Early Seventies CCM Tour du Canada...
 

Anyone wish to suggest a value for this early seventies CCM Tour du Canada, CCM's to racing bike ever, as nearly as i can tell. The bike is not mine. I am only trying to help someone determine value (he lives in Florida) so that he can offer the bike for sale...

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...310b19bd7b.jpg

As is or cleaned up? As is I could see the value of the groupset, maybe $300-500. Cleaned up it would appeal to the esoteric and Canadians but maybe $6-700?

FYI, it appears to be a 1972 with all OEM components, including tubulars. Note that it is not a full Campagnolo (Nuovo) Record group, but employs Weinmann CP brakset and non-Camapgnolo pedals. Condition appears to be good at best, as I'm seeing a fair amount of rust on the steel fasteners. Most of the OEM decals are missing which devalues it for CCM collectors. As stated, for most people the value will be primarily in the components and even that would be on the lower end, based on the condition.

My brother used to assemble CCM bikes in the '70s. He thought they were much better than the other bikes the store sold.

Randy- I can't help with value but I would love to see pics showing details of stay tops and head lugs. This frame looks similar to one I have been trying to identify for some time.

I don't have any of those photos, however; I owned a CCM Tour du Canada of the same approximate vintage - early to mid seventies. Have a look at this feature article and you might find helpful pictures. This is the bike is original "as found" condition...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cbd05dc602.jpg

This exact bike just showed up on FB marketplace for $1950. haha
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eeb163601f.png

Does it come with a mask, and a month long stay somewhere? Since it's Florida forget the mask.

So much for sanity. It will never sell…Hopefully he sent a box of candy to Randy.

I don't know what other bikes that store might have sold, but they couldn't have been any good. I also worked in a Montreal bike shop at that time. Amongst a few others we sold Raleigh, Peugeot and CCM. The CCM bikes were not as well made as either the Peugeots or the Raleighs. Eventually CCM bikes were dropped from the store

No way local sale Florida

$200 at best

Good estimate. I bought a 1974 version of the Tour Du Canada this summer which had full campy including the pedals and brakes for 250$ Canadian. At todays exchange rates, that is about 182$ US. The components are nice, but the frames are nothing to get excited about.

If it had full Campag, including brakes, then a previous owner switched them out or it's not a 1974. While CCM was smart enough to spec Campag, the options they chose, particular for the gearing, were useless, unless you were junior category criterium specialist. The frames had quite a few cost concessions. The few I brought in for our shop got a cool reception from the local racers. Some did turn up on the race circuit but the owners were often ridiculed and many resorted to removing the decals, in an attempt to disguise their origin.

The bike I bought did have Campy brakes on it. I am not an expert on the ins and out of the TDC bikes. I based the year on the groupset , which was dated 1974 on both the crankset and rear derailleur. The front derailleur and brakes were also consistent with 1974 Campy parts. I know this is not the best way to date a bike, but I was interested in the parts for another project. The frame was blue and from what I could tell it was original paint as the previous owner tried to do some touchups on it. I know some frames were purple and maybe even red??? Did CCM give color choices each year or did the frame colours correspond to a particular year. I tried to date the bike, but never found a clear answer to the question. Do you know the best way to date a TTDC? The frame had a very long serial number so I am guessing there is something in that. I gave the frame to a friend, who would be interested to know. Is there a way to decipher the year from the serial number?

You can't decypher the exact year from the serial number but you can tell if it's a early, middle or late Tour du Canada. I've never seen a long serial number on a Tour du Canada, with the exception of the entry level versions produced by Procycle, after they acquired the CCM brand in bankruptcy. However, those weren't spec'd with Campagnolo and I can't imagine anyone outfitting them as such.


During 1972 and 1973 you could get the Tour du Canada in any CCM colour. For 1974-1976, it was only available in purple. The model was not catalogued for 1977 but they were still available, this time in blue, with new graphics. I'm convinced that these were leftover 1976 frames, reworked and released as a new, 1977 model.


