Classic & Vintage - CCM history?

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The Shwinn of Canada would be more like it. Or at least used to be. Back when the only imported bikes were from Europe and Japan, CCM was the best known bicycle maker in Canada. Like any big manufacturer, they also had a custom frame shop building bikes for sponsored riders. Can't remember when I last saw a CCM.

They made lovely bikes actually.

What was CCM is now owned by a corporate holding company called Pro Cycle Group, the group also produces such brands as Opus, and Rocky Mountain among others which I can't remember right now.

I'm waiting for the CCM silver ghost 531 main tubes to arrive.Also if I find the chainset then I'll get serious and do the 30s CCM path racer---sam

Theres a CCM silver gohst hanging from the ceiling in the art room at my old Highschool.... i was in the process of trying to acquire it when i graduated. Currently Im riding a mid 70's CCM Mistral, 531 tubes, simplex derailleurs, ambrosio hoops. all of which have been retired and its been turned into a fix but judging by the original spec id say it was an alright bike.

Here's a little advance peak at the history I'm working on for a proposed, unofficial CCM website.

'The Canadian Cycle and Motor Company was established in 1899, when several Canadian manufacturers banded together in reaction to a proposed Canadian facility by a US company. Unfortunately, the company formation co-incided with an unexpected depression in the industry, but the company rebounded with the emerging children's market after the Great War and settled into a long reign as Canada’s premier manufacturer of bicycles. Financial stability was cemented by entering the sporting goods market, with a successful hockey equipment line that provided the necessary continuity in manufacturing, during the winter season.

Undoubtedly, the company’s peak was the period between the World Wars. Emphasis on customer satisfaction , commitment to dealers and good management-worker relations reaped good quality and productivity on the shop floor and dealer loyalty. Most important though, the company image with the consumer was excellent.

After World War II, the company sustained it’s position thanks to the baby boom, new tooling and good manufacturing practices. However cracks were beginning to appear in the armour. Conflicts over unionization polarized the workforce and management. Marketing was shifted to department stores, which alienated the once loyal dealer network. By the time the 1970’s bike boom rolled around, the company was a shadow of it’s former self. The marque had little appeal to the knowledgeable cyclist, who was showing increased favour for the European and Japanese models.

By the late 70’s, the company was experiencing yearly losses and had to rely on the government for loans to keep itself solvent. In 1982, the name was officially changed to the CCM moniker long in use by the public. A change of ownership failed to improve matters and the company declared bankruptcy in January 1983. Pro-Cycle Inc. purchased the assets and trademark, retaining the bicycle division and selling off the hockey division.

To-day, Pro-Cycle manufacturers and markets CCM bicycles, primarily to chain stores throughout Canada. The line-up is primarily low end all-terrain, hybrid and children’s bikes. '

It's interesting that Frameteam2003 and Invicta have a Silver Ghost and Mistral. My sister owns a 1975 Silver Ghost, while I have a 1973 Mistral. What are the odds of that?

The notable marque missing from Toomanybikes' comment is Peugeot. Pro-Cycle manufactured the majority of the Peugeot models marketed in North America during the 1980s and 1990s.

While CCM did manufacture a high end model during the 1970s boom, it was not very popular. The company survived primarily on the sales of children's bikes, the entry level Targa model and the sales of the hockey equipment.

Here is the top of the line CCM sold at Crappy Tire stores across Canada.

top model --silver ghost

My first bmx bike was a CCM Bobcat, back in '85.
I have searched the net for info and ... it doesn't exist.
I found out today on Wikipedia that the company went bankrupt in 1983, so my bike was probably a '83 model (?) Don't know..
Anyway, Pro-Cycle, should make a history page on the CCM site or something.
There's alot of history behind CCM so I think it's worth it.

CCM bicycles were still built and sold after the company went bankrupt.. I dont know who made 'em, but they certainly werent built at the old weston factory; they were just "badged" as CCM. I bought a "CCM" cruiser at a flea market in may '05 that was probably from the same era as your bobcat.. had a 3piece crank instead of the usual "CCM" chainring all CCM bikes usually came with, no badges or decals- all stickers for identification. Someone here has a "Mustang" like that too.. do a search for it, same story.

some pics of the formula one model i eyeballed in a local auction last year. what t-mar above mentioned as their top model, i think he could have one as a project, is "tour de canada" (we should beg him to post some pics please!) but it was their 70's style road bike. they made most young Canadian kids first bike (like me) everyone had them growing up in the 70's & 80's, some times via Canadian Tire stores.

