Classic & Vintage - lygie needs restoration

Hello, I have a Lygie that I have owned for many years. I bought it second hand. The first owner bought it new from I.Martin Imports in the LA area in the mid 70's.The bicycle is suffering from severe neglect and I am thinking of restoring it. Does anyone know of a source of pieces and parts?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Adam Lubow
praediuminc@earthlink.net

Hi

try this link for the Renaissance Cycles online shop:
https://secure.netonline.nl/ssl/renaissance%2Dcycles/default2.asp

Hey 11strider11 good to hear about another Lygie. I posted in this section about a similar bike a couple of months ago. It is actually owned by an elderly neighbour in LA who was once a pretty serious cyclist. He and I were talking bikes, and we came to the agreement that I could check the bike over, get it into rideable condition and use it if I desired when I'm over in that partr of the world. I'm secretly hoping that he'll make me an offer I can't refuse ;)

From what I can remember the bike was as follows;

Lygie frame from Reynolds 531 tubing- chrome finish with minimal extra artwork.
Fiamme 27" alloy wheel rims.
Full Campagnolo Nuevo record, 5 speed rear sprocket, 2 ring crankset.
Bar-end shifters.
Weinmann cenre-pull brakes & matching levers.

All in all a very nice bike from the early-mid 70's (haven't yet had a chance to date the components accurately). I have done some work, new cables, repacked bearings etc. but have not had a chance to take her on a road test yet. I'm looking forward to a ride as soon as I can get back to LA.

www.campyonly.com should have information on the relevant components - which have become rather desirable, or so I understand. Somewhere I saw a source for replacement rubber hoods for brake levers - one thing really needed in the case of the bike I'm working on. If I find it again, I'll post.

Good luck with the restoration - I'd be happy to keep comparing notes with you on our projects :beer:. At some point, if I am ever lucky enough to take custody of this bike, I'd like to have the chrome plating re-done, but only if it is possible to get replacement decals e.g. the Reynolds and Campy badges.

Sorry for the long post.

Cheers and good luck,

Ed

11Strider11,

Good find on the Lygie.
First thing you should do is contact Classic Rendezvous. Really good bunch
of retrogrouch types. Get on the list and post questions about replacement parts.
The Classic Rendezvous web site www.classicrendezvous.com (http://www.classicrendezvous.com)
has a good page of suppliers of vintage parts, decals etc.
E-bay is another good source, although the price you pay is a crapshoot.
a N.R. derailleur may go for hundreds one day, and barely make $50. the next
for the same item.

Hope this helps,
Marty

Hi again,

Just had a film developed, and had forgotten that I had actually taken pictures of our neighbour's Lygie that I have been working to restore. These pics don't really do the bike justice, in fact, when I first set eyes on the bike I was somewhat crestfallen. I was summoned down to the very dusty back-room of the neighbour's garage and shown a rusty-dusty bike. However when I started to asess the work required, I started to notice things like "Campagnolo", "Nuevo Record" and "Reynolds 531"..... This, of course raised an entirely new level of enthusiasm for the project :). I really can't wait to take this bike for a test ride.

Just wondered if this beautiful but needy bike matched any of the other Lygie's that you folks own or know (knew).

Cheers,

Ed

Ed,

Nice bike. Well worth the effort to restore. I bet once the owner see's
it restored he makes you that offer. I know I would. . .

Marty