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

Vintage Look Tri Frame ??

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.

Vintage Look Tri Frame ??

Old 07-12-21, 07:19 PM
  #1  
sdn40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Green Bay, WI
Posts: 645

Bikes: 88 Cannondale Criterium

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 291 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 91 Posts
Vintage Look Tri Frame ??

I posted in the Tri Forum, but thought I would try here too. Bought this after seeing it on Facebook for 4 weeks. No one wanted it. The owner said he ordered the frame from LBS and it didn't come with decals. Weird. He seems to remember it being a Look frame. I thought Kestrel but can't find anything similar on the web. I took a chance for peanuts. White tag on bottom bracket reads 000907. Gonna try to hunt that down


sdn40 is offline  
Likes For sdn40:
Old 07-12-21, 10:17 PM
  #2  
ShannonM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 848
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 405 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 430 Times in 286 Posts
That's an Aegis. The weird seatpost binder gives it away.

If I had to guess its original badging, I'd go with a Trek 5000, just because that was the most common in the US. Plus, you're in Wisconsin. There was an Aegis-made PDG Paramount, too, if memory serves.

I'm not aware of any Look-branded Aegis frames. My understanding is that the first Look carbon frames were made by TVT, later ones in-house, but our resident Look experts could tell you for sure.

--Shannon
ShannonM is offline  
Likes For ShannonM:
Old 07-13-21, 12:13 AM
  #3  
sdn40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Green Bay, WI
Posts: 645

Bikes: 88 Cannondale Criterium

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 291 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 91 Posts
Originally Posted by ShannonM
That's an Aegis. The weird seatpost binder gives it away.

If I had to guess its original badging, I'd go with a Trek 5000, just because that was the most common in the US. Plus, you're in Wisconsin. There was an Aegis-made PDG Paramount, too, if memory serves.

I'm not aware of any Look-branded Aegis frames. My understanding is that the first Look carbon frames were made by TVT, later ones in-house, but our resident Look experts could tell you for sure.

--Shannon
You're the man. Thanks. Kinda makes me think the seller was hiding the origin - but I'm only in it for $200 (I can make that back in parts I don't need) so no worries there. The paint is excellent and my intention was to build a 2x9 and I guess I don't see any reason not to do just that. Just starting the research thanks to your help. Interesting stuff


1990 Profile For Speed Air Raid:Profile for Speed was mostly known for their bicycle parts but they did dabble in frames as well. Aegis had worked with Trek on some of their early carbon bikes and decided to go their own way due to some disagreements over construction techniques. They offered some private label frames to several companies including Profile. Nice looking frame with internal cable routing and a clean seat binder arrangement. Components are mostly Shimano 105 and 600 from the era.

Last edited by sdn40; 07-13-21 at 12:21 AM.
sdn40 is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 12:30 AM
  #4  
ShannonM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 848
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 405 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 430 Times in 286 Posts
I wonder if the serial number would tell you what the frame was originally badged as?

Super cool late 80s / early 90s go-fast bike. Those og HED wheels are rad.

--Shannon
ShannonM is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 12:37 AM
  #5  
sdn40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Green Bay, WI
Posts: 645

Bikes: 88 Cannondale Criterium

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 291 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 91 Posts
Originally Posted by ShannonM
I wonder if the serial number would tell you what the frame was originally badged as?

Super cool late 80s / early 90s go-fast bike. Those og HED wheels are rad.

--Shannon
From what you've said and the very little I've now seen online, I gotta think it was never badged as anything ?? Purchased directly from Aegis ?? Unfortunately it looks as if they are out of business, but I am just starting to look around, and I'll definitely chase the serial # if I can

Last edited by sdn40; 07-13-21 at 12:44 AM.
sdn40 is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 06:30 AM
  #6  
Chuckk
Groupetto Dragon-Ass
 
Chuckk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lostin Austin, TX
Posts: 602
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 412 Post(s)
Liked 762 Times in 363 Posts
Aegis was still in business until maybe 5 years ago.
Another good hint is the sliding rear wheel dropout adjustment.
They also built the first generation carbon for Basso, and kept manufacturing in the US right up to the end (unlike Kestrel, who went offshore almost immediately).


