The Golden Boy 

I think this may have been glossed over.

Wow, that's cool.

How do you like the ride?

What makes that bike so cool is the sidepull brakes. Even though it was designed with 27" tires in mind, the sidepulls let you switch to 700c effortlessly. I think if I were to look for another bike- the 720/728 with the sidepulls would be awesome with a nice set of dual pivot brakes. I was really impressed by the performance of the dual pivot brakes that I put on my Trek 400.

dvsjes28

Picture from yesterday at a C&V ride of my 1982 Trek 613

rjhammett

I like the ride a lot. As you mentioned the switch to 700c wheels took no time at all. The photos that I posted were from before I put on the touring tires and swapped the Brooks B17 saddle for a honey colored Brooks Flyer saddle. Both are an improvement for a touring bike.

treal512

Nice! Is that a Zimbale?

dvsjes28

Its actually a Cardiff.

otg 

That 613 is a beaut!

dvsjes28

Thanks, I think I am finally happy with the way the bike looks
.

vqstaphbeard

Thanks!

thenomad

Finished a complete restoration and decided to leave it factory (with the exception of not having the original bars or saddle and using aero levers...) as I test out the ride and fit. I feel like i'd actually like to be on a 56cm for long distances.

cyclotoine

Beautiful! Given the post extension and stem size, I can't imagine what it is that makes you feel you'd like a larger frame. You can easily put a longer stem on there it you need more extension?

Skyshroud

A few shots from a couple of weeks ago after I regained possession after handing it over for a full overhaul. A 1975 Carlton Criterium - '70's 'plum crazy' fenders included! It will soon be enhanced with a contemporary Brooks Team Professional.

The Golden Boy 

A few thoughts.

One- You collect some of the coolest bikes.

Two- This bike is no different and is in outrageously good shape.

Three- Is that Suntour Black Line equipment on there?

Four- What are the G and H stickers about?

Five- What's going on with the fork crown? Is the hole plugged with a screw- and does that screw have a recessed head?

Six- I think I'm going to steal your template for taking pictures.

Seven- That bike would look right at home with an Avocet Touring II.

Eight- That's a really cool bike.

thenomad

1. I don't really collect them, they all have gone on to live new lives. I'm the type that feels like if its sat in my garage unridden for a year it's time to move it along, if it gets ridden it stays. I sort of regret selling a few but it keeps the hobby going and brings another fun project along.
2. Thanks!
3. Suntour "Blue Line" BL GT Black 3300 components according to Disreili gears
4. Stickers seem to be a Univega ID thing? Only seen them on Univegas
5. Recessed crew holes front and rear on the crown and has included recessed rear allen on the bolt. I read that they were shipped with it for fender install?
6. I wish it had a better saddle and better seatpost clamp, but don't want to buy one just yet till I get some miles on it and decide to keep it long term.


cyclotoine - As shown its not fit to me. I need to raise the seatpost (a short one) to max and maybe a tad more with cycling shoes. I feel like the top tube is so far away and Its too short. I think the stem length is what I'm feeling as you say, need it longer and maybe taller. I think a 56 would feel "longer" while having a higher headtube as i'd feel like I'm 'in' the bike and not teetering on top of it. Just need to put miles on it to see.

likebike23

I have an almost identical Gran Turismo. The group is identical, but the seat stays are not scalloped at the seat lug like yours. The component codes put mine as a 1983, do you know the year? If it's a 1983 also, I wonder if that frame is a Miyata 610 with Univega paint and decals. The 1983 Miyata 610 I sold had the same seat stays as yours.

thenomad

interesting. The serial no starts with a K but I've not tracked it. I thought it was an 83 based on not having lowrider eyelets on the fork. I've actually seen a few small detail issues like that when looking at other photos.
Miyata had the priority for sure and it seems like Univega had a lot of substitutions so to speak.
Another thing I wonder about is the frame sticker. It says butted Cro-mo but I see various things listed from straight guage to double butted to triple butted.
The seatpost is a 26.8 I think.

Care to give a rundown of how you like the bike in "real life" use? Touring use? I'm so enticed by a few new frames lately.

thenomad

That saddle will really make it a standout.

likebike23

I only use the bike for weekend fair weather riding. If I was going to tour on it, I'd change the cranks for lower gearing. The BCD on those cranks is 118mm I believe, they're obsolete, and 36T is the smallest ring possibility. I would also change to either bar ends or indexed downtube shifters. I'm not a huge fan of friction DT shifters, they're fine for recreational cycling, but would annoy me on a tour. Other than that, I think it would be great for credit card or weekend tours where you are not loading down the bike with 60+ pounds of gear.

badger_biker 

This thread is so much fun with some many beautiful bikes. You all have some gorgeous specimens and restorations and I could spend days here. I may have posted a couple of these elsewhere but thought I would drop some updates.

1986 Cannondale ST400



1990 ST400


1985 Specialized Expedition with new rack combo


1987 Voyageur


And an older picture of my dual racked bikes before my '86 and '90 ST400 C'dales moved in… I may have a problem...

Standalone 

I love this thread too. Question: what are the new racks on your Specialized? And what rack is on the front in the old photo?

badger_biker 

I went from a Jandd Extreme on the front to the Tubus Tara and from a Blackburn Expedition on the rear (now on the 86 C'dale) to the Topeak Tourist. With the panniers I have the current set up gives a much more stable ride loaded down. Probably due to the loop on the Tubus and the rear vertical stay on the Topeak keeping the bags more solid I no longer get the shimmy that used to get kind of scary on a downhill.

thenomad

now that's a collection that means business

I hope to find a Voyageur in my size again.

VintageRide

I have been working on this '83 - '84 Raleigh Gran Tour purchased last week. The chrome on the forks is pitted with rust but it cleaned up well enough and the paint has plenty of scratches but it rides nicely and handles great which the thinner Reynolds 531C tubing might be contributing to. Initially I replaced the basic seat and handlebars with a Brooks B17 and Nitto Noodles - much better! I will be changing the Sugino double to a period triple and updating the Shimano 600 side pulls and levers to some modern dual pivots and the Tektro RL340 levers. I really need to also remove the Shimano 600 pedals for a pair of MKS Sylvan Touring. The Soma New Xpress 35mm tires just fit at the chain stays it is fairly narrow there as well as having no indentations, but I plan on installing V.O. hammered 45mm fenders soon. Nice to see so many great builds here, just glad I have something to add.

The Golden Boy 

Chrome, Black and Gold. Classy.

What bars were on there originally? I'm interested in some more modern bars- all of mine are around 39-40.

VintageRide

It came with an older Cinelli 1A stem and Cinelli 42mm handlebars - the Nitto Noodles flair out slightly at the bar ends where they are measured so the distance at the hoods is actually around 43 cm - I could have left them on but had a shorter ( and taller ) Nitto Tecnomic stem already attached to the wrapped bars so it was a quick swap. I find the 42 cm wide enough that I put them on the Rawland Stag I am building up. I would have to say that either the V.O. Gran Randonneur or their standard drop bars as well as the Nitto versions are pretty good with flatter ramps to the brake lever hoods that allow more comfort over most older bars - especially with newer Tektro levers which are based on Campagnolo ergo designs. I actually am using Campy ergo shifters on two bikes as I find them very comfortable - plus I like shifting without taking my hands off the bars which is nice. I made an exception with the Raleigh trying to keep it as original as I can but might ad bar end shifters one day.

crapshoot

My 650b '85 Raleigh Portage.