spacemanz

I have a '97 in Speed Yellow. You don't even really notice the weight of the Headshok, it's still a very light frame.

kroozer 

My wife's 1991 Klein Kirsten. She loves it, and when I got her a mountain bike it had to be a Klein too (Attitude). She's always telling me I should quit monkeying around with steel bikes and get a Klein.

[IMG][IMG]

Thumpic

https://<br /> <br /> https://s246.p...?sort=3&page=1

I know that is a hideous stem, but it's all I had at the time....... I'm going to rebuild it this winter with a correct stem. I've also reapplied the decals since these pics were taken...

dveneman

Recent Guerciotti "garage find" I have yet to complete.

Johnonaschwinn

1988 89? Klein

non-fixie 

Hi southpier, welcome to C&V! No, it hasn't. N+1 and 'more spare time' don't mix easily. Also, I'm not quite sure what to do with the Kettler: keep it original, or ...?
Anyway, I'd love to see your mixte. I haven't been able to find very much information on these sporty models. Even here in Holland they're pretty rare.

southpier

I wanted to upload some pictures I took yesterday, but got a message that the file (1 photo) was too large. anyone wants to see it, please pm me.

even though it was given to me as a complete bike, i'm probably going to do enough changes that it will not have collector value when it's finished.

thanks

Old Yeller

My old 1987 Trek 1500... Sold for $200. For some reason I never really liked it. I bought it new and traded my Raleigh Competition for it because I got caught up in the aluminum craze. It's also why I call myself Old Yeller. BTW, the Shimano 105 replaced the original Sante/600 drivetrain. Another mistake... Oh well, she's history now.

fietsbob

Had an AlAn road , shed it when the head lug started cracking , and sold the cross super before it did.

Lazyass

Sorry I don't take great pictures. Probably the last year I would consider vintage, this is my '97 Raleigh R700. Easton Elan tubing, original tricolor group. Except for the saddle and seatpost everything is original. 18lbs w/o pedals, not too bad. Picked it up for $100 three years ago almost new condition.

brandenjs

I really like the older fat tube Cannondales. This is my 1988 Black Lightning with a couple of upgrades. Not that it needed it, but the STI's make for a more comfortable long distance ride. Really fun bike.

Steve Whitlatch 

My Trek 1400 with upgraded shifters and wheels. Not quite show quality but in excellent condition.

1simplexnut

here is my old Alan beastie . A fairly early model as has no top tube cable guides . Dated to late 70s based on components

Lenton58 

There are more beautiful Vitus 979's around, but I adore mine just as it is. It has been changed around slightly since this pic but still retains Mavic head set, Nitto bars and S-65 seat post, Suntour Cylone brakes, Mavic GP-4 rims, Record hubs .... This one had an active racing career in the hands of the one former owner. The crank is an undistinguished, swaged "Miyata" pantographed /SR product — but, it is light! Decals are accurate replacements.

gaucho777 

My first proper road bike was sky blue Vitus 979. What a great bike! Sure, it lacked in the stiffness department and you'd get some chain rub when hammering in the big ring, but it handled wonderfully and was forgiving over a long day in the saddle in ways that today's oversized AL bikes are not. If it was good enough for Sean Kelly, it was certainly good enough for me. The fact so many were made (I read over 50K at one point?) and changed very little over many years is a testament to their excellent design and execution. IMHO, fears of tubes coming unglued are overblown considering how many Vitus 979s are still on the road. Sadly, I no longer have my Vitus (damaged when hit by a van), though I hope to find a replacement at some point.

I no longer have any aluminum bikes in my stable, but I do have this unusual Tange II aluminum fork which came stock on my Team Parkpre. I almost never see this fork on other bikes, so I'd be curious if anyone knows other bikes that came spec'd with a Tange Fusion II fork.

gaucho777 

I owned this Cannondale just long enough to flip it. Bought the frame cheap on CL, then added a tri-color group bought from forum members, added an extra wheelset I already owned, and the bike was gone within a week. To this day, it's the only brifter-equipped bike I've ever owned.

Giacomo 1 

Hey Gaucho, my Miyata 1400A has alloy forks and stays.

It's not Tange Fusion, because Miyata made their own tubing, but I have to say, I think these alloy parts give my aluminum bike a very steel-like ride. It rides very smoothly, without any of the buzz or harshness which can often be found on aluminum frames. The frame is stiff where it needs to be, yet delivers a pretty supple, forgiving ride due to the alloy bits. I think, although I'm not 100% sure, that the Cannondales like you pictured didn't have the alloy forks, and that is why I hear quite a few complaints about the ride quality being rather harsh.

So I guess that aluminum frames with alloy forks are the way to go!

EddyR

Here is the seldom seen Bridgestone Radac. It is the none imported model,1988

top506

Pay no attention to the old fat guy standing behind the Vitus 979.



Top

Lenton58 

You say 50K 797's were built! Thanks for the info — I had no idea. As for the stiffness issue: I had chain rub too, but it's mostly stopped after some changes in the transmission — or maybe I am just riding differently. As for Sean Kelly and his ride: it is almost a certainty that his bike was pinned — at least in the BB shell. These machines were specially prepared for team racing and individual racers. Whether this was done by Vitus themselves or by the aero-space firm that was contracted for bonding of the interference-fitted tubes, I don't know. Somewhere in my archive I have an illustration of the "watermark" that was used to identify these frames, although (like my Gazelle) the pins are easy to find when the inside of the shell is exposed.

Bonding issues do exist. A mechanic at my LBS has two 979's that were given to him. One has become unbonded. One theory has it that the cause is not so much that the epoxy fails, but rather aluminum corrosion gradually sets itself between the epoxy and the mother metal thereby obliterating the bond. It has been suggested that water emersion is the culprit. So, I try not to ride mine in the rain. And if I do, I blow the joints with compressed air or towel it off. I also wax the frame and apply liberal amounts around the joints.

The best of luck finding another 979, and my condolences over the demise of your prize. I hope that you were left unharmed.

Lenton58 

A couple of years ago, a lot of these appeared on Japanese Yahoo auctions. Maybe I should have sprung for one, although finding a 56 cm frame is harder here. (I'm only just over 5'9"). Your post has me rethinking.

Led_Dirigible

This is my absolute pride and joy- 1990(?) Trek 1400. 7 speed 105SC, pulled from a pawnshop for 110 dollars. Used as a daily rider, messenger bike, road racer, randonneur, and just about everything else you can think of. Had to replace the fork, but I'm not complaining. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

martl

does 1998 count as "vintage"?

1998 Principia RSL

Hoss Cartright

My 1987 Cannondale Team Comp, all CAMPY ~ A buddy built it up from a frame-set when new, I'm the second owner.

Lazyass

My old Raleigh hadn't got much love in awhile, so I completely disassembled it, cleaned everything down to the inside of the frame, every bearing has been cleaned and repacked, new Cinelli tape, Concor saddle, new pads. I got a set of Race Race 9/10 speed chainrings on clearance and a 10sp chain and it actually shifts better than with the 8 speed. 17.5lbs w/o pedals and everything, very smooth ride and the best fitting bike I've ever had.