'91 Basso Laguna
Chuckk is offline  
Likes For Chuckk:
Old 07-13-21, 12:58 PM
  #7  
sdn40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Green Bay, WI
Posts: 645

Bikes: 88 Cannondale Criterium

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 291 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 91 Posts
Speaking of dropouts - the spacing is currently 127. That's not gonna cut it for me. Luckily (I hope) they used aluminum block dropout spacers. Can I shave these blocks down to allow modern wheelsets ??? I would have to find a way to do it accurately of course. And would I do both sides or only the non driveline side ??




Last edited by sdn40; 07-13-21 at 01:07 PM.
sdn40 is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 01:23 PM
  #8  
himespau 
Senior Member
 
himespau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,553
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4199 Post(s)
Liked 2,913 Times in 1,781 Posts
Those are some bulky dropouts.
himespau is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 01:45 PM
  #9  
sdn40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Green Bay, WI
Posts: 645

Bikes: 88 Cannondale Criterium

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 291 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 91 Posts
Originally Posted by himespau
Those are some bulky dropouts.
From what I understand, everything was done in house. So I wonder if they milled the blocks as necessary per order
sdn40 is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 06:14 PM
  #10  
ShannonM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 848
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 405 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 430 Times in 286 Posts
128 mm spacing wasn't unusual around 1990. When D/A was 8 speed and 130 mm, and everything else was 7 speed and 126, it saved having to make 2 different frames. I'm not aware of it ever being a problem.

If it bugs the heck outta ya, and if you can machine the dropout blocks straight and flat, I can't see why it wouldn't work, but I wouldn't bother. Stick a wheel in there and ride it like you stole it!

(And, let's honest here... ya kinda did... 200 bones is a sweet, sweet deal!)

--Shannon
ShannonM is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 06:28 PM
  #11  
sdn40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Green Bay, WI
Posts: 645

Bikes: 88 Cannondale Criterium

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 291 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 91 Posts
Originally Posted by ShannonM
128 mm spacing wasn't unusual around 1990. When D/A was 8 speed and 130 mm, and everything else was 7 speed and 126, it saved having to make 2 different frames. I'm not aware of it ever being a problem.

If it bugs the heck outta ya, and if you can machine the dropout blocks straight and flat, I can't see why it wouldn't work, but I wouldn't bother. Stick a wheel in there and ride it like you stole it!

(And, let's honest here... ya kinda did... 200 bones is a sweet, sweet deal!)

--Shannon
I would - but then I'm limited to some old matrix freewwheel and 7 speed. I'm thinking Ksyrium or Fulcrum with 9 speed cassette. By the way - the cable routing on this thing is epic. I'll get pics when I can.

Last edited by sdn40; 07-13-21 at 06:34 PM.
sdn40 is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 06:38 PM
  #12  
ShannonM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 848
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 405 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 430 Times in 286 Posts
Originally Posted by sdn40
I would - but then I'm limited to some old matrix freewwheel and 7 speed. I'm thinking Ksyrium or Fulcrum with 9 speed cassette. By the way - the cable routing on this thing is epic. I'll get pics when I can.
Sorry for the confusion... I meant "just stick a 130 mm wheel in there and ride it like you stole it."

And, yeah... I hear ya on the cables. I always figure that the only reason that Aegis didn't do an internal front brake cable was that they couldn't figure out how... if they coulda, they woulda.

I'd be really leery of buying 2000s-era proprietary wheels. Kysrium spokes were like 11 bucks a piece back in '03, and even then they were special-order parts direct from Mavic. Anything weirder than Ksyriums would be even harder... and the Good Lord help you if you strip a nipple. But they'd look hella dope on the bike, fo sho.

--Shannon

PS: The HEDs are, IMNSHO, wall art. I wouldn't ride 30 year old carbon wheels, nor sell them to anyone else. The disc would make a rad man-cave table...

