Show us your vintage carbon fiber
08-14-23, 10:20 AM
#476
RUSA #3100
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Oregon City
Posts: 813
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 223 Post(s)
Liked 442 Times
in
164 Posts
1989 Specialized Epic Allez. I rode it until 2001 when I replaced it with a Pegoretti Palo Santo. Sold the frame/fork for $400 on ebay, before the bonded joints failed!
__________________
https://utahrandonneur.wordpress.com
https://utahrandonneur.wordpress.com
08-15-23, 11:11 PM
#477
Senior Member
08-16-23, 11:31 PM
#478
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 176
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 65 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 59 Times
in
33 Posts
My teammate at UC Davis wrecked hard at the 1995 Collegiate Nationals on a Specialized Epic. He flew into the curb like actually flying through the air and the front wheel hit the curb and broke the aluminum rim into 2 pieces. The frame broke at the top tube /head tube junction. It wasn't the bond that broke. It was the internal aluminum lug that broke. The glue joint held.
Likes For Chuckk:
08-17-23, 02:58 PM
#480
Steel is real
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Not far from Paris
Posts: 2,001
Bikes: 1992Giant Tourer,1992MeridaAlbon,1996Scapin,1998KonaKilaueua,1993Peugeot Prestige,1991RaleighTeamZ(to be upgraded),1998 Jamis Dragon,1992CTWallis(to be built),1998VettaTeam(to be built),1995Coppi(to be built),1993Grandis(to be built)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 563 Post(s)
Liked 764 Times
in
506 Posts
09-12-23, 04:19 PM
#481
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,672
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2262 Post(s)
Liked 1,573 Times
in
1,090 Posts
This is probably cheating:
1988 Centurion Ironman Carbon. So this is technically not a "carbon frame" - it's aluminum CLAD in carbon fiber. Purchased as a frameset with derailleurs and crankset. Everything else is from the parts pile. Definitely a different feeling ride.
1988 Centurion Ironman Carbon. So this is technically not a "carbon frame" - it's aluminum CLAD in carbon fiber. Purchased as a frameset with derailleurs and crankset. Everything else is from the parts pile. Definitely a different feeling ride.
Likes For madpogue:
09-12-23, 08:52 PM
#483
Henderson, NV
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Posts: 470
Bikes: Trek Alpha 3700, GT STS DH, Raleigh Grand Prix, Fisher Montare, Fisher CR-7, Fisher Aquila, Diamondback Sorrento, The Bike Beat Revolution, KHS XC 504R
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 191 Post(s)
Liked 456 Times
in
222 Posts
Does Thermoplastic Carbon Fiber qualify?
Here's My 1997 GT STS DH
Here's My 1997 GT STS DH
09-12-23, 09:53 PM
#484
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,672
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2262 Post(s)
Liked 1,573 Times
in
1,090 Posts
^^^^ Camaro photobomb....
09-13-23, 02:48 PM
#485
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 311
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 123 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 240 Times
in
142 Posts
Dr. Frank N. Stein creation out of the better junk pile. Never intended to be a weight weenie but if you shall, 17 1/4 lbs. with pedals, pump, bottle cages (....ya know...the way they all should be weighed). Smaller triangle frame are sweet. American made with Easton butted carbon tubing.
Few tidbits; White Industries 40 hole hubs, laced 20 spoke, tied and soldered. 9 speed titanium Shimano Dura Ace cass with PYC hollow chain. Litespeed titanium quill stem with Easton EC90 carbon bar, wrapped with custom Walnut Studio leather stitched. Modolo non-ferrous levers b&s. Brooks Swift titanium. US Thomson post. Alcan lightweight cables. Tektro Quartz R725 clampers w/ carbon application pads. Campy other stuff.
Few tidbits; White Industries 40 hole hubs, laced 20 spoke, tied and soldered. 9 speed titanium Shimano Dura Ace cass with PYC hollow chain. Litespeed titanium quill stem with Easton EC90 carbon bar, wrapped with custom Walnut Studio leather stitched. Modolo non-ferrous levers b&s. Brooks Swift titanium. US Thomson post. Alcan lightweight cables. Tektro Quartz R725 clampers w/ carbon application pads. Campy other stuff.
09-13-23, 09:08 PM
#486
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 2,356
Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1004 Post(s)
Liked 1,386 Times
in
791 Posts
92 Trek 5200
been sitting in this spot for 20+ years
OEM 600 Ultegra components with Dura Ace crank
wheelset built with Nuke Proof hubs (with Shimano XTR Ti freehub), DT Rev spokes, alloy nipples, SRP Ti cogs
Syncros stem with SRP Ti expander bolt, Scott LF handlebar, Dean Ti seatpost, Look pedals with SRP Ti spindles
Last edited by t2p; 09-13-23 at 09:11 PM.
