Bicycle Mechanics - Help me ID this Bike

I have been given an old 10-speed I am thinking of conerting to a fixed gear bike.
Before doing so I'd like to know the make on it.

I'll answer any specific questions but here is what I have found:
Front and rear shifters are Shimano, ditto with the hubs.
derailleur cables are anchored to bolt-on cable stops.
Crankset arms have 'Tracer' cast into them.

I know Centurion made ProTour-model bikes on the late 70's-early 80's, but I can't find the Centurion brand anywhere on the bike.
I couldn't find any reference to a Protour bicycle manufacturer so any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
JC

Try this site. It might have some infomation that pertains to your Protour.

http://community-1.webtv.net/DrDBWood/DansBicyclePage/page20.html

I partially dismantled the bike to find the following:

Number stamped on rear right dropout: G0986
Number on Left rear dropout: 6464735
Rear Deraileur: Shimano Skylark
Brakes: Star Brake (Brand) short reach caliper
Seatpost Diam.: 25.8 mm
Wheels are a mix: front = shimano hub 5353 with schurmann-super 27x 1-1/4"rims
rear = KUN.YU (?) hub w/ FEMCO 27x1-1/4" rims

I'm pretty sure that it is not a Centurion Protour, lacking the touring amenities that are typical for that model. Any other comments are welcome,
JC2006

I just converted the same identical bike to a fixed gear. Did you ever have any luck finding out where the bike came from? This was my first fixie and I love it. I did not know if I would like fixies so I did a poorman's version of it. I took apart the freewheel, tossed the 60 or so bearings that spilled out everywhere, cleaned out all the grease with brake cleaner and filled the whole thing with JB Weld. Put it back together and let dry for two days and I have a fixie. Did a chop and flip on the handle bars, pimped it out with 70' era GOLD fenders and added a rack for my paniers. I am looking for matching gold handlebar wrap but I am in a small city... Anyway, hope you had luck building it up and can pass on any info you found out about this bike. I have so far found absolutely nothing.

Rob


I have been given an old 10-speed I am thinking of conerting to a fixed gear bike.
Before doing so I'd like to know the make on it.

I'll answer any specific questions but here is what I have found:
Front and rear shifters are Shimano, ditto with the hubs.
derailleur cables are anchored to bolt-on cable stops.
Crankset arms have 'Tracer' cast into them.

I know Centurion made ProTour-model bikes on the late 70's-early 80's, but I can't find the Centurion brand anywhere on the bike.
I couldn't find any reference to a Protour bicycle manufacturer so any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
JC

I'm pretty sure that it is not a Centurion Protour

You are absolutely correct. ;)

1980 and the shifters up on the bar? Thought this was a newer innovation.

Tried posting this in the Classic & Vintage forum?

AFDC (http://www.fa-technik.adfc.de/Hersteller/Shimano/) does not list Skylark among its post-1980 components. Presumably it's older than that. Can you get a Shimano part number off any part of the group?

AFDC (http://www.fa-technik.adfc.de/Hersteller/Shimano/) does not list Skylark among its post-1980 components. Presumably it's older than that. Can you get a Shimano part number off any part of the group?

Keep in mind, the thread is quite old, although it was revived by the poster who has an identical bike. I didn't pick up on the age of the thread when I posted earlier in the thread. As for the age and model of the bike, everything about it says 1970's department store bike to me; I could be wrong, but whatever it is, it's very low end. I don't say this to be discouraging to the posters who own the bikes, it sounds like they're enjoying them and that's what important. But if finding the origin of the bike is the goal, my guess is that it's a 1970's department store ten speed-

1980 and the shifters up on the bar? Thought this was a newer innovation.

Probably stem shifters. These were very common on Department store and low-line bike shop 10-speeds.

Probably stem shifters. These were very common on Department store and low-line bike shop 10-speeds.

+1

This is your basic late '70s-early '80s cheap bike; just look at those stamped dropouts.