okane

Just got this last week at a flea market. Seen some obvious use and there is some rust but nothing major.

I know it was a house brand for REI and a curious mix of components indicates whatever was available for the best price at the time was used.

I also know the Randonee was a touring bike but don’t know who made the frame.

The bike is lightweight and I’m guessing cromoly but would like to know what kind. I’m again guessing mid to late eighties as to age by the canti brakes and 7 speed gearing.

I like the paddle shifters (that I think replaced the original down tube shifters), however they are hung up at the moment and I can’t up shift, meaning it won't shift to smaller cogs. My guess is shifters need to be cleaned and lubed but I’m not sure how to get inside. I think the hex bolt will give me access to clean the mech, and replace cables, am I correct? I don't want to open up a can of springs if you know what I mean. I tried searching for info but without model number that I would like to know I came up empty…can you help?

Overall it seems like it would be a nice vintage ride and I am anxious to try it out. Thanks for any info.

bargainguy

For your STI shifters, the lubricant Shimano used tends to gum up over time if the shifter is not used. A solvent flush can usually restore them. While some folks like WD-40, I like CRC PowerLube in the red can, as it also contains PTFE (Teflon).

Take the little red plastic tube and put it on the spray nozzle, depress the brake lever and spray the solvent as deeply as you can into the innards of the shifting mechanism through the holes on the sides. Let it drain, work the shifter in both directions, repeat. Sometimes it takes awhile, but don't despair, just keep working it.

T-Mar

Based on the lugless construction and components, I'd place this into the early 1990s. I suspect it's Taiwanese and probably Fairly, but the serial number will tell us for sure.

I concur regarding the fix for the brifters, though if you use WD-40 as the de-greaser/cleaner, make sure you apply a lubricant afterwards.

Edit: It looks like it is slightly newer than I initially thought. I went back and checked some REI product lists that I have and according to them the Randonee didn't do lugless until 1994.

Lascauxcaveman 

I flush 'em with WD40. No disassembly required, unless you are brave and adventurous.

Sometimes it takes as much as a half a can, over several days (which seems like a lot; squirt-shift, squirt-shift, wipe down, turn bike upside down, squirt-shift, repeat ad nauseam), but each of the three sets of brifters I've owned (600 Tricolor 8-speed, 105 8-speed, and RSX 7 speed) were gummed up and nonfunctional when I got them, and all work fine now. After they are working free, I squirt some white lithium grease spray (chain lube) into them. Not sure if this is recommended by the experts, but I didn't want to try and take them apart to put whatever is correct back in there.

Also, you've probably figured out the bike is actually a Novara, and auto-correct is not your friend here

corrado33

First off, it's spelled "Novara".

I don't suggest trying to take apart brifters. Unless you REALLY know what you're doing, it's doubtful you'll ever get it back together.

Do what they said above with WD-40.

Pompiere

I don't have first hand experience, but I have heard of people using an ultrasonic cleaner for balky brifters.

okane

My spelling/keyboarding skills are not very good, but I can only blame my mental capacity for misspelling the name! Geese!

Shifters freed up nicely with just a hint of WD. Glad I didn't take them apart when fix was so quick and easy.

Serial number is hidden under the plastic cable router at the underside of the bb. Begins with a 4 but I can't read the rest and the screw that holds the router in place is determined that it will not be removed. I'll need to attack it from the inside with penetrant.


Speaking of which I'm not familiar with this type of bb. I assume the drive side is reverse thread and after removing the hex head bolt I can use my "regular" park bb tool to remove the cranks. Yes? No? Maybe?

There is another number on a tape in the same location that I think is a stock number. For what it's worth, it is F3115517.

Finally the chain is Hyperglide. Can I break this and reassemble using my chain tool, or are special precautions required?

Again, thanks in advance for any info.

T-Mar

As suspected, it was made by Fairly of Taiwan and is a 1994 model. Spec tubeset was an unidentified Tange DB CrMo. Group was Shimano Deore LX with bar end shifters. $595 US MSRP.

qcpmsame 

Smart move and a good decision to not disassemble those brifters, I made that mistake back many years, on an RSX set. Had to take them into the LBS and let the really sharp young man that is their lead mechanic repair them. He told me I was fortunate that he was able to get everything back in place and functioning. Best part was he didn't charge me for the work, he decided to use my screw up as a teaching opportunity. The flush with WD-40 is the best thing for the ones I have worked on since. And, don't forget the lubrication as T-mar said above in reply #3.

old's'cool

... including applying an actual lubricant afterwards

uncle uncle

"Navaro", in the original dialect of the Cleveland Indians, translates to "Mail Order Catalog". (not really)

steelbikeguy

for what it's worth... the "Novara" name comes from Sue Novara (later Sue Novara-Reber), who was a prominent American cyclist back in the late 70's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Novara-Reber


Steve in Peoria

uncle uncle

See... I'm often wrong when it gets down into the finer details. Thanks for clearing that up Steve.

steelbikeguy

well, I was just throwing that out for anyone who wasn't aware of it. That was back in the day when American cycling was getting some momentum going and things were pretty exciting. Jock Boyer was just about to be the first American to get to the Tour de France, and the exemplary 7-11 team was still to take shape (if I'm not messing up the timeline too much). This was quite a few years before that Texan kid showed up, got everyone excited about cycling, and then was exposed as a fraud.