Likes For t2p:
Likes For chain_whipped:
Likes For chain_whipped:
Likes For chain_whipped:
Likes For chain_whipped:
Likes For chain_whipped:
09-18-23, 12:45 PM
#492
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 311
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 123 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 240 Times
in
142 Posts
You must be referring to the Exxon "Graftek".....
I did find just a bit of information on the "Line Seeker" bike after some digging around, but there wasn't much out there.
I did find out that Exxon actually owned the "Line Seeker" product name but the registration for their owenrship (copyright?) had been cancelled, I suspect a long time ago. So it's turning out that the "Line Seeker" name/bike most likely was the precursor to the "Graftek" and the first CF bikes from Exxons might have carried the "Line Seeker" name. Marketing people at Exxon might have invented the more techy "Graftek" name after a year or two to improve sales and it's then high tech image to the public.
So, my theory is, the Line Seeker CF bikes are the earliest version of the "GrafteK" G-1 bikes from Exxon. The details on the bike like the older Campagnolo based rear drop outs and stay connections seem to support this. Otherwise, the bike looks identical to the earliest Grafteks.
The owenr I bought the bike from notes that he purchased it in 1972, which is earlier that what is usually mentioned for the Graftek's release or around 1975. If that's the case, The Line Seeker maybe one of the first CF bikes ever to be sold out there?? Unless Mossberg beats that 72 date. It's all just theory in my part at this time from what I've found out so far. The story might still change on this bike....
Mkes my 1985 Vitus Carbone 7 sound like a baby in comparison.......
Chombi
I did find just a bit of information on the "Line Seeker" bike after some digging around, but there wasn't much out there.
I did find out that Exxon actually owned the "Line Seeker" product name but the registration for their owenrship (copyright?) had been cancelled, I suspect a long time ago. So it's turning out that the "Line Seeker" name/bike most likely was the precursor to the "Graftek" and the first CF bikes from Exxons might have carried the "Line Seeker" name. Marketing people at Exxon might have invented the more techy "Graftek" name after a year or two to improve sales and it's then high tech image to the public.
So, my theory is, the Line Seeker CF bikes are the earliest version of the "GrafteK" G-1 bikes from Exxon. The details on the bike like the older Campagnolo based rear drop outs and stay connections seem to support this. Otherwise, the bike looks identical to the earliest Grafteks.
The owenr I bought the bike from notes that he purchased it in 1972, which is earlier that what is usually mentioned for the Graftek's release or around 1975. If that's the case, The Line Seeker maybe one of the first CF bikes ever to be sold out there?? Unless Mossberg beats that 72 date. It's all just theory in my part at this time from what I've found out so far. The story might still change on this bike....
Mkes my 1985 Vitus Carbone 7 sound like a baby in comparison.......
Chombi
Anyways, I realize this is a long past post, but found the following information. Wasn't there and can't vouch for accuracy.
Gone 'fishing' ... graphite rods that is...
In the US, Blake was on his own with the Lineseeker then sold to Graftek around the same time as Frank Appel, Richard Katner, Bill McCready and Jeffrey Lindskoog of the F.H. Appel Company designed a carbon fiber bicycle frame in 1975. This was produced for Graphite USA, a manufacturer of fishing rods.
At roughly the same time, oil company Exxon, then a sponsor of a US road bike team, paid for the development of a carbon fibre frame bike from Graftek, also a manufacturer of fishing rods and golf clubs. The Graftek G-1 had a aluminium frame wrapped in carbon fibre. The bike was used by the 1976 US Olympic team and was later sold to the public.
Last edited by chain_whipped; 09-18-23 at 12:52 PM.
Likes For chain_whipped:
09-21-23, 01:38 PM
#495
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 10,809
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 269 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2116 Post(s)
Liked 4,065 Times
in
1,605 Posts
A bike I picked up during the pandemic, and haven't gotten around to giving any attention yet, is this Giant CFR-2. It's a nice size frame for me, it was cheap, and I was bored at the time. 
One thing I really like about these Giants is their slightly forward-sloping top tube, which makes them look smaller than they really are. This is a 63cm frame.
As bought:
One thing I really like about these Giants is their slightly forward-sloping top tube, which makes them look smaller than they really are. This is a 63cm frame.
As bought:
