreading that pic, I cannot enlarge it (with my laptop of the moment).The rest seems lugless and a clear match in most all other respects
T-Mar nailed this!

T-Mar

You are correct, the Vitus labelled frame is fully fillet brazed. However, this was not unusual with the early 1980s aero tubesets. Early samples were often fillet brazed, with the matching BB shells (and lugs) being developed later. We saw the same thing in the late 1980s when oversize and non-round tubing started to get popular. Tubesets like Columbus MAX were introduced before the matching BB shell and lug sets became available.

AeroIronBiker

Thanks T-Mar this is the closest match I’ve seen for sure! With the slight differences with the BB braze, the fork and top of the seat tube (center hole) where would you place this frame relative to the one you posted? Is this a mid late 80’s frame? Early 90’s?

Finally here are a few more pics...






Note that I have since changed out the crankset for a Mavic Starfish, pedals to look, and seat to a Sella Italia. Between the trainer and the road, I’ve put a few thousand kms on this bike and it rides beautifully.

T-Mar

I'd place both frames early 1980s. The one reason that I posted the SV980 Arcor spec sheet is that it's dated. I believe the date is September 01, 1980 but it could also be read January 09, 1980. Either way, you've got a relatively small, nine month window for what I believe is the introduction date.

In January 1984 Francesco Moser broke Eddy Merckx's 1972 Hour Record using a (then) radical bicycle with unequal sized disc wheels (smaller front wheel) and a top tube that sloped downwards, from back to front. Many thought Merckx's Hour Record unbeatable and Moser's accomplishment set a trend for TT frames with smaller front wheels and sloping tubes. Given the horizontal top tube and equal sized wheels, I don't think these SV980 Arcor frames extended much past 1984, if at all.

One thing that I forgot mention to further support the probability of it being a Vitus brand, is the marque's tendency during this period to produce their own specialty frames. The need to deal with aero tubing and fillet brazing would have been daunting for many of the smaller manufacturers, so Vitus probably saw a potential market to offer a standard aero frame for rebranding, in much the same way that they did with their bonded aluminum frames of the era. Offering pre-fabricated aluminum, aero (and later, carbon fibre) frames, would open up a market of smaller builders who wanted to offer state-of-the art specialty frames without the expense of developing new manufacturing processes.

GP210

In France, the date number order is the day, then months and years. Here it is September 1st, 1980.
I have a super Vitus Arcor. I bought it new in 1983. Still a first hand :-)
I will make a presentation post soon.