Mention Should Also Be Made Of The , ' Flyer ' , Model . It Was A Track Bike , And C/w Wooden Rims . There Are A Number Of , ' Collections ' , In This City , Along With A Gold Plated Example At The , ' Sports Hall Of Fame ' , Within The Cne Grounds . ( Ex , ' Torchy ' , Pedin , Cdn 6 Day Champ . )
I Destroyed Mine , ( Top & Down Tube Buckle ) When I , ' T-boned ' , A Vauxhall Station Wagon ; The Wooden Rims / Steel Spokes Nary A Whimper ! ( Wrist & Ankle Both Broke Nicely , Though . )

CCM bicycles were still built and sold after the company went bankrupt.. I dont know who made 'em, but they certainly werent built at the old weston factory; they were just "badged" as CCM.Yeah, probably contracted from Asia, using the CCM logo under license. Even the Schwinn bikes sold by Canadian Tire are just badged products, unknown to Schwinn USA, who import totally different Asian bikes.

Since 1983, all the CCM have been built by Procycle in Quebec. As far as I'm aware, there is no offshore sub-contracting of frame manufacture or assembly.

As for Schwinn, the brand owner just lisenses out the right to use the brand and model names to different companies in different countries. In Canada, the lisensee puts out tenders for various categories of bicycles. Distributors then submit their design and quotes. In the past two years, there have been at least four different suppliers of Schwinn bicycles in Canada and none are domsetic. This leads to wide variation in quality within the model line and sometimes within a model from year to year. At least with CCM, there is a single source, so there is some consistency. And if your patriotic, it's domestically manufactured.

My LBS had a Peugeot franchise and said he wouldnt carry them when
they reorganized and went CCM. Quality problems. Is that really the
consensus of most Pug-o-philes ?

My LBS had a Peugeot franchise and said he wouldnt carry them when
they reorganized and went CCM. Quality problems. Is that really the
consensus of most Pug-o-philes ?

More misinformation! Procycle started manufacturing Peugeot back in late 1970s. In 1990, the Peugeot head office considered abandoning the US market, but Procycle stepped in and purchased Peugeot USA, becoming the exclusive North American manufacturer and supplier and ensuring the Peugeot presence in the US through 2001. Many of those affectionately remembered 1980s models were actually built in Canada and it has been my experience that the Canadian manufactured models had better workmanship than the French manufactrured models.

If your LBS dropped Peugeot after 1990, due to going CCM, it doesn't make sense. He had been receiving Canadian Peugeot models for a long time. And Peugeot never went CCM. By the time the CCM brand was taken over by Procycle, Procycle had been manufacturing Peugeot for several years and was already shipping into the US.

some pics of the formula one model i eyeballed in a local auction last year. what t-mar above mentioned as their top model, i think he could have one as a project, is "tour de canada" (we should beg him to post some pics please!) but it was their 70's style road bike. they made most young Canadian kids first bike (like me) everyone had them growing up in the 70's & 80's, some times via Canadian Tire stores.

I actually passed a man who had one of these and two cheap schwinns for sale in his yard for $25, I gave him $30 and have pretty much stripped the CCM of everything except for the crank and chainring. If I was reading correctly, this is a Reynolds 531 tubing bike?

I'm pretty much upgrading everything on the bike as a first road bike... is this a frame that's worth giving the treatment to?

Where does the Formula One rank in the CCM lineup?

Where does the Formula One rank in the CCM lineup?

2nd from the bottom of the adult, 10 speed line.

2nd from the bottom of the adult, 10 speed line.

Can you tell me anything more about the bike... Mine came without any braze ons, leather seat, Formula One, according to another thread it would be pre-1973

Can you tell me anything more about the bike... Mine came without any braze ons, leather seat, Formula One, according to another thread it would be pre-1973

It's 1972 or 1973. What exactly do you want to know?

It's 1972 or 1973. What exactly do you want to know?

Frame material?
BB size?

Since 1983, all the CCM have been built by Procycle in Quebec. As far as I'm aware, there is no offshore sub-contracting of frame manufacture or assembly.