It would be a shame to not shed a little light on this history when the opportunity popped up.

Quick off-topic trivia quiz.. what other great American racers had a line of bikes named after them? The only one that comes to mind is Greg LeMond.


Steve in Peoria

Pompiere

Ted Williams?

steelbikeguy

I think I can only give you partial credit for that answer. A great American, to be sure. Not sure about the "racer" part, though.

It did occur to me that Andy Hampsten is producing a small line of bikes....
Hampsten Cycles | Unique custom road frames and whole bikes
so I figure that should count.
and if anyone doesn't know the story of Andy winning the stage of the Giro d'Italia, you should definitely look it up. Here's one link to some info on the story and his bike...
Historic Pro Bike: Andy Hampsten's 1988 7-Eleven Huffy Giro d'Italia | Cyclingnews.com

okay, back to the actual topic of the thread... sorry for the diversion.


Steve in Peoria

uncle uncle

I was just funning Steve. I do appreciate anyone who shares their historical knowledge of bicycles. Thanks, really.

steelbikeguy

Thanks... I do appreciate knowing that I didn't get anyone upset. That's definitely one of the risks of this internet thing!

Speaking of history.. this was a good excuse to dig through my stuff and see if I had scanned an old issue of Bicycling.. and I did!

It's the October 1975 issue, purchased when I was a teenager and new to 10 speeds. It was all new to me, and I made a point of saving a few of the first bike magazines that I bought. The Oct 1975 issue happened to include an article about the recent winners of the USA championships, which just happens to include a photo of 19 year old Sue Novara in her championship jersey (which I suppose keeps this posting On Topic).

Let me attach a small image of each page, with a link to a full resolution scan of the page....



https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4095/3...18fe44_o_d.jpg



https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4123/3...54ff50_o_d.jpg



https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4197/3...b6f305_o_d.jpg



https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4076/3...3a29f8_o_d.jpg


of course, this reminds me that Dave Moulton did make some frames that were sold under the John Howard label, so I suppose that John Howard can be added to the list!

enjoy!


Steve in Peoria
(I think I need to go scan the remaining pages of that magazine too)

ryansu

Giro Winner Andy Hampsten Hampsten Cycles | Bikes

steelbikeguy

I'll give you the point, even though I did mention Andy in post #16. Andy is one of the great stories in bicycling that I'm happy to see that folks remember him and his achievements. ... plus.. he seems to be a really nice guy, based on what I've seen in interviews and such.

to review.... so far we have:
Sue Novara
Greg LeMond
Andy Hampsten
John Howard

is there anyone else?


Steve in Peoria

Insidious C. 

I have basically the same bike but a 1995 with some differences in components. I use it to commute to work. After putting thousands of miles on it I know it well. The frames are pretty stout. Mine has been through two collisions with cars with nary a bend or buckle. It's not the cushiest ride on two wheels tho.

The '95s came with brifters. It's possible yours was equipped that way too. Anyway enjoy your new bike. If you ever get the itch to do loaded touring you have a capable bike there, and gearing for the steepest hill you might encounter.

ddeand 

A little history from a different perspective (I used to sell these at REI).

When REI decided to get into the bike business in 1983, they created a stand-alone company that would only sell to them. They called it Novara after the Italian city of that name. The first bike they offered was the Randonee, and it is still a mainstay of their lineup - virtually unchanged from those early days. I believe they use 4130 double-butted steel for their frames.

Very nice bike!

T-Mar

KHS also marketed a series of bicycles using Howard's name.

Since anybody from North or South American can also be considered American, Steve Bauer, Louis Garneau and Jocelyn Lovell could be added to the list.

steelbikeguy

I've purchased Louis Garneau clothing, but wasn't aware there there were bikes too.... and didn't realize that Louis Garneau was a racer. The Wiki page also mentions that he was somewhat famous (or infamous) for being too informal around the Queen...
"Apart from the fame stemming from his eponymous company, he is probably best known for putting his arm around Elizabeth II while having his photo taken, thus breaking what the United Kingdom considers royal protocol. The incident was more controversial in the UK than it was in Canada."
Certainly one of the nicest ways to become "scandalous" in cycling. (yeah, I'm thinking of that Texan kid again, in regards to the worst ways to be scandalous)


Steve in Peoria

steelbikeguy

I hadn't heard this before, so I dropped a quick message to REI to see if that was the story, and they confirmed it.
Choosing an Italian name for non-Italian bikes or parts is not uncommon. It does make it sound a bit more exotic and linked to some of the romance of cycling's history.

I'll admit that I'm surprised that REI chose a name that isn't more easily identified as Italian, as well as one that was the name of a USA national champ. Oh well.. live and learn!


Steve in Peoria