Smokinapankake

I picked up an entirely original garage queen GS several years ago and was not impressed. Thrift store find for 25 bux, still had the reflectors n the wheels.

What irritated me the most was the fact that I'd heard so much hype about the Carlton frames, but on close inspection mine had gaps in the braze at the lugs. I sold it on Ebay and made a few bux, so I guess that part was okay. Mine had a Pletscher rack, too.

mkeller234

Yes, this frame is very sloppy too. The seat cluster has giant gobs of brass, full of peaks and valleys. It looks pretty good if you squint your eyes! Despite it's cosmetic flaws, it does seem to ride pretty nice. My Professional shows much better, but it's not perfect either.

redneckwes

Matt,
Right from under my nose!! How did I miss this?

Needless to say, if you ever part with this one.......

Sixty Fiver

Picked up an 87-88 Steve Bauer "Chinook" this am for a whopping $40.00... the Araya red label 700's are in perfect shape (laced to Suzue sealed hubs), the bearings were squeaky clean and smooooth, and the frame and decals are in nice shape (it does has some scuffs).

It got new cables and some polishing and although they are smooth as buttah the bottom bracket and headset will also get their bearings repacked.

Lugged Tange 900 chromoly frame, cast dropouts (with adjusters), Shimano light action derailleurs (6 speed), Tange Falcon sealed headset ($50.00 new)... it's a pretty decent parts spec and it's a fairly high quality entry level vintage lightweight

52 cm frame means it will have to go to a new home... pictures to follow.

noglider 

I can't wait to see it. But wait, did you say the bearings squeak?

Sixty Fiver

Tom - The bike has no squeaks...

And it's teal green.... it's purty !

Sixty Fiver

I am guessing that it curbs out at 22-23 pounds and have not decided on bar tape... I will leave that up to it's new owner.

The frame has an excellent lively feel and a very nice ride (and it is running 700:23's), the handling is crisp, and there is very little flex when you drop the hammer... it is a very pleasing road bike.

Steve Bauer started designing and marketing his own line of bikes after he retired from professional racing (raced in the TdF 11 times) and sourced his frames from Japan rather than Taiwan... this model was made at the peak of production (87-88) and before the company started to wind down and eventually cease to exist.

Pics...

noglider 

You have access to far too many lovely bicycles. Something is out of balance in the universe.

noglider 

Speaking of Steve Bauer.

Sixty Fiver

I must be saying the right prayers to the bike gods... just weighed the bike and without tape it is 23 pounds even.

Have been home and back to the shop and dayum but this thing rides nice... and does it ever fly.

GrayJay

Steve Bauer did not retire until 1996, a decade or so after the founding of the bike company. Bauer was in town (Austin) visiting with Lance during December of 1993 doing some winter training on snow free roads and I had the pleasure of joining him on a relaxed 100+ mile training ride and chatting with him, nice guy. I actually skipped out on my own university graduation ceremony to instead go on that ride. Anyone remember the chopper bike that he pioneered for cobbel classics racing?

ak08820

I could not pass up a Fuji Supreme, drove almost 100 miles round trip to get it, too. It looked much better in the picture sent by the seller.





But it has much worse tarnishing than I expected.





But, it does have some good parts, like a Nitto stem and Fuji/Nitto bar. The bar is Manganese Steel, not Aluminum. I am ready to swap the bar with anyone for an aluminum moustache bar. The bar does not have much tarnish at all. It has DiaCompe brakes, Fuji crank and Suntour derailleurs, hubs, etc. It is quite light and has aluminum rims.



The seller had stored it in a shed, not a garage, under a plastic cover, which probably accelerated the effects of heat and moisture.
Now, I am thinking of either a restore with a flat/moustache bar or a single speed conversion.

I still can't believe I got a Miata Ninety last year from a guy in near mint condition, with a manual, too.
Rode it a couple of times but for now, she will remain as a prized possession.

