mtnwkr

I was out for a ride this evening and found this beast resting in a ditch.. Couldn't find any info on the web, was wondering if anyone has herd of it? It has suntour gt components and is a lugged steel frame. I'll probably strip/paint and sell it to the fixi kids. I found the speedo/odo interesting..

mimib

Did you ever learn anything about this bike? I just bought a used one and cannot find anything about the manufacturer (except for your post). As you were, I'm just curious.

daveamos

I also just bought a used Dotson bike and can't find any information except from this post. I bought the bike in Eugene, OR and the label says "Dotson, Eugene, OR" on it. I wonder if it was a local manufacturer? It has the original bike registration on it, from 1977. The person I bought it from says it has all original parts, including the original hub gears. Here's a picture:

wrk101

Local marketing company more likely. I had a 3 speed J C Penney bike that looked identical to that one as well. Of course, J C Penney did not make bikes. They just paid someone to put a sticker on it.

Typical department store bike from the bike boom.

yammer

I worked briefly (I was awful at it) at the bike shop in Eugene that almost certainly sold that bike, during the summer of '77. It was owned by an older gent who I think was a former defense contractor, I remember him talking about General Dynamics electric boat division (submarines) a lot. He sold bikes, but had the biggest pickup truck I'd ever seen, said it was special built. But back to the bike; I dimly remember he did have them made under his name (Dotson), and they were assembled and sold there. I don't recall any other branch stores. The store was very near downtown Eugene, on the southwest side of the pedestrian-only part, and I think was called Eugene Cycle Works or something like that. If there's a way to find a Eugene yellow pages book for 1977, his listing would definitely be the largest bike shop in the book. Unless it's really tricked out, the bike probably sold at the $79 price point. Mr. Dotson was proud of that double-gusset frame, he considered that the strongest kind.

rhm

That's cool! Thread comes back from the dead three times, and finally we have some concrete information.

daveamos

Yes, thanks for the concrete info! The bike is still doing well, but the heavy steel frame is starting to get to me a little (I have to carry it up and down a flight of stairs every day). The front brakes fell off a couple months ago (the bolt holding them to the frame sheared off), and the local bike shops can't find a replacement that fits. I'm going to check C.A.T. in town when I get the time.

It's cool to know the history, though!