Introductions - Proteus Bicycles

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squadcar
07-01-09, 09:57 PM
To All,
I was the founder, co owner, and frameshop manager at Proteus bicyles from 71 to 78. I also wrote the vast majority of the Proteus Framebuilding Book. My health is not so great, so if you have any questions about the business or the framebuilding shop, ask now before the history is lost.

Little Darwin
07-02-09, 10:16 AM
Welcome to the forums.

You may want to also introduce yourself in the Frame Builders forum, and in Classic & Vintage.

One of our members in Classic & Vintage also runs http://www.velbase.com as a service to other enthusiasts, so if you happen to have any documents that cyclists would find interesting, there is a potential place to store them in a place where vintage enthusiasts look for information.
Little Darwin
07-02-09, 10:20 AM
I see you have already been active in C&V and Framebuilding.

Welcome again!

unterhausen
07-02-09, 10:33 AM
I got started with a Proteus kit, in fact I'm working on that frame right now. Proteus was a great resource when there was nothing else available.
TheDL
07-02-09, 05:18 PM
Someone needs to interview, document, and put up a website Mr. Squadcar
East Hill
07-02-09, 06:13 PM
To All,
I was the founder, co owner, and frameshop manager at Proteus bicyles from 71 to 78. I also wrote the vast majority of the Proteus Framebuilding Book. My health is not so great, so if you have any questions about the business or the framebuilding shop, ask now before the history is lost.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity!

Welcome to BikeForums.

East Hill
zzzbag
10-07-09, 03:22 PM
Hi. I bought Barndoor's Proteus last summer ('08). This Proteus thread helps a lot. The frame seems to be 67 cm c-t, had/has 126 mm rear dropout spacing, brazed on shifter bosses and cable guides which suggests it may date from the early '80. The posted Proteus flier confirms what I suspected: paint is Dupont Imron. Really tough stuff...this paint job is at least 25 yrs old and holding up fairly well. That the seat tube is not Reynolds 531 seems confimed by the length (wasn't 25 1/2" or 65 cm c-t the biggest frame that could be squeezed out of Reynolds 531?). I figured something was a little odd when I discovered the seat post diameter is 26.6 mm. Bottom bracket housing also seems bomb proof--a frame built for a tall and heavy rider, I guess. Still, there is an old green, gold and black Reynolds 531 sticker at the bottom of the seat tube.

I did pull the Shimano 105 stuff and replaced it with vintage Suntour. This is a big bike, but I'm a big guy. It's a pleasure to ride. I've always had frames a little small for me.

One thing I wonder about: was there ever a Proteus head badge or decal?

zzzbag