Grim

That stem can be brought back. I had a Traveler that was worse then that on the cranks and stem and it looked stellar when I was done. Go get some metal polish like Mothers Mag polish, 220, 600 grit sand paper, fine Scotch bright and have at it.

Get the corrosion off it with the 220 then smooth it back down with 600 then use the Scotch bright with the metal polish then metal polish alone. It will come out nice.

rhpdxbikes

So my dad picked me up these two bikes over the last week. Any insight on either of them? One is a Gitane Grand Sport De Luxe (Mixte), made in france, has some Pelisse hubs?, sticker says "tour de france" and another says "custom made"? Don't know anything about this bike. The other is a Motobecane Mirage, Normandy hubs, Suntour V-GTluxe derailleur. Any ideas on either? Values?

Bikedued

Unfortunately my casio's charging base died last night, as I was uploading pics. I will use my trusty Nikon for a few pics this afternoon. I had a pretty good day. First I found a 1985 Peugeot PGN10 in dark grey for $60. Pretty nice condition, and even had replacement tires on mavic rims.

Second, I thought no way would I get them because I saw the ad later on in the day, day before yesterday. I emailed my number and hoped for the best. I met him at a bike shop, and the deal went down. Two Brooks B.17's in really nice shape for $80. They are about 5 years old, and look to have seen very little use. One black, one honey.,,,,,BD

Yep, it was a pretty good day yesterday

noglider 

rhpdxbikes, those bikes are like the Peugeot UO-8. The Motobecane is newer than the Gitane. These are decent entry-level bikes, with ordinary frame tubes and steel rims. The Gitane has Mafac brakes which were some of the best of their time. Hard to adjust but very effective once you get them right. I'd love to buy or trade for the handlebar on that Gitane, if you're interested, and maybe the brake levers, too.

JohnDThompson 

"Pelissier" hubs. The "Professional" model is as good as anything out there; lower models are decent as well.

The Mirage was an entry level bike. Better fix that quick release lever before you ride it, though!

ak08820

Will do, thanks for the very helpful info on the process.

BJK

Looks like a ****load of elbow grease went into getting that bike back to 'showroom' condition.
The term is thrown around a lot here, but that is one sweet-looking bike: brilliant red paint,
increasingly rare mixte frame: I would think you could pretty much name your price for this bike.
Can't recall the last time I ever saw one that nice: in this form or on the street, anywere.

BJK

This is not meant in anyway as a put-down, as anything can be brought back to life with enought effort
(and cash, too often), but I was wondering how this bike got so badly corroded: did it live anywhere
near the ocean (NJ)? or was it simply 'stored' outside somewhere.
Interested in what effect salt content in water vapor will do to steel/aluminum over time.
The bike is not that ancient that you'd expect that much corrosion.

Bikedued

As promised, pics of the PGN10 find from yesterday. I paid $5 extra for the warranty, because I couldn't really check it out at the time. But it seems to be fine. Nice find for $60. Included is an updated pic with new saddle and bars. I may change to rounded drops before I'm done.,,,,,BD

aftofu

i just picked up this old columbia 27" road bike for 40 dollars at a thrift store... i have no idea what year it is or anything about it really. i was just looking for something to maybe do a fixed conversion with.

The Golden Boy 

Thanks for that picture!

Now I'm going to have to dig out the Brasso to shine up the discs on my Roller Cams!!!

noglider 

At the last minute today, I learned of the most enormous rummage sale I've ever seen. There were dozens of bikes. I hope to shoot pictures tomorrow. I also got a trailer. That was $62, but I don't think I could do much better than that.

I got:

- a circa 1975 Gitane 10 speed
- an 1990's Trek Antelope 830
- a circa 1984 Fuji Cambridge VI (city bike)
- a pretty Univega mixte, circa 1982

Bikedued

Has the exact same downtube decal that my 71 Tourist had. I would imagine it's a 70-73 model.,,,,BD