Originally Posted by Im Fixed
Hi folks new to the forum. Was wondering if my bike qualifies as classic or vintage. Dont know much about the bike I do know Im the 3rd owner. Its a Norco Tri-A ser# k7B5253 shimano derailers light action rear derailer. sugano VP cranks. nitto steerer, Dia compe brakes and Infinity cromo tange tubing. Id like to know the year and wear it would be roadbike ladder. Ill try and post a few pics of it. thanks.
You do not state whether the model is a Eurosport Tri-A or Victory Tri-A, but the pic looks like Victory Tri-A, in which case it is 1990 or newer. A Europsort Tri-A dates from 1987-1989. 1986 and earlier, it was just called the Triathlon.
Either way, the bicycle appears to have been heavily retro-fitted with parts. The listings I have show all the Eurosport Tri-A as being Shimano 105 equipped and the Victory Tri-A as having SunTour Blaze. Norco manufactured bicycles primarily for the entry and mid range markets. The early Eurosport Tri-A was the top of the line of 7 lightweight models, though it was decidely mid-range. By the time Victory Tri-A made it's debut, the road bike line-up had shrunk to 2 models, due the ATB market.
Originally Posted by WF Holdsworth
Nice looking bike... amazing how it looks sooo much like theis road bike of mine. It is a DC Douglas... I have never heard of it and no one else has either. I am in Canada and wonder if Norco made it as a private run for some one? Mine has a mixture of Shimano 600/Durace and Suntour Cyclone 7000 components. The frame is Columbus Matrix tubing. The paint scheme (other than color) looks very similar and very 80's.
Based on the tubing, I'd suggest that the more plausible manufacturer is Miele. Norco tended to use Tange tubing in the mid 1980s, as did the majority of Canadian manufacturers. Miele were also Canadian, well known for their fade paint jobs and used Columbus tubing. Other possible Canadian sources that use Columbus were Cyclops, Gardin and Marinoni. However, Miele was the largest of these and is the most likely source.
The component mix is quite eclectic, so it's hard to tell which components are original. However, Miele did have a Beta model that used Shimano 600 and Matrix tubing, so this may be the basis for your bicycle.
The McDonnell Douglas corporation manufactured aircraft in Toronto and may be the originator of a special production run for employees or customers such as Air Canada. Miele was also located in the greater Toronto region.
Originally Posted by Im Fixed
I have a Nishiki frame with Toshiba 150 tubing [sp?] that good steel ?
Toshiba 150 was a hi-tensile steel used on many entry level Nishiki models in the late 1970s.
Originally Posted by norcostorm
I have a nishiki international frame too. It also says designed by norco on the chainstay. Fishsticks- does your frame have the ornate lugs? Mine does, but I'm not sure what year it is. It doesn't have a headbadge, just a painted nishiki logo.
The ornate lugs and a headtube decal (?) indicate that it is probably early 1980s. What is the tubing and component mix?