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

Teledyne Titan on tour

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.

Teledyne Titan on tour

Old 09-27-19, 12:46 PM
  #1  
Random Tandem
Old Bike Craphound
Thread Starter
 
Random Tandem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 206

Bikes: 1974 Teledyne Titan, 1970's Sekine, 1980's Kuwahara Tandem, plus a few dozen

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Liked 58 Times in 31 Posts
Teledyne Titan on tour



Beautiful Idaho in the background

Last week I picked up a 24" 1975 Teledyne Titan (S/N: 000653), vintage titanium road bike and was able to get it built up for a test ride tour on the Couer d'Alene trail in Idaho (stunningly beautiful and very gentle riding for 73 miles on a converted rail bed thanks to environmental cleanup under the EPA). As purchased the bike did not include the original titanium fork, which were the Achilles Heel of this classic bike, so I built it with a hi-tensile fork I had on hand from an Apollo Sport 10 with the correct length steerer. Otherwise, the components are Shimano 600 Arabesque that I took off a Apollo Gran Sport that I converted to brifters for my nephew. The drivetrain is completed with a Uniglide cassette that gets me up to 34 teeth to improve the climbing potential of a bike with a 130BCD double crankset. I was as careful as I could be adding a rack to carry clothes and tools for the tour, with the contact points being the seatpost and steel brackets I made that rest on the rear axle and are attached through the holes in the titanium rear dropouts (spaced away from the dropouts with plastic inserts). The completed bikes weighs in below 21 lbs and is a very smooth rider. Notorious for being too flexy, I find the Titan to be a great rider, for me as a smooth pedaling touring rider of 185 lbs.

PS - I am not able to see any of the photos I have tried to post. What worked for me in the past to upload jpegs seems to no longer work.

PPS - Turns out the problem was with my browser not loading the images...doh! I added a couple more pix in a later post.

Last edited by Random Tandem; 09-28-19 at 08:16 AM. Reason: Trying to attach pix...
Random Tandem is offline  
Likes For Random Tandem:
Old 09-27-19, 01:59 PM
  #2  
mpetry912 
aged to perfection
 
mpetry912's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: PacNW
Posts: 1,773

Bikes: Dinucci Allez 2.0, Richard Sachs, Alex Singer, Serotta, Masi GC, Raleigh Pro Mk.1, Hetchins, etc

Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 819 Post(s)
Liked 1,219 Times in 643 Posts
Dang. that is exactly how it was done back in the day. Just bolt it together and ride it. Awesome.

Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
mpetry912 is offline  
Old 09-27-19, 02:17 PM
  #3  
RobbieTunes
Banned.
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,297
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,407 Times in 908 Posts
Good on you. They do ride smooth, and @crank_addict will chime in soon.
I think there's a 4th out there, too. I need an updated photo, as I've "done made it gooder."
RobbieTunes is offline  
Old 09-27-19, 02:39 PM
  #4  
due ruote 
Senior Member
 
due ruote's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,707
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 903 Post(s)
Liked 524 Times in 318 Posts
Originally Posted by mpetry912
Dang. that is exactly how it was done back in the day. Just bolt it together and ride it. Awesome.

Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
+1 Very refreshing.
due ruote is offline  
Old 09-27-19, 02:40 PM
  #5  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by mpetry912
Dang. that is exactly how it was done back in the day. Just bolt it together and ride it. Awesome.

Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
+1, it's like an "outlaw" Porsche.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 09-27-19, 03:29 PM
  #6  
'02 nrs
Senior Member
 
'02 nrs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: se MIch.
Posts: 2,917

Bikes: 1938 claud butler,1983 Basso,teledyne titan,teocali super,nrs,1993 stumpjumper fsr,Paramountain,Paramount Buell(sold),4 banger,Zaskar LE,Colnago Master Ibex MTB,1987ish,.etc....

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 787 Post(s)
Liked 2,910 Times in 1,472 Posts
congratulations on the find.

#204 spoken for/
'02 nrs is offline  
Old 09-28-19, 08:13 AM
  #7  
Random Tandem
Old Bike Craphound
Thread Starter
 
Random Tandem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 206

Bikes: 1974 Teledyne Titan, 1970's Sekine, 1980's Kuwahara Tandem, plus a few dozen

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Liked 58 Times in 31 Posts
Additional Photos

I had problems with uploading, but here are a few more photos that I had meant to include in the first post:


Cockpit view: Nitto stem and B115 handlebars


Narrowed "neck" on oversized downtube to allow use of traditional clamp shifters

Someday I plan to work more on the cosmetics of this bike (and perhaps replace fork with a 1" threadless steerer carbon fork), but for now I am going for a ride! Unlikely to obtain the missing decals, as I like the stealth benefit of riding a great bike that looks (to most bike thieves, I hope) like a mid-70s junk build.

