In the mid-1980s I purchased a black w/red trim Vista Elite
from Lindman's Cyclery in downtown Irving, TX. This oft-visited shop of my boyhood has now become a pawn shop, but I retain the bike...and the memories.

For 15+ years I have kept my Vista in storage, just collecting dust (and some surface rust on some screw heads and the front forks). I cleaned him up last night and took him out for a ride. Even after the decade and a half of neglect, he ran like a whisper in the night breeze.

As for the specs, this Vista Elite is c.1983 with Shimano 600 shift/brake system, Araya 700C rims, Araya 631 tubing,
12 speed (6 sprocket).
All original, except for replacement Schwinn 220Gr Super 700 tires and stems. Accessories: Cannondale water bottle with velcro frame mount and Zefal HPx4 pump.

For some "before" and "after" pics, and a few others, please click HERE. These are posted in my public folder on Google Picasa.

For all those Vista owners, riders and fans, I'd love to see pics of your Vista bicycle(s). My first bike was a lime green Stingray with a hip yellow banana seat (yeah, with all the 70s regalia), but all those since have been Vistas. The quality is superb. A professional cyclist once told me that the Vista Elite was one of the best available without spending thousands on a custom job such as his (which was worth about as much as our family car - I remember it had lace-up tires and was supernaturally light). As for the price, I believe my Vista Elite was just under $600 w/tax, but the store owner did give me discounts...so the actual list price I don't recall. I do recall it was a ginormous amount of moolah for a teenager in the early-mid 1980s.

Thank you for the thread, and I hope to resuscitate it and keep it running!

- Richard