As for Schwinn, the brand owner just lisenses out the right to use the brand and model names to different companies in different countries. In Canada, the lisensee puts out tenders for various categories of bicycles. Distributors then submit their design and quotes. In the past two years, there have been at least four different suppliers of Schwinn bicycles in Canada and none are domsetic. This leads to wide variation in quality within the model line and sometimes within a model from year to year. At least with CCM, there is a single source, so there is some consistency. And if your patriotic, it's domestically manufactured.

T-Mar, you seem to know a lot about ccm,
I was assuming my bike was from 1985 because thats when i got it but
looking at the serial number on the dropout - TH83 - and with the info that ccm went into bancrupcy in 1983, im thinking that the frame must be from 83.....
Also looking at the 1980-1983 Redline MXII frames, they seem to be almost identical design...

T-Mar, you seem to know a lot about ccm,
I was assuming my bike was from 1985 because thats when i got it but
looking at the serial number on the dropout - TH83 - and with the info that ccm went into bancrupcy in 1983, im thinking that the frame must be from 83.....
Also looking at the 1980-1983 Redline MXII frames, they seem to be almost identical design...

It's not unusal for bicycles to sit in a shop for a year or so before being sold, especially during a lull in the market, like there was in the early 1980s. It may well be a 1983, it certainly sounds reasonable based on teh serial number prefixbut I can't say for sure. I'm not as familiar with the post bankrutcy CCM or with what I'm assuming is a BMX model. However, I do have all the pre-bankruptcy catalogs back to 1972, so if you post pics, we can at least eliminate that possibility. Also, I'm not sure if there was much component date coding on BMX parts, but you could always explore that possibility. And you could always try the BMX forum. I'm not trying to pass you off, but I just don't think I'll be able to help much on this one, as it's out of my area of expertise. But you never know, so post some pics.

It's not unusal for bicycles to sit in a shop for a year or so before being sold, especially during a lull in the market, like there was in the early 1980s. It may well be a 1983, it certainly sounds reasonable based on teh serial number prefixbut I can't say for sure. I'm not as familiar with the post bankrutcy CCM or with what I'm assuming is a BMX model. However, I do have all the pre-bankruptcy catalogs back to 1972, so if you post pics, we can at least eliminate that possibility. Also, I'm not sure if there was much component date coding on BMX parts, but you could always explore that possibility. And you could always try the BMX forum. I'm not trying to pass you off, but I just don't think I'll be able to help much on this one, as it's out of my area of expertise. But you never know, so post some pics.


Yes, its a BMX model, I have searched the web for info, Vintagebmx forum, BMX museum, google, etc.. and nothing...
I will post some photos soon at bmxmuseum.com
It would be great if it shows up in one of your catalogs!

Im really thinking now that it could be a 1983 model, serial number, same style as '83 Redline, it had "rat" style pedals (mks or mongoose not sure of the make because I dont have them anymore) and that always made me wonder why a '85 would have 70's style pedals instead of DX's or similar.
That all seems to lead to an earlier model.

You'll find a CCM photos and a lot of history in our on-line archives.

thanks,

I actually had seen that site some time ago,
Lots of 60's and 70's CCM Mustangs but no 80's bmx bikes...

CCM made great bikes. Here's a 1970s CCM Concorde

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t215/dave_dohno/P1010012.jpg

made of Reynolds 531

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t215/dave_dohno/P1010013.jpg

that belonged to my brother. He doesn't want it, and I want it out of my garage. Would make a great restoration project, and an even better FG/SS conversion. About 57cm. Please PM me if interested.

^^^^

sweet handlebar setup!

The Concorde is 1973 or 1974 and 2nd from the bottom of the lighweight line at the time. The Reynolds 531 tubing is the main attraction, but unfortunately it is only plain gauge and only used in the main triangle. The rest of the bicycle is decidely entry level with Simplex Prestige derailleurs and mainly steel components (rims, cottered cranks, seat post and bars). I believe the only aluminum parts are the b s, stem and hubs, but even the latter were only wing-nutted.

This was the era when CCM started losing it's direction and reputation. Things were really beginning to slip and they suffered at the hands of the imports and in particular to Sekine, a Japanese brand being assembled in Canada. It's hard to look objectively at a CCM of this era and call it a great bicycle, reagrdless of how fond I am of the marque.