Last edited by ShannonM; 07-13-21 at 06:49 PM.
ShannonM is offline  
Likes For ShannonM:
Old 07-13-21, 07:16 PM
  #13  
Chuckk
Groupetto Dragon-Ass
 
Chuckk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lostin Austin, TX
Posts: 602
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 412 Post(s)
Liked 762 Times in 363 Posts
My '91 Basso/Aegis is set up for a 7 speed wheel as well.
I've reset a bunch of steel frames out to 130, but I'd worry about old CF.
Spreading the stays might be OK (or maybe not), but think about the dropouts not being parallel after the spread.
You're not going to be able to bend them back parallel, so when you tighten up the quick change lever, it will try to.
So all that force is going to go into the bond point between the dropout and wheel stay.
Seems to me that would be a problem eventually.
But I bet the frame builder's forum would have some experience with that.

Chuckk is offline  
Likes For Chuckk:
Old 07-13-21, 07:49 PM
  #14  
sdn40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Green Bay, WI
Posts: 645

Bikes: 88 Cannondale Criterium

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 291 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 91 Posts
Originally Posted by Chuckk
My '91 Basso/Aegis is set up for a 7 speed wheel as well.
I've reset a bunch of steel frames out to 130, but I'd worry about old CF.
Spreading the stays might be OK (or maybe not), but think about the dropouts not being parallel after the spread.
You're not going to be able to bend them back parallel, so when you tighten up the quick change lever, it will try to.
So all that force is going to go into the bond point between the dropout and wheel stay.
Seems to me that would be a problem eventually.
But I bet the frame builder's forum would have some experience with that.

Thanks Chuck. You didn't mention in your previous post that the Basso was yours. Great looking bike !!!
I wouldn't spread the stays on this bike - or any carbon bike. But as I stated above (see the pics) I am thinking about taking a millimeter off of each aluminum dropout block to get the 130 that would allow a modern drivetrain
sdn40 is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 08:11 PM
  #15  
madpogue 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,876
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2350 Post(s)
Liked 1,728 Times in 1,180 Posts
Hmm, just spitballin', but what if you swapped those dropouts left to right, but mounted them outboard? Might that possibly just get you to 130?

Or maybe, since that frame was built into so many different brands, maybe there are existing thinner dropouts out there.
madpogue is offline  
Old 07-13-21, 09:22 PM
  #16  
ShannonM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 848
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 405 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 430 Times in 286 Posts
Originally Posted by madpogue
Hmm, just spitballin', but what if you swapped those dropouts left to right, but mounted them outboard? Might that possibly just get you to 130?

Or maybe, since that frame was built into so many different brands, maybe there are existing thinner dropouts out there.
I think this is the right answer. It seems like Aegis made this frame for a buncha years, and if that's true, I'd bet that when they went to 130, all they did was change the dropout plates. Cheaper than buying a new mold, right?

Super weird thought... If Aegis made MTB frames, I bet there's 135 mm plates out there as well. You could build some hella trick lightweight bombproof wheels around some blingy lightweight MTB hubs.

--Shannon
ShannonM is offline  
Likes For ShannonM:
Old 07-14-21, 07:21 AM
  #17  
Chuckk
Groupetto Dragon-Ass
 
Chuckk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lostin Austin, TX
Posts: 602
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 412 Post(s)
Liked 762 Times in 363 Posts
The Wayback Machine still has a lot of the Aegis pages backed up.
Here's their own history
Interesting place to poke around, once you figure out how to use Wayback'

One more hint, when you are considering fitting a wider wheel, check the distance from the outside gear to the stays including chain clearance.
Not a big improvement if you start sawing a notch in your seat stay.

Last edited by Chuckk; 07-14-21 at 08:44 AM.
Chuckk is offline  
Old 07-15-21, 01:13 PM
  #18  
sdn40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Green Bay, WI
Posts: 645

Bikes: 88 Cannondale Criterium

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 291 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 91 Posts
Originally Posted by Chuckk
The Wayback Machine still has a lot of the Aegis pages backed up.
Here's their own history
Interesting place to poke around, once you figure out how to use Wayback'

One more hint, when you are considering fitting a wider wheel, check the distance from the outside gear to the stays including chain clearance.
Not a big improvement if you start sawing a notch in your seat stay.
I am definitely going to run my idea passed a few people smarter than me - frame and wheels in hand. The Profile Design bike I posted above gives me hope. I'll make some wood dropout pieces to verify it will work if I have to
sdn40 is offline  

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.