Surprise gift today - Litespeed titanium content
09-12-21, 06:27 PM
#1
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Surprise gift today - Litespeed titanium content
I'm in West Virginia for a college softball recruiting visit with my daughter and this morning get a surprise text from a friend. I get messages like this once in awhile because of my C&V interest (my wife says obsession). My friend's sends me a couple of photos and a text wanting to know if I was interested in a bike that was the dad's of his daughter-in-law. He had passed away quite awhile ago and the bike hadn't been ridden in 10-15 yrs. He was going to give it to me free if I was interested.
Well, free peaks the curiosity. The initial glance at the dark picture showed a dirty bike. Then I blew up the photo and saw Litespeed decals and a Flite saddle. Uh, yeah, "I'll take it" was my text back.
I'm not back home until Tuesday and the curiosity is killing me so I had my wife take photos and send then to me. Dura Ace components, 8 spd and Mavic Open 4 CD wheels. The stem has to go. Definitely excited to get home and check this one out.
Anyone with an idea on the year? It may not be truly C&V
Well, free peaks the curiosity. The initial glance at the dark picture showed a dirty bike. Then I blew up the photo and saw Litespeed decals and a Flite saddle. Uh, yeah, "I'll take it" was my text back.
I'm not back home until Tuesday and the curiosity is killing me so I had my wife take photos and send then to me. Dura Ace components, 8 spd and Mavic Open 4 CD wheels. The stem has to go. Definitely excited to get home and check this one out.
Anyone with an idea on the year? It may not be truly C&V
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
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09-12-21, 10:12 PM
#2
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Look up "Litespeed Tachyon"; it's one of their early triathlon frames. Those will be 650C wheels.
DD
DD
Last edited by Drillium Dude; 09-12-21 at 10:39 PM.
09-12-21, 10:37 PM
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09-13-21, 12:09 AM
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1997 would have been the 9s 7700 gruppo, this one looks to have the immediate predecessor, 7410 crankset.
650c-wheeled bikes usually show a lot of head tube, so this one must be a very small size.
It's getting to be that any bike with a 1" head tube is C&V these days.
650c-wheeled bikes usually show a lot of head tube, so this one must be a very small size.
It's getting to be that any bike with a 1" head tube is C&V these days.
Last edited by dddd; 09-13-21 at 12:13 AM.
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09-13-21, 04:19 AM
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The joys of figuring these out especially when we all personalize bikes ourselves.
I'm thinking it will measure to a 49 or 51 cm frame
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
09-13-21, 04:21 AM
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Thanks. At least having the model helps. I've always known about Litespeed, just never paid attention to them
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
09-13-21, 04:37 AM
#8
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You are one lucky . . . fella. (smile)
Many Litespeed catalogs prior to about 2005 are available in PDF format at
https://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bi...Litespeed.html
Gotta say I'm rather envious. Congrats.
Many Litespeed catalogs prior to about 2005 are available in PDF format at
https://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bi...Litespeed.html
Gotta say I'm rather envious. Congrats.
09-14-21, 11:19 PM
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I got home from my trip tonight and anxiously took the bike to my shop to clean it up and check things out. Overall it's in good condition.
Large chainring is a Specialized 54t. Everything else is Dura Ace. Decals for the Tachyon model are gone.
The sad thing is this is way too small so it will move on. 46 cm to the top tube and 51 cm to the top of the seat tube. At 5'8" I can't make it work without looking awkward. It will eventually be sold locally with permission from my friend who gave it to me. Here's some cleaned up pics.
Large chainring is a Specialized 54t. Everything else is Dura Ace. Decals for the Tachyon model are gone.
The sad thing is this is way too small so it will move on. 46 cm to the top tube and 51 cm to the top of the seat tube. At 5'8" I can't make it work without looking awkward. It will eventually be sold locally with permission from my friend who gave it to me. Here's some cleaned up pics.
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
09-14-21, 11:20 PM
#10
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__________________
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
09-14-21, 11:36 PM
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09-14-21, 11:36 PM
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Awesome that it still has the yellow oem fork.
09-14-21, 11:39 PM
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Ha, I'm sure I could talk my wife into parting with them
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
09-15-21, 04:25 AM
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Looking at the insane prices people are asking for Litespeed frames on ebay, I think you might be able to get a prety decent price for just the frame, stripped of all parts (Exept that horrible stem), even if the size limits desirability.
If it was my bike, I would sell the frame, and use the proceeds to get a frame in a suitable size, and most likely also have the hubs laced to a nice set of 700c rims.
That way you could get a very nice bike in your size for free.
If it was my bike, I would sell the frame, and use the proceeds to get a frame in a suitable size, and most likely also have the hubs laced to a nice set of 700c rims.
That way you could get a very nice bike in your size for free.
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09-15-21, 02:00 PM
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It's a nice touch to leave it intact since it's only original once and who really needs 650C wheels these days? Could get a pretty penny to the right buyer.
That slipper shot is like a Quentin Tarantino moment. He has a bit of a foot fetish.
Not that there's anything wrong with that!
That slipper shot is like a Quentin Tarantino moment. He has a bit of a foot fetish.
Not that there's anything wrong with that!
