Elite? What is this Thing?
05-22-24, 10:12 AM
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Elite? What is this Thing?
I picked up a few bikes from a local collection, including this. It came with mostly Zeus 2000 parts, Sachs mechs and Milremo gold parts. I can't find any info on this brand. It is nicely made and light, with Campy dropouts front and rear. Lug work is also quite nice, with that distinctive head tube. Could it be French or Spanish?
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05-22-24, 10:32 AM
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portacatena provision limits date to narrow window in time
wrt possible France or Spain origin -
simple enough to check tube diameters and threading
IIRC forum has had prior examples of marque
wonder if it possible transfer set generic; appears a respray
lug pattern appears it may be BOCAMA Competition 83 with cutout R1
...or Haden Royal Sovereign
if Haden that would tend to rule out a non-anglophone origin for the frame as Haden bits seldom employed in non-anglophone lands
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portacatena provision limits date to narrow window in time
wrt possible France or Spain origin -
simple enough to check tube diameters and threading
IIRC forum has had prior examples of marque
wonder if it possible transfer set generic; appears a respray
lug pattern appears it may be BOCAMA Competition 83 with cutout R1
...or Haden Royal Sovereign
if Haden that would tend to rule out a non-anglophone origin for the frame as Haden bits seldom employed in non-anglophone lands
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Last edited by juvela; 05-22-24 at 12:56 PM. Reason: addition
05-22-24, 05:13 PM
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05-23-24, 04:16 AM
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Back in bike boom era of early 1970s (probably when I was 12 or so in 1972) I received from my folks a gas-pipe Belgian-built Simplex equipped road bike called an “Elite.” I believe they got it out of the Monkey-Wards catalog. As I was already following the exploits of Eddy Merckx at the time, I was thrilled to have a Belgian bike.
05-23-24, 05:55 AM
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The lugs aren't going to narrow down the maker very much. I have the same on my 1977 Argos and 1977/8 Raleigh Team Professional. Clearly, this isn't made by either of them, but I have seen it used on several other nicer models by several different makers. Research bike models "Elite" from late 70s - early 80s.
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05-23-24, 07:40 AM
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could we see more close-ups of the seat cluster (appears to be a semi wrap-over) the brake bridge and fork crown?
The serial number 73 753 doesn't provide any clue for me, but with those DOs it can't be any 1973 frame
The serial number 73 753 doesn't provide any clue for me, but with those DOs it can't be any 1973 frame
05-23-24, 07:50 AM
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Under-BB cable guides are telling.
Either way, it looks like a really nice frame. Build it up and enjoy it!
Either way, it looks like a really nice frame. Build it up and enjoy it!
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05-23-24, 08:11 AM
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I don't know.
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that's a sweet frame.
05-23-24, 08:17 AM
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Back in bike boom era of early 1970s (probably when I was 12 or so in 1972) I received from my folks a gas-pipe Belgian-built Simplex equipped road bike called an “Elite.” I believe they got it out of the Monkey-Wards catalog. As I was already following the exploits of Eddy Merckx at the time, I was thrilled to have a Belgian bike.
as recalled these were produced by Superia, Eddy's first team
the same machines were also sold under the name Belgique - had one of those new, obtained in a closeout lot from an automobile dealer who had tried to get in on the bike boom
one distinctive feature of them you may recall is that the faces of the stamped dropouts have a stipled/pebble grain surface
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