OOOOhh... I don't like Alvit.

"There is the possibility that itz a high quality gas pipe, as in Reynolds 501 (common on the continent) or similar, seamed straight tubes of similar composition using chromium as a major constituent.
501 was a common tubing for the '10 speed' craze days when a little cache was nice. Owned a '71 CCM of 501 "

If you're talking Reynolds 501, I believe it was not introduced until 1984. Never seen a bike earlier than that with 501. It is possible your CCM has a degraded 531 sticker (not unusual). Certainly never seen a seventies boom model with 501, and I've seen plenty of them.

This bike is too early for 501. Unlikely as it seems, the bike is a better Sears model. At the time, their catalogs often advertised levels of a given item, "Good", "better", "best". I suspect this is the middle grade, given the components. Not positive on that.

One good way to verify the quality of the tubing is to measure the seat post; 26.4 to 26.8 probably= Reynolds (or other good tubing); in the 25s would indicate lesser tubing on a bike of this vintage.

I'm not much on Hurets for dinner, or even Campagnolos.

And now for the REALLY important question: does Puch rhyme with book, Luke, or luck? This question plagued me all through high school, when those blasted mopeds got so popular-

I think (not positive though) 26.4 or 26.6 if the "metric" (French) sized 531 was used, and 26.8 or 27.2 if in the "regular" 531 tubing. It seems that the French enjoyed using a slightly smaller size tubing... I believe that the smaller sizes listed above for each metric/non-metric tubset were for straight gauge 531, or if a down tube was used as a seat tube. Seat tubes are normally butted thicker on only the BB shell end, but some builders liked having a little more "meat" at the seat lug junction, and used a down tube there, or just used what they had in stock...

I think, none of the above...but probably closest to Luke. I believe it's "pookhh", with the khh having a sort of "clearing your throat sound".

"It seems that the French enjoyed using a slightly smaller size tubing"

Oooh, those darn French :D. Anyone having an evil French bike with tubing of this difficult size can ship it to me and I will ensure it is properly disposed of for a nominal fee. 62cm frames are especially dangerous, but I'll dispose of them for free.

I'm not really sure what size Puch used, although there's a 531 framed Austro-D in front of me, and if I got off my lazy duff (hah) I could measure it, so I threw in the French sizes at the bottom end of the range to be sure... I think your measurements are likely correct... measuring the post a pretty good way to determine tubing quality in bikes of this vintage. Won't claim it's absolutely foolproof, but works pretty well in the absence of any tubing stickers.

No idea about the Free Spirit, but a SuperLeicht and 3 Ultimas I've had were all 27.2. Pretty sure the Vent Noir frame I recently sold was too (I didn't measure, and misplaced that seat post long ago...don't ask).

Thanks, TheOtherGuy.

HAHA!
so it seems
did the search, and does it seem likely that there are 2 'rebadged' free spirits? - possible, but less likely ...
so - something new every day and I stand informed (until the MilleVanilli moment...)
I like that
anyone have an allvit they want send me? I seem to be fresh outta them...

will make a feast of it :p

as for my CCM, was definitely badged '501' - gonna contact reynolds and see what gives on them...

this is way fun!
and bikes, even Free Spirits, itz all good.
been busy on some 'new' old stuff... check my next post

I've seen some very well-made "Free Spirits" from Switzerland and Austria. It seems as though, from around 1970 to 1980 or so, Sears was buying bikes from ten or twenty different sources, and slapping the "Free Spirit" decal on them. The best of them were as good as the Raleighs and Motobecanes of that same era.

The "coolest" thing about "Free Spirit" bikes: they were sold in every village in the USA that had a post office. Back in the 70's, Sears still had an enormous catalog operation. A kid in some blinking light village in North Dakota could buy a ten speed bike made in Europe, just like folks in Los Angeles or Chicago. Of course, the kid in North Dakota would have to assemble it and repair it himself, but...he still had a bike. There are millions of us "old folks" who can remember their first "real" bike, and for many of them, it was a "Free Spirit".

One of the "Free Spirits" that I had was made in Europe in the "style" of the typical Dutch commuting bike. Sturdy, heavy...built to last a hundred years. But, I could not get the tire off the rim of that "Free Spirit". The guys at the bike shop could not get the tire off the rim. It turned out that a prior owner had somehow mounted a "standard" size 26 inch tire on the rim. But, the rim was about half an inch taller than the tire. The rim was some "odd" size that had never made it to the USA, except on a "Free Spirit".

I have a Luzern, a Mistral, and an Ultima that are all 27.2.

I pm'd Puchultima requesting any info he may be able to provide. Hopefully he'll chime in.

And yes, it's pronounced in the same fashion as Luke.

It was also my understanding that Reynolds introduced 501 in the early 80's.