SLPRJP

Hey everyone,

I recently acquired a puzzling cycle. It is a Profile Air Raid road bike. I have contacted Profile-Design and Profile bike parts and got as much information as I think I am going to get from any manufacturers. So far what I know (or what I think I know, which would make it what I think ) is that it is a 1990 (is 1990 vintage? that makes me an antique then...) or thereabout road bike produced for or by Profile Design. Possibly built for Profile Design by Aegis? At least that is one way I was pointed.

Other than that, all I know is what the seller stated....

Serial number: 000518 Not sure of year built
52 cm frame (crank to TT), @53cm TT, Stand over is @30.5in.
Shimano Sealed BB,
Jag Wire and Stainless cables throughout.
Profile Bar wrap
Fwd Tri-style seat post
Complete Shimano 600 7-speed index (early Ultegra Group)
Nitto Stem Profile Tri- Bars
Matrix Titan II front double wall, Matrix Aero ISO II rear
20lbs current

The bike did not come to me cheap, but I wanted it and felt comfortable at the price. So does anyone know anything else about it?

SLPRJP

Personally I'd say Aegis is believable. The frames look similar in construction.

SLPRJP

Once I get the bike in person I will be taking better pics than the ones provided. As far as the value of the cycle is concerned, it seems irreplaceable since there are none for sale. But I would like to know more about it, I am sure I will learn a lot when it gets here.

SLPRJP

No one must know much if anything about this bike. No replies yet. The suspense of getting this thing is killing me.

bobbycorno

Definitely looks like an Aegis. Also looks like it's got "normal" road geometry, so it'd make a nice rider once you replace the bars and shifters with something more conventional.

SP
Bend, OR

SLPRJP

That is what I was thinking. I've got some quick clicks and conventional road bike carbon bars that should fit it.

SLPRJP

I got the bike yesterday and took it directly to my bro's shop. New tubes and rim bands, handlebars and a couple cables, full tune and it rides great! It looks like all the components are Shimano 600. Everything works great. Right now it has my mountain bikes seat and seat post, aluminum forks, stem and bars and it weighs 20lbs. It is a real nice rider for being a 1990 model. I will post some pics tomorrow morning.

SLPRJP

Well I would of got some pictures but the spoke nipples started snapping on the front wheel so it is at the shop again...

Takahashi

I have one of these jewels. I maybe able to help. My grandfather first got one from Profile when they made them in the mid-late 80's. They only made a select few and all of them were custom ordered. Mine uses various mixed components all installed by profile. These bikes are EXTREMELY rare. When they first were released they cost anywhere from 2-4K depending on the parts used or requested. There is not one of these bikes that are the same. All are different. I'll post some pics of mine.

SLPRJP

^^Excellent, I am looking forward to that. I have rode mine quite a bit over the last season.

nylhtak

Wow, you don't see many of those anymore. I have one that looks a lot like it but it is (perhaps) a few years earleir. I contacted Aegis but they never returned any of my emails or phone calls. If I recall correctly, the shop I managed ordered a number of the frame sets from Gita (could be wrong on where) and we sold 3 or the 4 and this one was left over...because they were custom painted by Cycle Art (Colorado and now defunkt ?) and it was a purple~ish to pink fade and back with Graftek decals. I've been riding it since 1991/92, not very often mind you but its been a decent bike. More wag in the BB than a kennel of dogs but it fits me well and I dont ride road that often. Can post some pix if anyone interested in seeing (no, not for sale though).

SLPRJP

You should post some pics, I'd like to see that

wchang87

hi everyone, first time poster here.

i too have recently acquired an air raid frame and if not for this thread, i would have been unable to find any information on the bike/not bought it. here's a quick picture of it in my basement/storage/work area. hope to finish it in time for spring riding!

nylhtak

Best photo I have of mine currently...I need to take some detail photos of the decal from cycle art, drop outs and such. The "cycle center" decals were some I had made at my shop, rest of frame color and decals is all original. From the old Aegis web site, looks to be one of their early frames before they started putting their own name on them.

wchang87

sweet looking bike, nylhtak!

here's another pic of mine with the wheels/saddle (just got them in today)

Lagrange

I have a little info on the air raid for you all. The air raid was manufactured between 90 and 92. Each bike is custome made. They were the first to manufacture a carbon fiber frame using an inner and outer form blater to make the carbon fiber 10 times harder. Kestrel there competitor did not do this and had a much weaker frame. Profile made the frames them selves and then teamed up with trek and eventually sold the design to them. Back the the frame alone sold for 2k min. Hope this helps.

IthaDan 

Where are you getting this?

I've done some aegis/early carbon research myself, and the first carbon trek, the 1989 trek 5000 was indeed made my aegis in Maine. Just like these profiles, the basso graftek, and the aegis carbon frame I have from the same era.

Edit: I'm 99.9% sure these profile frames are aegis as well- the seat binder (7/64" Allen key) is a dead giveaway. As are the rear dropouts and the profile of the bb area.

The 89 trek 5000 was a one year bike, and is completely different than the trek OCLV bikes that came a couple years later.

georges1

great frame indeed and very original as well

sms1976

I had one of these for a short time. Definitely Aegis on the frame, and mine was a full Shimano Sante group, except for some replaced 105 shifters. Pretty sweet bike, and had the particular distinction of having been decorated with cow spots, but was a bit small for me. I just sold it yesterday on Craigslist for $650, but had found a very similar Aegis on eBay for $1300, and had seen another Air Raid go on eBay for ~$500 including shipping. Mine still had the original forward-tilt seatpost and Terry saddle, but I had replaced the seat and post to make it a more traditional ride. Hope this helps anyone else who has one of these.