gomango

Any forum members here have a Mariposa or have background info about the brand?

I have been offered a Mariposa light tourer and I am less than clear about their history.

TIA

jiangshi

Made by Micheal Barry in the GWN, I believe. He is well regarded. I looked to him to do a restore a few years ago, he's one of the best at that. I can ask one of my Canadian friends what they know.

jet sanchEz

Made in toronto by Mike Barry, he used to run a shop called Bicycle Specialities until he retired and I believe his son took over. The site is still up, I have had a few email conversations with Mike in the past, I am sure he can tell you a bit about the bike if you have the serial number.

HOME - Bicycle Specialties

They are very highly regarded bikes, if Mike had been in the US, he'd rank up there with Bruce Gordon and Richard Sachs. I've never come across one in my size but I have seen quite a few out there and the workmanship is excellent.

Complete Mariposa bikes in good shape seem to hover around the $2000 area when they are listed on the Toronto Craigslist, but that it is not very often.

gomango

Thanks guys.

Yes, I will have the serial number.

The bicycle has been on a hook for over a decade and a friend called me this morning to offer it.

It was his grandfather's and the great news is it's my size.

Kind of a cream color from the vague picture I was given.

Mostly Campy, Berthoud and Ideale. Some sort of a triple drivetrain, but can't tell from the dirt and the low-fi pic.

I just bought it sight unseen, so I'll see what I have in a week or two when it arrives.

jet sanchEz

Cool! Mike had a some of the nicest paint schemes on his Mariposas, once he retired his in-house paint guy opened up his own studio and is doing some fantastic stuff.

VéloColour

jiangshi

Just hope it's the old man, and not the kid:

Michael Barry - The Paceline Forum

gomango

Yes, additional info will be helpful down the line.

I actually don't know that much about the condition, so this is a bit of "roll the dice" on this one.

It's on a large farm near Kenora, so I can hardly run over and check it in person.

gomango

Yes, I just read that interestingly enough.

Unless he was building in the 80s, I feel safe on this one.

I'm not so worried about overall condition, as I could always have Chris Kvale paint it locally if needed.

Bianchigirll 

OMG! One of my MAX frames would look so cool like this.

clubman 

Grail bike for me. Mike was an accomplished rider in his native Britain and when he emigrated to Canada, he had an opportunity to buy out a pile of butted 531 stock from the old CCM factory in Weston Ontario as it died a slow death. I forget Mikes partners name but they started building frames in a basement. Then they opened BicycleSport in downtown Toronto for many years and built a rep for excellence. Mike is an incredibly knowledgeable man with a collection to knock your socks off. He excelled at custom made frames and specialized in radonneuring bikes, so your light tourer may be the cats arse, so to speak. All of his fittings and racks were made in house and as mentioned, his paint work was top notch. Nice buy.

clubman 

As dedicated to steel frames as he was, he was also quick to adapt the new technologies into his frames...his most famous bike was likely Dede Demets steel Mariposa, one of the last steel frames to win a major race.

cyclotoine

You win again gomango. Mariposa is a grail bike for sure.

clubman 

I forgot...you worked for the man, yes?

KonAaron Snake 

I saw one in Montreal and was really struck by it...well done (again) GMG!

As to the paceline ranting about steroids - FREAKING ENOUGH ALREADY! I don't give a rat's behind what the dude did in 2006...are those with a Merckx concerned about his failed drug tests?

AvenirFolder

Drinks With: Mike and Michael Barry of Mariposa Bicycles

Randonneurs Ontario: Interview with Michael Barry

Dan Burkhart 

I was in his shop on Crane ave a number of years ago. The place was like a museum.
Edit: Just realized after visiting their site I mis-remembered the street name. It's Cranfield Road, not Crane. Getting old will do that to ya.

jiangshi

I saw my buddy today, he said buy it. Really nice frames, likely to turn into a favourite. He spells funny

gomango

Thanks to you and others that shared their knowledge/time.

Sounds like I won the lottery in a small way.

I honestly wasn't looking for another bicycle. I'm loaded with nice bikes and projects atm.

Sometimes they just fall in my lap though!

cyclotoine

Nope. But I have always admired his work.
@Aaron, I agree. It was a time when almost everyone in the peleton was doping, I don't hold it against them.

Dan Burkhart 

Shiny like a new penny.

J T CUNNINGHAM

"Shiny like a new penny."
Dan Burkhart.

MANY new pennies!


Regards,
J T

Happy New Year!

Vonruden

Sweet, can't wait to see pics!

djkashuba 

Mariposa seen on the street today. French bits all over with Japanese mechs. Fantastic.

-D

Mariposa (Bob's) by djk762, on Flickr

bertinjim 

gomango-

Here's a link to The Bicycle Information Project's copy of an original Mariposa brochure. It features photos of a younger Mike Barry and his partner Mike Brown in the days when they had just started Bicyclesport in Toronto along with expanded Mariposa production. Even though you were not seeking it, I think you will be glad the Mariposa found you.

gomango

Thank you.

I certainly appreciate all of the assistance and information.