Zeus Pista 1977 and 1978 Zeus Professional
10-22-17, 03:36 PM
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Zeus Pista 1977 and 1978 Zeus Professional
For years I've wanted a Zeus bicycle and yesterday I was finally successful in getting not just one but 2 Zeus bikes.
I purchased them from the original owner, who had a very successful amateur racing career on both the road and track - in 1977 he was provincial champion in both. He says his biggest regret was coming close but not winning a national title.
This is his ~1976 Zeus Pista. It's been hanging in his garage for years as his health has failed him and he's no longer able to ride bikes.
Tubing is "R531 frame tubes". Saddle (Ideale 2002), seat post (Milremo 26.8), stem (Cinelli) and bars (Cinelli Criterium 65) are about the only non-Zeus parts on the bike. I think it's going to clean up beautifully. I've never ridden a fixie or on a track so those will be challenges for next year. Calgary has an outdoor velodrome but I've never stopped to look at it.
These pictures are as bought:
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
The second bike is a 1978 Zeus Professional, which has suffered a little harsher existance. The rear dropouts cracked early on in his ownership so he had them replaced (with heavier duty Zeus dropouts) which necessitated a repaint which he did himself, hence no decals.The red logo on the head tube is from the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
The bike is Super-Vitus 971 tubing and he has replaced many of the components with Zues 2000 gear. The seat post is a Campy 26.8.
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
Untitled by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
Both bikes need new wheels and tires.
Thanks for looking.
Brad
I purchased them from the original owner, who had a very successful amateur racing career on both the road and track - in 1977 he was provincial champion in both. He says his biggest regret was coming close but not winning a national title.
This is his ~1976 Zeus Pista. It's been hanging in his garage for years as his health has failed him and he's no longer able to ride bikes.
Tubing is "R531 frame tubes". Saddle (Ideale 2002), seat post (Milremo 26.8), stem (Cinelli) and bars (Cinelli Criterium 65) are about the only non-Zeus parts on the bike. I think it's going to clean up beautifully. I've never ridden a fixie or on a track so those will be challenges for next year. Calgary has an outdoor velodrome but I've never stopped to look at it.
These pictures are as bought:
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on FlickrZeus by BJ Stevens, on FlickrThe second bike is a 1978 Zeus Professional, which has suffered a little harsher existance. The rear dropouts cracked early on in his ownership so he had them replaced (with heavier duty Zeus dropouts) which necessitated a repaint which he did himself, hence no decals.The red logo on the head tube is from the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
The bike is Super-Vitus 971 tubing and he has replaced many of the components with Zues 2000 gear. The seat post is a Campy 26.8.
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on FlickrZeus by BJ Stevens, on FlickrZeus by BJ Stevens, on FlickrZeus by BJ Stevens, on FlickrUntitled by BJ Stevens, on FlickrBoth bikes need new wheels and tires.
Thanks for looking.
Brad
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10-22-17, 03:57 PM
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Nice bikes. That pista is the bee's knees.
10-22-17, 07:24 PM
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...Zeus 2000 was by far the finest component group they ever produced.
If I were replacing stuff on a Zeus bike back then, that's what I wouild have chosen.
...Zeus 2000 was by far the finest component group they ever produced.
If I were replacing stuff on a Zeus bike back then, that's what I wouild have chosen.
10-22-17, 08:08 PM
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And the Forum members should know that it was @Stevensb who rescued a bent Zeus frame&fork, earlier this year, that both @gugie and I bid to purchase. Appropriately (given his frame building/repairing skills), it went to Senor Gugie and was shipped from Calgary to Portland for repair. Through great benevolence, it came to me and is being assembled by @Lascauxcaveman, with many Zeus components. @Andy Antipas provided a drillium Zeus crankset.
Only now, reading post #1, did I know Stevensb had 'Zeus on the brain'; which makes my getting a long prized bike even more special. Thanks to you guys. Again. What a special place this Forum has been to me.
..... and with mild apologies for repeating a story previously told......
Now back to admiring these 2 fine bikes with a great history and neat story.
Brad - glad you got your Zeus x 2, you deserve them.
Only now, reading post #1, did I know Stevensb had 'Zeus on the brain'; which makes my getting a long prized bike even more special. Thanks to you guys. Again. What a special place this Forum has been to me.
..... and with mild apologies for repeating a story previously told......
Now back to admiring these 2 fine bikes with a great history and neat story.
Brad - glad you got your Zeus x 2, you deserve them.
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Last edited by Wildwood; 10-22-17 at 08:18 PM.
10-22-17, 08:22 PM
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Great Zeus, whatta find!
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10-22-17, 11:58 PM
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Nice catch, Brad! Beautiful bikes, the both of them. Looking forward to seeing more. 
10-23-17, 09:45 AM
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I've always liked Zeus, as they are slightly exotic in North America. My best friend in high school had a Zeus Professional or a model like it. There weren't many bike companies that made both the components and the frames, and those that did, didn't usually do a stellar job at both, but Zeus did. Spain was a totalitarian country at the time, so we didn't hear or see much from it, and this was a small glimpse. Interestingly, the threading and diameters are French. Hey, if they had to pick a standard, I suppose French made sense for Spain.
Riding a fixie isn't that hard. If you're going to ride it in traffic, install a front brake.
Riding a fixie isn't that hard. If you're going to ride it in traffic, install a front brake.
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New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
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Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
10-23-17, 10:01 AM
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that Zeus track bike is very pretty, but i worked in a shop in the 70s that carried a Zeus or two. The parts were exact copies of Campy, I was told, because Spain didn't honor patents or copyrights. This made me not care for them very much. But the "2000" center pull brake was a pretty thing, indeed...
10-24-17, 08:06 AM
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Zeus threads sink like a rock on BF C&V. 
Apparently no love.
Inexplicable!
Apparently no love.
Inexplicable!
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10-24-17, 10:10 AM
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But as regards the tubing and threading, I'm not sure the above statement is true in the late 70s to early 80s.
@Lascauxcaveman might comment as well as OP.
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10-24-17, 10:27 AM
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That road bike, with its known racing history and history of modification is, to me, a very special sort of bike. Even better when you get to learn those details from the original owner!
Brent
Brent
10-24-17, 03:32 PM
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I agree with @obrentharris that the first- hand history of the bike is nice to have. It will also make the decision to repaint at some time a difficult one.
Here's an article summarizing the original owner's race succeses in the 1977 Alberta road and track championships:
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on Flickr
Brad
Here's an article summarizing the original owner's race succeses in the 1977 Alberta road and track championships:
Zeus by BJ Stevens, on FlickrBrad
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Last edited by Stevensb; 10-24-17 at 03:32 PM. Reason: typo
10-24-17, 04:16 PM
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Nice score, nice story. Thanks for posting.
10-24-17, 07:28 PM
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Back to the OP subject.
Phenomenal pair of bikes and the storyline raises the bar. Preserve and enjoy the rides-
(a lil' of this, a little of that)
[IMG]
DSC_0694 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG][IMG]
DSC_0675 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG][IMG]
DSC_0687 (3) by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]
