Canadian Tire 12-speed circa 1982

[nostromo]

Back in the day, it seems all the kids had a 10 speed Targa. Light blue with white handlebar tape. I know, because I wanted one. I think it was a CCM Targa.... back in the big bad bike BOOM.

Do you know what was going on around that time that caused this boom? Obviously we got most of our info from television then. Were there a lot of bike related sports segments on tv? Magazines?

I remember my dad promised me a bike in grade 3, then 4, then it was grade 5 (10 yrs old) and I no longer wanted a 3 speed, I wanted a 'real' road bike. I remember us standing in Collegiate Sports at Kipling & Queensway, and there were 2 blue road bikes, one behind the other.

My dad points at the smaller one as it was cheaper, and I said 'no way, I want the bigger one'. I was already a bit tall for my age, and there was no way I was going to let my dad save a few bucks and I end up with a small bike...

The other thing I remember is riding it all the time, right into the evening, and this is why I ended up getting that light so I could keep riding. I'd look for any kid on a bike and challenge them to a race, and off I'd go. I had that bike until I was 17.

It was showing it's age so I stripped off the paint and bought a can of Midnight Blue spray paint. I had it all done, left it in the shed, and it got stolen! I didn't get another bike until June 1996, a Bianchi Hybrid. I had that until Sept. 2006 when some moron in an SUV ran a stop sign and hit my back wheel, frame got bent. I was ok, although I was knocked down.

A week later my brother-in-law gives me some old road bike he found that someone had put to the garbage for pickup. It was in pretty good shape, but a bit too small for me. I took it home and one day I took it for a spin around the block. It brought back all those good memories of my first road bike, and I zipped around and had a blast. It convinced me I would enjoy a good road bike again, and shortly after that I bought one.

[gurry]

After owning a couple of road bikes, I found myself buying an entry level hybrid bicycle in the mid nineties. Guess I got tired of the skinny tires and the poor road conditions. Still have that hybrid, but hardly use it as I've rediscovered those old road bikes are a lot of fun!

[cjhoyle]

I'm absolutely loving my $30 1984 Supercycle Excalibur. With the exception of the longer seat post that I bought for it, everything on it was there when I bought it. I have done a very thorough cleaning of the drive train and now have the chrome in the chain and chain rings looking brand new. I'm still riding on the original tires, the treads are great on, but the sidewall are definitely deteriorating. In the short month of only weekend rides I have already put 330km onto it, and have no mechanical break downs so far. Supercycle definitely knew what they were doing back in the 1980's!

The picture I have attached is a picture of another Supercycle from the same approximate era. I'm pretty sure it is not an Excalibur, but I thought it might be of interest to the owners of Brown Excaliburs. My Excalibur has got me quite interested in the history of Supercycle's road bikes.

I'll attach some better pictures of my own Excalibur soon.

[excalibur1976]

Roughly 2.5 years later...I joined bikeforums with the username excalibur1976...what does that tell you? Yes, I bought the Canadian Tire Supercycle Excalibur when Canada was hosting the 1976 olympic games. I still have it.

[Sixty Fiver]

Roughly 2.5 years later...I joined bikeforums with the username excalibur1976...what does that tell you? Yes, I bought the Canadian Tire Supercycle Excalibur when Canada was hosting the 1976 olympic games. I still have it.

Welcome to Bike Forums.

Had some Supercycles roll through our shop a few months back and they had been dressed up for the '78 Commonwealth games that were held here.. they looked as if they had been un -ridden and knew that bicycles were supplied to the athletes that came here to compete.

It was like they had been packed away as soon as the games were over.

[fideli]

Hello all, I just joined the forums right now in order to post a picture of an old SuperCycle Medalist Series II that I picked up late last year for really cheap. I've attached a picture. I (finally!) want to build a fixie using this frame. Was this a decent SuperCycle from years ago or was it a lower end bike? Not sure what quality of steel it is. If anyone has insight or a link to an old catalog for this bike, that would be great!

20120207_173951.jpg

[gurry]

Sold a Medalist series II last year. It was a Mixte bike and came with alloy brake calipers, levers, stem, and crankset. Still it was quite heavy, telling me that the tubing is not the greatest. Actually, my first brand new bike was a Supercycle Medalist in white. I think I bought it around 1978 for a hundred bucks or so.

[fideli]

Sold a Medalist series II last year. It was a Mixte bike and came with alloy brake calipers, levers, stem, and crankset. Still it was quite heavy, telling me that the tubing is not the greatest. Actually, my first brand new bike was a Supercycle Medalist in white. I think I bought it around 1978 for a hundred bucks or so.

Very cool! I'm wondering about part compatibility with the frame. I pulled the bottom bracket apart and was shocked to see that the adjustable cup with the lockring was on the drive side, and the left side cup was reverse threaded. Was this just installed incorrectly by a previous owner, assuming it's been opened up a few times since it was new?

Also, does anyone know whether it uses 700C wheels or 27" ISO 630? The centerpull brakes that came with the bike have a measured reach of ~65 mm so if that was meant for 27", I'd be pushing really long reach brakes for a 700C conversion.

[gurry]

27 inch wheels were on the Medalist series II that I sold. As for the bottom bracket, take a look at Sheldon Brown on the web or the Park Tool website may have info for you.

[fideli]

27 inch wheels were on the Medalist series II that I sold.

Great, thanks!

As for the bottom bracket, take a look at Sheldon Brown on the web or the Park Tool website may have info for you.

I wasn't clear about the homework I'd already done. I was "shocked" since none of the bottom bracket's on Sheldon Brown's website have a left side cup that is reverse thread. I'm convinced it was just jammed in incorrectly on both sides. I tried installing it the right way and it seemed to fit, indicating that it is a standard English-threaded shell. I'll get the threads checked out by my LBS.

[jonescanada]

Nice bike pics there.
I have a early 60's Super Cycle and that thing is a blast to ride.
I recently got a 1982 12 speed Ralaigh which was origionally from Canadian Tire.
It is in great shape but your 82 Super Cycle looks to be a bit better.
These old bikes might not be as fast as new ones but they have heart