It's not unusal for bicycles to sit in a shop for a year or so before being sold, especially during a lull in the market, like there was in the early 1980s. It may well be a 1983, it certainly sounds reasonable based on teh serial number prefixbut I can't say for sure. I'm not as familiar with the post bankrutcy CCM or with what I'm assuming is a BMX model. However, I do have all the pre-bankruptcy catalogs back to 1972, so if you post pics, we can at least eliminate that possibility. Also, I'm not sure if there was much component date coding on BMX parts, but you could always explore that possibility. And you could always try the BMX forum. I'm not trying to pass you off, but I just don't think I'll be able to help much on this one, as it's out of my area of expertise. But you never know, so post some pics.


I posted it up at bmxmuseum, can you see if it shows up in one of your catalogs? Thanks!

I'd still like to see some photos of a Tour Du Canada model.. probably the only somewhat worthy Road bike by CCM. I think TMar mentioned to me they were butted 531 tubes.

I posted it up at bmxmuseum, can you see if it shows up in one of your catalogs? Thanks!

Under what description and user ID?


I'd still like to see some photos of a Tour Du Canada model.. probably the only somewhat worthy Road bike by CCM. I think TMar mentioned to me they were butted 531 tubes.

Yes, full Reynolds 531 DB tubeset, Campagnolo dropouts and Campagnolo NR save for the Universal 68 brakeset. A good value for the parts, but still not a great bicycle.

heres the link:
http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/ccm/10960

heres the link:
http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/ccm/10960

The fact that it is a Supercycle, as opposed to a CCM as previously stated, changes the appproach. The Canadian Tire Corporation used a number of suppliers to manufacture their brand, not just CCM or Procycle. Even if they did produce this model for CTC, it would not necessarily match one the models produced under the CCM brand. Regardless, I went back and looked at my CCM catalogs and could not find a match.

However, I do have some older CTC catalogs and was able to verify that the 71-1288 Bobcat was still cataloged in 1985. Also, being able to see the actual stampings, I see the the complete number is TH83 12. This suggests it is a date code, but the 12 could be a day, week or month. I suspect that somewhere else on the frame you may find an additional number that is the sequence number for the frame. If the 12 indicates a month, the bicycle would be a 1984 model.

Unfortunately, I do not have the 1983 or 1984 catalogs to determine if the Bobcat was produced for those years, however pending further evidence, my best educated guess is that it is a 1983 or 1984 model, though it may not have been produced by Procycle.

The fact that it is a Supercycle, as opposed to a CCM as previously stated, changes the appproach. The Canadian Tire Corporation used a number of suppliers to manufacture their brand, not just CCM or Procycle. Even if they did produce this model for CTC, it would not necessarily match one the models produced under the CCM brand. Regardless, I went back and looked at my CCM catalogs and could not find a match.

However, I do have some older CTC catalogs and was able to verify that the 71-1288 Bobcat was still cataloged in 1985. Also, being able to see the actual stampings, I see the the complete number is TH83 12. This suggests it is a date code, but the 12 could be a day, week or month. I suspect that somewhere else on the frame you may find an additional number that is the sequence number for the frame. If the 12 indicates a month, the bicycle would be a 1984 model.

Unfortunately, I do not have the 1983 or 1984 catalogs to determine if the Bobcat was produced for those years, however pending further evidence, my best educated guess is that it is a 1983 or 1984 model, though it may not have been produced by Procycle.

Thanks!
The headtube sticker doesnt exist anymore but I think that it had both "CCM" and "Supercycle" on it.(?)
The "TH83 12" is located on the right dropout and I figured it was a date code,
on the other dropout is what I think is the serial number: "678453",
and there is also the sticker on the seat tube "71-1288", that seems to be the CTC model number.
Does your catalog have a photo in it? That would help a lot, I could see if it had the same parts.
Thanks again.

edit:

I didnt really realize that Supercycle was an inhouse brand of CTC..
If the "71-1288 Bobcat" appears in your catalog than its a Supercycle for sure, I still have the idea that the sticker also had CCM on it..
If your catalog has a pic and a description that would be nice, I could see if it has the same parts as mine did.
I also found a 84' annual edition CT catalog on ebay... I might pick that up just to see if the bike appears in there..

I'll dig the catalog back out, but I doubt it will help much. The pics are typically not very good and there are virtually no specs to speak of. It was basically an automotive-hardware catalog catering to the entry level consumer.

Personally, I'd contact the seller and see if the 71-1288 is listed before you bid. Even then, I'd put in a low bid and not worry if I was outbid, as there will likely be very little on the bicycle.

