Another "show me" thread, but I really enjoy these...

I recently acquired a Puch Bergmeister for free, and while I have not been able to start work on it, I spend a lot of time thinking about it, and I would love some inspiration.

So, show me you Puch, Austro-Daimler, Steyr, Capo, Sears Free Spirit, or other bikes that come from "Free Austria." ("Free" as in non-Soviet, not necessarily $0, like mine was.)

Here is mine, as it came to me from my neighbor's bulk pick-up pile:

^Wow, terrific project!

advert from 1962 / US importer

[IMG]Steyr and Peugeot importer advert 1962 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

mine~
[IMG]IMG_7155 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_6781 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_8593 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

class of '57
[IMG]class of 1957 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

May I play, too?

1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo
only the brake levers and calipers, frameset, and shift levers are original

1960 Capo Sieger
all original, incl. paint, except 58T(!) chainring, since replaced w/ a 49T

Cool Higgins, crank addict. Is that a 2x4x3 hybrid transmission? If so, that is an unusual location for the IGH shifter. I really like the period-correct handlebar-mounted water bottle, as well.

I once had a Sturmey-Archer standard (wide-ratio) 3-speed hub with a 14-16-18-20 Cyclo cogset, but only one ring (40T) in front. Great setup!

What a great start to this thread!

John, thanks and mighty fine steeds you have too!

The JCH motors along quite well with a 2x3x3. It took awhile to sort out but now super reliable. Really fun rider. Since the pics, now has three matching axle wingnuts incl. the rear indicator type. Someday hope to find the NDS rear (Sturmey style)

Here's my '81 Puch Alpina, I also have a Super Cavalier but need to take photos of it.

Alpina-1.jpg

Alpina-6.jpg

Alpina-13.jpg

I thought you said Australian

The Olympian was listed as the 'fast touring' frame in the catalogue (same f/f as Vent Noir), 531 butted frame & fork. In the pics it is wearing fenders which have been removed at present. The brown saddle that was previously on it died, so the black Brooks B15 went on. Tall headtube allows for easy riding in the drops. I should update my photos.

Austro-Daimler Inter 10:

I told a friend I had two Viennese bikes, and he was thinking Vietnamese.

- "I said Graz."
- "Yes, I heard you. You're welcome."
- "No. That's not it."

Nice bikes, everyone...

Thanks for sharing this mount!

Recall seeing these in the catalogues BITD.

Good to see that second gen Nervar Star chainset.

Here is the catalogue page for it:

I remember those dorky CPUC-mandated wheel reflectors.

I missed this thread because I was on vacation when it started. I was just about to start the same thread, but I decided I should search for one first.

Anyway, for those who aren't following the C&V Clunker 100 Challenge, here's my Steyr Clubman.

As purchased:




And now:






My best guess is that it is from 1974. It was remarkably free of non-European components when I got it -- Simplex derailleurs, AVA stem and handlebars, Weinmann brakes, San Marco saddle, Union pedals, (non-original) Raleigh wheels. Even the kickstand was Swiss. Only the shifters and freewheel were Japanese, and I'm guessing those weren't original. I've since corrupted it with Shimano Thunder Bird and Eagle derailleurs, Shimano 3.3.3 rear wheel and freewheel and an SR Custom stem.

Once the Clunker Challenge is over I've got plans to sink a few more dollars into it to make it safe to ride.

I'm also working on and Austro Daimler that I believe is a 1979 A-D Team. I'll add it to this thread as soon as I finish my re-build.

That cleaned up so nice!


For those not following the Clunker Challenge, I recommend looking for this bike in the thread. It was so much rougher than it looks in the "before" pic.

I'll show my Clunker for this year's challenge too.


1983 Puch Alpina.


As bought:





Now:





I cleaned, repacked everything, replaced cables and housing, trued and de-stickered the wheels, polished the aluminum bits, drilliumed the crank and brake levers, and painted the lugs.


Unfortunately my future plans after riding the 100km for the challenge are to sell it. The frame is stiff and comfortable, but the geometry is so weird for me, the single speed doesn't fit the terrain I ride (would be perfect for a city/college bike), and the wheels and brakes would have to be upgraded. Unfortunately I'd have to sink way too much money in it for it to be enjoyable for my style of riding.

This old Simpson Sears roadster, or what ever one would call it, came my way years ago, and left shortly after. Certainly low end but I found considerable vintage appeal there...

It is interesting to me that someone mentioned the tall head-tube. I think these bikes are so strange that they all have a 56 top tube but change the head-tube and seat-tube for the different sizes.


I think with a 54-58 seat tube these things look great, but the larger and smaller sizes just look out of proportion to me; yours being a little large and mine being a little small.

That thing is wild. Three speed hub and a rear derailleur? Gears for days!


Also, off topic and maybe inappropriate: I don't know who the girl is to you, but she is absolutely beautiful.

You may be on topic if she is of Austrian descent.

Also, thanks for posting the A-D Olympian spec sheet, which sort of legitimizes the Nervar Star crankset which a prior owner had installed on my Modell Campagnolo.

This one is considerably nicer than the Steyr I posted above.



It's been a bit of a challenge finding any information on this one. My best guess is that it's a 1979 Austro Daimler A-D Team. There was no model name decal, and the other decals are in pretty good shape so I think there never was one. That combined with the chromed chain stay led to my guess regarding the model (sold as a frameset, I believe). The year is a guess based on Internet records of other A-D serial numbers.

The tubing decals claim butted Reynolds 531, including stay and forks. It came to me with Campagnolo Record headset and bottom bracket, but otherwise a mishmash of parts which I've replaced with a different mishmash of parts.

I dragged this Sears 3 speed home a couple weeks ago for my cousins' wife.


All original, down to the tires, which promptly split and popped when I hauled it out of the pickup. Still had nubs on those tires, though. Needs some new tires and CLA, then away it goes.

A prior owner made the extremely welcome improvement of replacing those wretched Simplex stem shifters and full-length cable housings, which were two glaring Clubman weaknesses.

I thought replacing the plastic Simplex derailleurs would also be a nice step up, but after using the Shimano Eagle I'm not so sure. It's got to be immensely more durable, but the shifting is something like trying to train a cat -- sometimes it does what I wanted and sometimes not, with no obvious correlation to what I'm doing. I never even tried the Simplex derailleurs, but unless they perform significantly worse I'm not sure the step away from the original build was worthwhile. I might undo that before passing this bike on.