I wouldn't put much faith in the component date codes. CCM's quality control was very poor during this era and I doubt they paid much attention, if any, to stock rotation. About all you can say, is that it is no older than a 1974 model.


Based on your description it sounds like one of the reworked 1977 models. Photos and the serial number may allow me to increase my confidence level.

I am working on getting the serial number, but I do recall it being a combination of letters and numbers- over 10 in total. The frame was definitely not elegant, far from it. I did buy it in Quebec and I am pretty sure the bike has always been in Quebec. I think this is where ProCycle is based. The frame did have Campagnolo dropouts, but it had absolutely zero braze ons for any cabling. I cannot recall if it had a Reynolds 531 label on it, but I think it did. I knew absolutely nothing about the Tour Du Canada bike when I purchased it. I just recall thinking that it was a waste to put these quality of parts on that quality of frame. I did some research it to try to figure out the date based on the serial number, but I just ran into dead ends. You confirmed why for me.

If it had Campagnolo dropouts, then it's not one of the Procycle produced frames from after the bankruptcy. Zero braze-ons is also correct. However, 10+ characterters in the serial number is atypical. I've seen about a dozen, including the few that I sold, and the serial numbers were about 1/2 that length.

The frames were OK. It was a full Reynolds 531DB tubeset, but there were cost concessions, including the complete lack of braze-ons. Basically, they were built to mass production workmanship standards.

It has been a long time since I owned my CCM Tour du Canada. Based on a brakes comment, I happened to have an appropriate CCM Bike/Parts catalog. They Tour du Canada could be ordered with Campy NR brakes, and mine had those.

I found the workmanship on the frame to be decent but the frame itself offered no exceptional visual qualities (ie no pantographing of chrome to speak of). I thought the ride quality to be very good, at the time, buy my guess is that now, after owning and riding a great many high end vintage road bikes, The CCM TduC would not score all that well. I cannot remember how much I sold the bike for but I am pretty sure that it was for more than $200.00 considering the fact that I paid $500 + shipping from Victoria Island all those years ago.

If one were to surface at a good price, I just might grab it but only for sentimental reasons. There are far better bikes out there, in my opinion, including some Sekine offerings. I absolutely loved this bike. Not only did I prefer the ride quality but it was a treat for the eye as well. Of course, it sported the quick release dacals common during the seventies. If another SHT comes available, I will scoop it up, assuming the price is reasonable...


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1739cb1564.jpg

In closing, watch out for the later version of the CCM Tour du Canada. It was an entry level piece of poo...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...73f1291cac.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d2a7cbeba6.jpg

So there could be two parts to this serial number. They are both on the bottom bracket underside.

In the middle, the number 11 is written.

In addition, there is a longer number sequence: 62001201945-2

The second number is what I was assuming to be the long serial number.

Does anyone have any ideas as to who these frames were contracted out to?

There's a strong sentimental market for these CCM bikes. That one is right up there with a Sears & Roebuck Ted Williams Reynolds 531 bike. Who knows what it will go for. Find the right buyer & you might get lucky. $1000 might not be that crazy.

I've never seen Tour du Canada or any other 1970s CCM with a serial number like that. It's time for photos.

Voila. Its the dark blue one on the left.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e4b9c1b616.jpg

Could there be something else other than on the bottom bracket?

The rust indicates that the numbers were applied to the frame after it was painted. This would be atypical for a serial number. All the Tour du Canada that I've seen have had the serial number stamped on the underside of the bottom bracket shell. The colour and what I can see of the graphics points to the model marketed for 1977. The very basic BB shell and lack of reinforcement for the chain stay bridge are typical of the cost concessions found on the Tour du Canada.

So basically, they had leftover Campy parts they bought in 1974 and tried to cut costs on the frame by 1977 due to financial problems. Where the frames made in-house or were they out-sourced?