What'd I just buy? Univega Super Strada with pics
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What'd I just buy? Univega Super Strada with pics
Pretty much what the title says: can anyone help ID this bike?
Picked it up off CL tonite for $75. The pics were quite blurry on the listing, was hoping for the Dura-Ace high end 80's model, but it is obviously newer than that. I've been thinking about updating my old Peugeot, though, and for the price for a full set of Shimano 600 8 speed indexed components and Mavic wheels, I figured worst case I parted it out and moved the parts over, so I took it home.
Feels good for the little bit I've ridden it. Everything is seemingly in good working order, brakes good, shifts smooth, definitely lighter than the Peugeot (although I haven't put it on a scale to determine how much). Found the frame a bit odd, it is lugged at the top/seat/chainstay tube junction, but nowhere else. Paint is only in so-so shape. Tange Prestige tubing.
So, any insight? Also, is the frameset better, worse, or on par with an HLE Peugeot PH10 (i.e., worth transfering components)?
Picked it up off CL tonite for $75. The pics were quite blurry on the listing, was hoping for the Dura-Ace high end 80's model, but it is obviously newer than that. I've been thinking about updating my old Peugeot, though, and for the price for a full set of Shimano 600 8 speed indexed components and Mavic wheels, I figured worst case I parted it out and moved the parts over, so I took it home.
Feels good for the little bit I've ridden it. Everything is seemingly in good working order, brakes good, shifts smooth, definitely lighter than the Peugeot (although I haven't put it on a scale to determine how much). Found the frame a bit odd, it is lugged at the top/seat/chainstay tube junction, but nowhere else. Paint is only in so-so shape. Tange Prestige tubing.
So, any insight? Also, is the frameset better, worse, or on par with an HLE Peugeot PH10 (i.e., worth transfering components)?
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Prestige is good stuff. In the mid-80s, the Super Strada was one level below the top race model, the Super Speciale. You're right that this one is newer, but given the tubing and components, still pretty high up there. Nice score for $75, and my guess would be higher level than Peugeot HLE.
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Nice catch! For the years I'm familiar with, the Super Strada (sometimes it seems to be Superstrada) is one of Univega's top two road bikes. I'm guessing this is one of the last years for high-end steel before they switched to aluminum frames. Except for that ugly paint scrape on the head tube, it should clean up great. You should be able to get a ballpark paint match. That seatpost nut and bolt look pretty crappy - hopefully you can replace that. Otherwise it should be a great riding bike.
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Ha, didn't even catch the seatpost bolt, definitely will look into something a bit more pleasing! The scrape on the headtube isn't the only one, there is another one up under the top tube on the left hand side that looks like it was leaned up a rail for a good part of its life. Good thing is scrapes don't bother me much, so long as they aren't rusting.
Any rough guesses on the year, or any places to look for date codes on Univegas? Also I'm assuming at 8 speed, this would be a cassette, not a freewheel?
Any rough guesses on the year, or any places to look for date codes on Univegas? Also I'm assuming at 8 speed, this would be a cassette, not a freewheel?
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Sure you have an 8 cog cassette?
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Were they still made by Miyata at this time? The Miyata codes gave the year as the leading digit on the BB serial number, with 'S' being 1990, 'T' 1991, etc. The 1991 Univega catalog doesn't show a Super Strada, just a Supra Sport and a Maxima Sport as the only 'Lightweight' steel alloy frames, and the others being touring bikes or the new aluminum series.
When was Reynolds 853 oversized tubes introduced? The 8-speed Shimano is from 92-97 per Velobase. A lot of Univega catalogs aren't on the web. @T-Mar?
When was Reynolds 853 oversized tubes introduced? The 8-speed Shimano is from 92-97 per Velobase. A lot of Univega catalogs aren't on the web. @T-Mar?
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Serial number is L91050XXX. She weighs in at an absolutely lightweight (to me, at least) 21lb 3oz, after the aero bars were stripped off.
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Were they still made by Miyata at this time? The Miyata codes gave the year as the leading digit on the BB serial number, with 'S' being 1990, 'T' 1991, etc. The 1991 Univega catalog doesn't show a Super Strada, just a Supra Sport and a Maxima Sport as the only 'Lightweight' steel alloy frames, and the others being touring bikes or the new aluminum series.
When was Reynolds 853 oversized tubes introduced? The 8-speed Shimano is from 92-97 per Velobase. A lot of Univega catalogs aren't on the web. @T-Mar?
When was Reynolds 853 oversized tubes introduced? The 8-speed Shimano is from 92-97 per Velobase. A lot of Univega catalogs aren't on the web. @T-Mar?
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Three things I think about this bike: 1) LA is probably right on the money about it being a '92, 2)it'll probably be a brutally stiff ride, which can either be good or bad depending on what you like, and 3) $75 was a great deal.
I'd clean it up and ride it regularily if it were mine and fit me. Oh and I seriously doubt Miyata made it.
I'd clean it up and ride it regularily if it were mine and fit me. Oh and I seriously doubt Miyata made it.
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Cool, thanks for the info! Taking it out for a more proper ride this afternoon, now that I've changed out the SPD for platforms pedals. Now that I've got pedals, got the shoes, maybe this is the incentive I need to actually give them a try...
1992 is sounding correct, I was able to find one more old thread that describes the same bike (although no pics, thanks Photobucket ) where the conclusion seemed to be the same.
