Reflector for '80s Ross
#1
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Bikes: 1983 Ross MTB, 1972 Raleigh LTD-3
Reflector for '80s Ross
Searching for this very common type of reflector for the era. We have the rear one and seek only the front one to complement. Can anyone point us where to find? Thanks in advance
Last edited by Ross1983; 11-10-25 at 02:03 PM. Reason: specificity
#2
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Your best bet might be to find a bike co-op near you. Those round reflectors look like Cat-Eye's.
Nice Ross early mountain bike, by the way. It looks new. Gold rims and hubs from the BMX fashion at the time.
Oh, wait, are you looking for the wheel reflector? You can try bike shops in addition to the co-ops. The key is to have your rear reflector to match up the one that you are seeking if you want a perfect match. Those are some big wheel reflectors. At that time they all seemed to be be big. It was probably a mandated rule about reflector area.
If you didn't already, you should post this in the Vintage Mountain bike thread. Show your vintage mountain bikes!
Nice Ross early mountain bike, by the way. It looks new. Gold rims and hubs from the BMX fashion at the time.
Oh, wait, are you looking for the wheel reflector? You can try bike shops in addition to the co-ops. The key is to have your rear reflector to match up the one that you are seeking if you want a perfect match. Those are some big wheel reflectors. At that time they all seemed to be be big. It was probably a mandated rule about reflector area.
If you didn't already, you should post this in the Vintage Mountain bike thread. Show your vintage mountain bikes!
#3
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Bikes: Cuevas & Cimmaron are my full time riders, small MB-3 and large Competition GS are my sometimers
If it is the wheel reflector I might have one? I gave away a pile not too long ago, but I was looking through wheels yesterday and saw a few that might match? What color/brand/size?
#4
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Bikes: 1983 Ross MTB, 1972 Raleigh LTD-3
Thanks for the reply - no, not the wheel reflectors, but the front reflector mounted on the top of the fork just below the head. We still have the red rear. Yes, that BMX-era fashion with anodized colors was likely going through my head as a racing pre-teen when I persuaded my father to buy this just as the mountain bike trend was taking off.
I'll share photos to the vintage mountain bike thread. Perhaps this post belongs there. The bike is lovely - the above photo shows one with the reflector sought but it's not ours, which is in exactly this condition.
I'll share photos to the vintage mountain bike thread. Perhaps this post belongs there. The bike is lovely - the above photo shows one with the reflector sought but it's not ours, which is in exactly this condition.
#5
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Bikes: 1983 Ross MTB, 1972 Raleigh LTD-3
It's the front reflector attached to the fork just below the headstock actually - but thanks for the offer! For consistency it might be good to install them all, wheel ones included, but for for now just the red rear and white/clear front.
#6
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I also have the type that fits below the headset top nut, essentially works as a headset spacer.
#8
Are you strictly after factory originality, or you just need a reflector? If the former I don't know enough to help you. If the latter, I think pretty much everyone here has a small (or not small) pile of removed reflectors that will do.
#9
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From: Marin County, Alta California
Bikes: Our all steel stable: Rodriguez, Ritchey & Bruce Gordon road tandems; Burley pub crawler tandem; two XO-1s, two Fishers, a Comp & Mt Tam; two Gitane TeamPros; 60s Carre; 69-70 Gitane TdF and
I hope “concours correct” doesn’t become a thing for standard production bikes…I’d hate to learn that the countless number of reflectors I removed and gave away/donated/tossed become sought after commodities…like date coded fan belts off a run of the mill Mustang or Camaro.
#10
aka Tom Reingold




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I might have one.
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Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#11
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If nobody here has one, and you are not in a hurry, I find them on eBay occasionally. They are overpriced IMHO usually, but I like to keep an original look and I remind myself will spend more on dinner and drinks sometime for things like this.
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#12
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Appreciate the replies on this and my other post for matching shifter hardware, however, for any private messages, the admins disallow access to them until I have 10 forum posts — apologies but I can read them yet!
#13
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From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
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Next time at the lake cottage, I will take a look. All this stuff was given to me by a friend who is selling his house and moving into an old folks home. He gave me three bikes at the same time. Though he did not want it, I insisted that he take $100 with my thanks. He did and this came home to my miserably over stocked storage area (the reflectors are in the pile on the ground and destined for the local dump)...










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#14
Next time at the lake cottage, I will take a look. All this stuff was given to me by a friend who is selling his house and moving into an old folks home. He gave me three bikes at the same time. Though he did not want it, I insisted that he take $100 with my thanks. He did and this came home to my miserably over stocked storage area (the reflectors are in the pile on the ground and destined for the local dump)...


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You are always the same age inside.---Gertrude Stein
My aluminum bikes: Light, strong, cheap, and comfy.
You are always the same age inside.---Gertrude Stein
My aluminum bikes: Light, strong, cheap, and comfy.
#15
aka Tom Reingold




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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I had coffee this morning and a bowl of plain yogurt with croutons. What did you have for breakfast?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#16
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Bikes: 1983 Ross MTB, 1972 Raleigh LTD-3
Next time at the lake cottage, I will take a look. All this stuff was given to me by a friend who is selling his house and moving into an old folks home. He gave me three bikes at the same time. Though he did not want it, I insisted that he take $100 with my thanks. He did and this came home to my miserably over stocked storage area (the reflectors are in the pile on the ground and destined for the local dump)...
#17
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#19
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#20
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From: California
Bikes: 1983 Ross MTB, 1972 Raleigh LTD-3
#21
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From: California
Bikes: 1983 Ross MTB, 1972 Raleigh LTD-3

#22
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Bikes: Cuevas & Cimmaron are my full time riders, small MB-3 and large Competition GS are my sometimers
Trying to perfectly match a reflector on an old Ross is a pretty entertaining exercise IMHO but if you simply take the time to look at your existing rear reflector, noting the brand and model, you can then narrow your search and find the exact one you are looking for. The bracket should not be hard to match, it was one of a few common types. Someone in a early reply suggested going to a local co-op (great suggestion) they will have piles of old reflectors to choose from.
#23
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Right, what it is, actually, is a period-correct family heirloom, not a rider. I'm abroad in Asia and making preparations to visit it at its home in California for the holidays, fixing a few remaining tidbits. We redid its Strava Italian leather saddle last year (yes, Ross really did come with this). Really worth the effort, but reflectors... I know how this looks to others
#24
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,115
Likes: 6,327
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Right, what it is, actually, is a period-correct family heirloom, not a rider. I'm abroad in Asia and making preparations to visit it at its home in California for the holidays, fixing a few remaining tidbits. We redid its Strava Italian leather saddle last year (yes, Ross really did come with this). Really worth the effort, but reflectors... I know how this looks to others
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#25
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Right, what it is, actually, is a period-correct family heirloom, not a rider. I'm abroad in Asia and making preparations to visit it at its home in California for the holidays, fixing a few remaining tidbits. We redid its Strava Italian leather saddle last year (yes, Ross really did come with this). Really worth the effort, but reflectors... I know how this looks to others
If yes, let me know the address where I should send them, here in US, and you'll have them when you will be here.
No charge.




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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1974 Raleigh Professional, Bridgestone XO-2
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