Being a Canuck I have quite an affection for old CCM bikes...they are definitely our Schwinn although finding nice road models is very difficult as they were made in much smaller numbers.

I have a 1940 that I believe is a Rambler... I can also run it as a fixed gear with a different wheelset. The fork and stem are new as I wanted something stronger and will be installing a front brake.

The frame is actually very light (5 pounds) and the brazing work is very nicely done.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/rambler1.jpg

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/rambler2.jpg

And a 1933 men's coaster bike that is mechanically perfect and in the queue for repainting... I am also looking to get some of the parts re-plated since I can get it done for next to nothing. :)

This frame is also very nicely made and at 32 pounds it would have almost been considered a lightweight in it's day... the stock 52 :18 gearing is quite steep and makes the old girl fly.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/CCM1.jpg

While I too have a great affection for CCM, I try not to let the sentimental aspects affect my objectivity with regards to their merits. The pre-boom models certainly faired much better against the competition than their boom and post boom offerings.

I don't know what your 1940 model is, but it does not appear to be a Rambler. I have the 1938 and 1941 catalogs, and there is nothing like it in either catalog. The pictured Ramblers were all single top tube models. The dual top top models had both tubes connecting to the head tube and both tubes were straight and parallel to the ground for the 2/3 of their length, as on your 1933 bicycle.

T-Mar

Thanks.. I'd love to see some catalogue scans.

Another fellow thought my 1940 was a Rambler... now I wonder what the heck it could be, besides being one of my favourite old bikes.

That red one is from the 50s, couldnt tell you the exact year, but double check the serial number. They stopped doing the double bar ones that certain way as t-mar described sometime in the late 40s or early 50s and started doing them like your example above. You'll also notice the headtube is joined with the top and downtube like a traditional road bike with lugs, up until the late 40s the headtube was just plain like your other ccm pictured, and for some reason they went back to that method in the early 70s on their basic coaster brake bikes and 3 and 5 speeds

divine .As far as I know and with the date codes I have, the serial number is for 1940.

I've never seen one here, which is a shame because it looks like they made just about every kind of bike.

I think CCM stuck to domestic production just as Schwinn did in the US as old Schwinns are pretty uncommon in these parts.

We have an abundance of old Raleigh and CCM bikes here and both companies seemed to produce bike for the larger department stores such as Eatons and Hudson's Bay.

I've never seen one here, which is a shame because it looks like they made just about every kind of bike.


You ain't missing much.. though, I guess it depends what you're looking for. I think if you like old single speed bikes they're ok for that, strong and dependable. But their road bikes are a joke! Thing I especially detest about them is the front fork clearance, take a look at the purple concorde above, it has the longest reach brakes that exist probably, and the pads are even nutted to the lowest possible place to meet the rim... you dont need that much fender clearance, it looks stupid, like a 24" wheel on a 27" fork.

I'd still like a Tour Du Canada for some reason though.. im sure they had normal wheel clearance being an actual racing bike.

Strong and dependable is really what old CCM's were really all about... my 1940 ? really isn't babied and is a bit of a jalopy in that the wheels are from 1964, and the fork is much newer (mid 80's Norco).

It is the kind of thing we would do to old coaster bikes when we were kids... strip off the fenders and chain guard and flip the bars and you then had a much racier machine much like a Path racer or old Club bike.

My first mtb experiences were done on similar bikes and we killed a good number of them.

:)

That red one is from the 50s, couldnt tell you the exact year, but double check the serial number. They stopped doing the double bar ones that certain way as t-mar described sometime in the late 40s or early 50s and started doing them like your example above...


I don't know exactly when the curved, double top tubes were introduced, but they were in place as early as 1950 according to my literature. However, the straight top tube with the dog leg survived on some models, so there was no clear changeover date between styles. Based on the double top tubes and the general 1940s/1950s era, I'd classify this as one of the various Motorbike models, pending info on the serial number and wheel size.

I have several CCM bicycles. In addition to my 1975 CCM "Tour du Canada" which I am restoring at the moment, I also have a fifties? CCM "Flyer?", an early seventies CCM "Formula 1", a sixties CCM "Tourismo", an early seventies CCM "Grand Prix", a CCM Ladies step through with 28" wheels, an early seventies CCM "Elan", a CCM double top bar, a late sixties? CCM "Targa", a CCM Cleveland and a CCM "Corsa".