My bikes mostly have 32mm tires and are fairly noodly, so it'll be a change going to something stiff with 23mm tires! Its designated for the same purpose as my Peugeot, though, faster mass/group rides on nice roads or doing laps around Belle Isle, not my every day riding.
1992 is sounding correct, I was able to find one more old thread that describes the same bike (although no pics, thanks Photobucket ) where the conclusion seemed to be the same.
My bikes mostly have 32mm tires and are fairly noodly, so it'll be a change going to something stiff with 23mm tires! Its designated for the same purpose as my Peugeot, though, faster mass/group rides on nice roads or doing laps around Belle Isle, not my every day riding.
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There are a couple of different ways to reverse engineer the serial number, resulting in either a 1990 or 1992 model. However, the 1990 version was lugged and 7 speed. Ultegra 600 didn't go 8 speed until the 1992 model year and my price list for that year mentions TIG welded Prestige OS, so it does appear to be 1992. FYI, the MSRP in 1992 was $895 US. Curiously, there was no Superstada in 1991.
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There are a couple of different ways to reverse engineer the serial number, resulting in either a 1990 or 1992 model. However, the 1990 version was lugged and 7 speed. Ultegra 600 didn't go 8 speed until the 1992 model year and my price list for that year mentions TIG welded Prestige OS, so it does appear to be 1992. FYI, the MSRP in 1992 was $895 US. Curiously, there was no Superstada in 1991.
Thanks T-Mar! Are you saying 1992 because of the frame construction, or because of 8-speed? While it was listed as 8-speed on CL, and I could have sworn I counted 8-speed when looking at it, it is actually a 7 speed HG cassette.
$1600 in today's dollars, easily my "best" bike
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Thanks T-Mar! Are you saying 1992 because of the frame construction, or because of 8-speed? While it was listed as 8-speed on CL, and I could have sworn I counted 8-speed when looking at it, it is actually a 7 speed HG cassette.
$1600 in today's dollars, easily my "best" bike
$1600 in today's dollars, easily my "best" bike
I'd advise against performing inflation adjustment on bicycles. A boom era Peugeot UO8 would be worth ~$750 today, but for that amount 2017 bicycle would blow a UO8 out of the water. The value per dollar ratio on bicycles has increased dramatically.
Last edited by T-Mar; 07-21-17 at 08:25 AM.
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Oh for sure, I don't hold any illusion that a $1600 bike today isn't considerably better. Just gives me a way to broadly compare my various bikes across generations, and more interestingly see what the same money today would have gotten you then.
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How does model year assembly correspond with parts mfg date? Brakes, crank and FD all list OK,OL,PA,PC, which I understand to be Nov 90-Mar 91. Is there a particular location for the RD date code, I can't find it by all the other stampings.
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It's not Reynolds 853. That didn't come out into the late 90's and I never heard of an oversized version. It's Tange Prestige OS, it was developed for mountain bikes. Your decal reads 858 anyway, not 853. No clue what that means. Too bad there's not more Univega catalogs online. My '92 Paramount PDG is made from Prestige OS. With DT shifters I would put my money on yours being a '92.
The Tange catalog on equusbicycle.com lists Prestige OS MTB as 0.8 - 0.5 - 0.8 mm.
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Check the back of the outside cage plate (see pic). Also, are they 'O' or 'Q'? The 'Q' has a backlash, like in the pic.
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In either case, definitely learning a lot!
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Cool, thanks for the info! Taking it out for a more proper ride this afternoon, now that I've changed out the SPD for platforms pedals. Now that I've got pedals, got the shoes, maybe this is the incentive I need to actually give them a try...
1992 is sounding correct, I was able to find one more old thread that describes the same bike (although no pics, thanks Photobucket ) where the conclusion seemed to be the same.
My bikes mostly have 32mm tires and are fairly noodly, so it'll be a change going to something stiff with 23mm tires! Its designated for the same purpose as my Peugeot, though, faster mass/group rides on nice roads or doing laps around Belle Isle, not my every day riding.
1992 is sounding correct, I was able to find one more old thread that describes the same bike (although no pics, thanks Photobucket ) where the conclusion seemed to be the same.
My bikes mostly have 32mm tires and are fairly noodly, so it'll be a change going to something stiff with 23mm tires! Its designated for the same purpose as my Peugeot, though, faster mass/group rides on nice roads or doing laps around Belle Isle, not my every day riding.
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Not sure if the Shimano 600 is smoother than the Suntour Power Ratchet bar ends and VGT Luxe setup on my Miyata, though...
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7 min faster in 9 miles = mostly new bike adrenaline.
edit: Liking that race bike feel? Be careful, N+1 has a new excuse.
edit: Liking that race bike feel? Be careful, N+1 has a new excuse.
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Or not riding with the fiancee speed
Then again, 7 close spaced gears is better on a flat course than five from 13-24!
I do but I'm also realistic: race bikes don't do the roads/riding I regularly do. A long distance randonneur speaks far more to me some day than a TT bike!
(I do need to add an Italian someday tho!)
Then again, 7 close spaced gears is better on a flat course than five from 13-24!
edit: Liking that race bike feel? Be careful, N+1 has a new excuse.
(I do need to add an Italian someday tho!)
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I dunno now. Did 20 miles on it today, while that particular route doesn't have many longer Strava segments, there was one 6.5 mile segment that I did in a bit over 4 min faster, and all 13 segments had PRs. Again, I haven't bothered to really tweak the bike for me (saddle does need to come forward), but something is working!