-Will

Last edited by Random Tandem; 09-28-19 at 08:18 AM.
Random Tandem is offline  
Likes For Random Tandem:
Old 09-28-19, 10:51 AM
  #8  
RobbieTunes
Banned.
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,297
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,407 Times in 908 Posts
Really cool. I'd send you some 600AX calipers, but then you'd not be able to stop the bike.
One of those bikes, where people want to pick it up, and they go "wow, that IS light!" Every time.
RobbieTunes is offline  
Old 09-28-19, 02:23 PM
  #9  
Random Tandem
Old Bike Craphound
Thread Starter
 
Random Tandem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 206

Bikes: 1974 Teledyne Titan, 1970's Sekine, 1980's Kuwahara Tandem, plus a few dozen

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Liked 58 Times in 31 Posts
Genuine Scott Mathauser Brake Shoes

I "solved" the weak braking with period-appropriate Scott Mathauser brake shoes that I rescued from the bike co-op just waiting for this frame to come along.

-Will

Last edited by Random Tandem; 09-30-19 at 08:36 AM. Reason: ...speling
Random Tandem is offline  
Old 09-29-19, 03:36 PM
  #10  
crank_addict
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,150
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1361 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 422 Times in 282 Posts
+1

Suggest adding this decal from a few decades ago.

crank_addict is offline  
Old 09-29-19, 04:00 PM
  #11  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
"A few decades", ouch. Has it been that long since we were all wearing "No Fear" shirts in middle school?
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 09-29-19, 04:18 PM
  #12  
crank_addict
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,150
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1361 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 422 Times in 282 Posts
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
"A few decades", ouch. Has it been that long since we were all wearing "No Fear" shirts in middle school?
Middle school?? Lol.
And my guess your parent's were iffy on the influence of those shirts!

Side note. Back when I was deep into scrubbing rubber on two wheels with liter sized motors between them, I frequently spent riding (including closed course) with the cuz of founder of L.A.beach and spin-off labels as above, etc.. He later moved to LA and should be called 'fast life'.
crank_addict is offline  
Likes For crank_addict:
Old 09-29-19, 04:39 PM
  #13  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by crank_addict
Middle school?? Lol.
And my guess your parent's were iffy on the influence of those shirts!

Side note. Back when I was deep into scrubbing rubber on two wheels with liter sized motors between them, I frequently spent riding (including closed course) with the cuz of founder of L.A.beach and spin-off labels as above, etc.. He later moved to LA and should be called 'fast life'.
I don't remember my parents saying much about them. Christian-themed knockoffs were popular in my area, too.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 09-30-19, 11:40 AM
  #14  
kingsting
Bicycle Repairman
 
kingsting's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Land of Three Mile Island
Posts: 685

Bikes: Many

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 18 Posts
I like unusual bikes and this Titan fit the bill so it ended up in my collection a couple years back. It's serial # 002 and belonged to Fred DeLong at one time. Has a few unusual things going on including an early Mathhauser hydraulic brake up front and a Scott Superbrake out back.




This bike came out of Via Bicycle in Philadelphia and Joel from the shop did a nice blog post about it back in 2014.

https://bikeville.com/2014/01/23/coo...eledyne-titan/
kingsting is offline  
Old 09-30-19, 03:41 PM
  #15  
RobbieTunes
Banned.
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,297
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,407 Times in 908 Posts
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
"A few decades", ouch. Has it been that long since we were all wearing "No Fear" shirts in middle school?
I had no idea what that even referred to.
RobbieTunes is offline  
Likes For RobbieTunes:
Old 09-30-19, 03:53 PM
  #16  
tricky 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Upper Left, USA
Posts: 1,953
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 634 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times in 298 Posts
Originally Posted by kingsting
I like unusual bikes and this Titan fit the bill so it ended up in my collection a couple years back. It's serial # 002 and belonged to Fred DeLong at one time. Has a few unusual things going on including an early Mathhauser hydraulic brake up front and a Scott Superbrake out back.




This bike came out of Via Bicycle in Philadelphia and Joel from the shop did a nice blog post about it back in 2014.

https://bikeville.com/2014/01/23/coo...eledyne-titan/
Whoa. Have anymore pics of either brake?
tricky is offline  
Old 09-30-19, 06:43 PM
  #17  
kingsting
Bicycle Repairman
 
kingsting's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Land of Three Mile Island
Posts: 685

Bikes: Many

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 18 Posts
Originally Posted by tricky
Whoa. Have anymore pics of either brake?
Here are the ones from the blog page:




kingsting is offline  
Likes For kingsting:
Old 09-30-19, 10:17 PM
  #18  
Lascauxcaveman 
Senior Member
 
Lascauxcaveman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Port Angeles, WA
Posts: 8,016

Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.

Mentioned: 194 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 629 Times in 355 Posts
Very eccentric addition to your eclectic collection, @Random Tandem. Arabesque gruppo FTW!
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●

Lascauxcaveman is offline  
Old 10-01-19, 12:15 PM
  #19  
sauze
Senior Member
 
sauze's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 950
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Very neat bike! I don't think I've seen a titanium bike that old before.
sauze is offline  
Old 10-02-19, 12:20 PM
  #20  
tricky 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Upper Left, USA
Posts: 1,953
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 634 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times in 298 Posts
Originally Posted by kingsting
Here are the ones from the blog page:
Thanks! I missed the link to the blog post. Those are so cool and obscure. I didn't know anyone besides Magura made hydro rim brakes or that Scott made calipers. Very cool stuff.
tricky is offline  
Likes For tricky:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


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.