Last ride 76 

Normally out of my range, but I picked up another bike while visiting my folks for Mother's Day.

CCM Tour Du Canada - 531 Double butted frame w/ chromed Campy touring ends.
The paint is rough, but the chrome socks and fork crown look really nice. Full 1970's Nuovo Record, except the wheels w which got swapped out at some point. The parts have minimal rust, some scuffs and scrapes.
This bike is begging for a repaint. Too small for me, I plan to pass it on, either as a frame or rebuilt with, I DK.... Plan was to use these parts to spruce up a couple of early '70s bikes I already have.. Now I find that there may be interest in it intact. I hope not, eh, but... The last bike I bought to cannibalize was 5 years ago, and it's still untouched, because of it's history. So if any of you hosers have an opinion, let me know right quick, eh. (Bitd one of my first mentors was from Ottawa.)

speedevil 

I lusted after a CCM Tour du Canada when I was much younger. Way out of my price range, but we can dream, right?

Also really liked the Fuji America tourer as well. Again, way out of my price range.

At that point, I rode a yellow Huffy 2x5 speed, and spent many happy miles exploring the local roads and hills on it. Great fun.

T-Mar

CCM introduced the Tour du Canada for the 1972 model model year and discontinued it at the end of 1976, though the name would be resurrected in the mid-1980s by Procycle and applied to an entry level model. During this era, I worked at a CCM dealership, first as a mechanic, then as the manager. While there was a fair amount of variation in the frame details, there were never any braze-ons. Fenders were still fairly common on racing bicycles during this period for training in the wet spring and autumn seasons (and winter, if you lived in lower, coastal BC). We saw TdC both with and without the eyelets, both painted and chromed dropouts. and with a couple of different style of crowns and lugs. There was even one that I distinctly recall coming with two different styles of head lugs! Best date indicators are the Campagnolo codes but I'd place this one circa 1974 and would appreciate the serial number for my database. TIA.

The people who bought the TDC were typically new to the sport and based their decision on the price, as it was the lowest price in a Reynolds 531DB/Campagnolo Nuovo Record equipped bicycle, along with the top Favorit model. The knowledgeable and experienced cyclists typically shied aware from the TdC. for something more exotic (ie. European). Still, some budget conscientious licensed racers did buy TdC, though they would typically strip them of all the decals, in an attempt to disguise the brand. The subject bicycle has all the decals stripped, except the down tube decal. They were also a good deal for shops, as they were cheaper than a Campgnolo (Nuovo) Record gruppo, so dealers would order TdC only to strip the parts.

Changing the tubular wheelset to wired-on was quite common with TdC customers, as typically they became frustrated with tubulars. Gearing was also inappropriate and appears to have been changed on the subject bicycle. Typical gearing was "junior" category, with a 14-18T freewheel paired to 46-50T chainrings. The OP's bicycle also has non-spec brakes, which was fairly common. After the first year, which was Weinmann centre-pull, the standard brake was the anemic Universal 68. The most common upgrade was the Dura-Ace side-pull, though in this case the previous owner went he full mile for Campagnolo Record. So, if the OP want;s to save anything from the bicycle, I'd remove the brakes and replace them with spec Universal 68.

Frankly, I was never impressed by the TdC. It looked good on paper and was attractively priced but once you started looking closer, it wasn't so great. Workmanship was good but it was mass production level with cost concessions and none of the amenities that were starting to appear. on high end models. I don't see a whole lot of value beyond that of the components. If this was my bicycle, I'd use the parts on a nicer frame and sell the frame for $100.

Last ride 76 

T0543 Don't you wish all s/n were so clear... 11 stamped small in the middle of the bb. Thanks T-Mar for all that info! I like the chrome socks and think it would look sweet repainted.

Holy head tube Batman, I had no idea the bike was this big! This frame is 22" ctt, with a head tube that is only 4 3/4"!!!
Other bikes I have with the same seat tube length have head tubes mostly around 5 1/2" long.