I finished my business with the LBS where the Lotus Classiques and Legend Comp were found, 1984 NOS, in box, and they have at least two more upstairs in their warehouse that I'd love to rummage through for a couple of days.

They even have 25 year old Avocet touring shoes, but not in my size, still sitting around somewhere (I noticed a pair like the ones that I wore out in the 80's today, that clearly had not seen the use that mine got and asked about them).

I bought both a Classique and the Legend Compe, both are striking beauties, and the Legend Comp is now my daughter's...man I am so jealous of that full out campy group on her bike and yet the Classique I got is even prettier. What a score!

I still have dibs on any excelles that come in, used or otherwise, and they still have a missing Legend Compe (probably sold and not taken out of inventory list) that is silver that I have dibs on if it turns up.

I've only taken the Classique on one short ride, and it was immediately like stepping back onto my Excelle in 1984, rides like silk, both bikes ride/rode better than any other bike I've ever been on and put my Trek 2100 and the old Giant road bike I had to shame. I had thought that the intervening years, and my physical decline, as well as memory of being young vs the reality of being 50 might have been coloring my perceptions of my bike (the Trek).

Nah, it was just the damn bike.

Anyone who comes across a new or used Lotus Excelle 1984-85 in silver, in good to excellent condition or NOS in Box, 58 cm, I'm still looking.

Anyone who is interested in the Lotus Bikes one can contact the shop. They don't want people wasting their time though, apparently in the past guys have come in and they've pulled a bike down and opened a box and the guy has just wanted to see one of the bikes...not buy them.

Falcone Schwinn
1900 Harrison Ave NW Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 943-2091