With the exception of the "Tour du Canada", the CCM line-up that I am familiar with is pretty much unimpressive both in appearance and ride quality. The "TdC", on the other hand is a treat to ride. I am just starting the full restoration of the "TdC" and plan to include the feature article pertaining to the restoration as soon as the bicycle is complete. The article will include home made art fabrication to go with the already published article on hand painting a bicycle frame set.

It was my good fortune to stumble across a 1976 CCM dealers parts book and it contains all models and all components, carefully organized into easy to figure out categories. As I recall,suggested retail price for a Silver Ghost frame and fork was $46.55 and the same for a 23" Mistral. A Tour du Canada frame set retailed at $394.95.

The TdC was all Campy NR with the exception of the brakes. Universal 68 brakes were standard issue but Campy NR stoppers could be special ordered right from the factory.

I have the original bill of sale for my TdC and the bicycle sold for $525.00 in 1975. I sort of think that the bicycle might be a year or two older based on the Pat dates stamped on some of the Campy components. But that is another story...

The 1975 CCM road bike range, according to the Dealer's book, included: Tour du Canada, Silver Ghost, Mistral, Torino and Targa.

I presently have articles featuring some of these bicycles and many others on my new website MY "TEN SPEEDS". If anyone is interested, you might want to take a look. The address to the preview page is http://www.mytenspeeds.com/index.htm I hope it is OK if I include that piece of information.

I have also owned a CCM "Seville" that was a pretty nice bicycle that targeted high end appearance but didn't quite make it in the performance department, in my opinion. That said, the "Seville" was pretty nice and I wish that I had kept it, Shimano 600 Arabesque component grouppo and all.

In the past few months I have given away a CCM Massey and a really old one with wooden wheel rims. I am not interested in restoring old roadsters and balloon bikes. My focus is Canadian made road racing bicycles, either top of the line or special issue.

Anyway, I am always adding stuff to MY "TEN SPEEDS" and I invite anyone interested to have a peek at the preview and perhaps consider joining.

randyjawa - If you come across any more Masseys' wooden wheels, or roadster parts just send them my way will you ?

:D

So I am thinking that my 1940 CCM that is not a Rambler may have had the second tube added as it is not lugged at the head or seat tube tube but is rather welded / brazed and the workmanship at the joints is not quite perfect... the date code on the frame is certainly 1940. It could have also been a CCM produced bike that was made for another retailer...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/ccmpath4.jpg

There is a fellow here that has a really nice collection of old CCM road bikes and it took me a while to connect with him but I figure I will get to take a peek at his stash rather soon... I will take plenty of photos and glean as much info as I can.

I added a 3rd CCM to my stable in the form of an early 70's Mustang that I found in nearly complete condition... being that I want to ride it more than around the block I replaced the coaster hub with a an SA 3 speed and fitted a front wheel with a drum brake as there is no provision on the frame for caliper brakes.

The original bars were badly bent and rusted so I replaced those with some bars I pulled of a Raleigh.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/sallydrive2.jpg

Here are a couple of pictures of some of my vintage CCM road bicycles. The purple bike is a 1975 CCM "Tour du Canada", the black one an eighties something CCM "Seville", a cream CCM "Corsa", a green CCM "Formula 1" and the all chrome one an early seventies CCM "Grand Prix". All of those bikes are my size and included in my humble collection but the only one I like to ride is the "TdC". I also have an older dark blue CCM made from Reynolds 531 tubing but I am unsure of both model and vintage. That bike is a tad too large for me being a 58cm(c-c) seat tube.

Anyway, the CCM line-up is pretty unimpressive as a whole. That said, the Canadian Schwinn was quite competitive with other entry level bicycles such as Raleigh and Peugeot of the day. The CCM "Grand Prix" however was an unadulterated piece of junk, in my humble opinion. That said, there is still one old guy riding a 1971 "Grand Prix" around Thunder Bay every summer. When asked about the bicycle, he suggests that it is the best bicycle he has ever owned. Chances are it is the only bicycle he has ever owned.

I just started stripping the paint from my mid seventies "Tour du Canada" yesterday. I will finish the task today and then get at painting the bicycle. If anyone has any good pictures of the CCM "Tour du Canada" art work from 1975, please let me know. I am about to fab up some decals and I would like to at least have something to work from