Looked at some bikes today.
 

I've been looking for a vintage road bike for some time now, but in this town they are few and far between. I was talking to a co-worker of mine and he has these just chillin' in his shed. He knows nothing about them (year or anything, they came with the house) and would sell them fairly cheap. I took a quick look at them today and grabbed some pics, couldn't ride them because of the tires but I will try before I buy.

First is this one, I prefer it over the second one because it appears the downtube shifters are removable (It might become a fixie eventually), and the paint is just cool. It was a bit heavier but I really don't care. Some of the things I noticed were the cranks said Custom, don't know what that means, Diacomp brakes and hoods and Shimano SIS shifting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...1/PICT0031.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...1/PICT0027.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...1/PICT0026.jpg

Second was this one, it was a fair bit lighter, but the cranks were jammed because the chain was derailed (no time to fix).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...1/PICT0029.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...1/PICT0030.jpg

Are these bikes anything special? Worth anything even? Can anybody educate me on them a little bit?

The first one looks generic, lower end bike store fodder but the second
one looks pretty interesting....I dont know what it is but by looking at
it, its the one Id trefer to work with. The Fiori looks like about 80 ??
and the mystery bike looks more 70's, but I dont know too much about
this stuff .
If you are anywhere near VT, Im doing a cleaning out for a move and have
some stuff you might like :D

Thats what I was afraid of with the first one. I couldn't read the badge or anything on the second one because of how scraped up it was. Where is VT?

I don't know anything about the bikes, but I agree the paint job on the first is cool.

Even without knowing it is lighter, the second one looks like a nicer bike to me, based on the crank and general look.

Either of them looks like they would be decent riders if they are the right size.

:roflmao:
Vermont.... New England.

West of NH.

North of MA.

VT is Vermont.

As stated above the first is lower end/ entry level. The second is nice but both are using the same Italian names gimic. Are you in Canada? I believe Fiori was a brand marketed by Norco. The shimano 600 arabesque cranks on the second one are of much better quality. Check to see if the front wheels have been switched between the two. I suspect they may have been but can't make out the rear hub on the second bike to see if it is high flange. Make sure these fit you properly, the lower one looks like a 49-50cm while the First looks like a 50-52cm maybe. Both small bikes, if you are over 5'7" I think these are too small for you.

It looks like the chain on the second on is wrapped on the outside of the guide on the pulley cage of the rear derailleur. Make sure you don't ride it like that. Or it could just be off the top pulley.

+1 on #2, look at those rear drop outs = much higher quality..... if it fits you.
385xza

Alright, I'm heading up again in about an hour to take a closer look at them and get more specs. I am about 5'9-5'10 in around there. I'm going to try to get them in working order and try them both out to see if they are to small for me.

I'll deffinatly check out the front wheel issue. And yes, I am in Canada.

to be honest I think 54cm would be your lower limit for size and you could perhaps ride up to a 57cm? roughly. These fixed gear kids sometime ride their bikes with a foot and a half of seatpost and their stem slammed as low as it can go, but most of the time the are riding with both hand in the top center of the handle bars. Does that make much sense? No it doesn't. It is uncomfortable to stay in the drops for any length of time when they are too low and that is why only track bikes have that kind of drop, because track races are short. You can get longer stems but honestly it just won't handle right. Tell your co-worker if he is in Vancouver he can probably get $150 a piece for those on Craigslist in their current condition. There is lots of demand for small bikes.

on bike #2 is that a cyclone mII rear derailer? also, is the right hand shifter backwards/upsidedown?

:beer:

East of NY (New York)
South of Quebec
and wedged between Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River
This geography lesson brought to you by your good friends at C&V!

look for tubing decals, also

the shifter is definitely backwards, and the rear derailleur looks like an AR series or perhaps mountech.

I would take the 1st one for a fixed gear. Cool paint and the components dont matter cause your taking them off. The 2nd does look loke better quolity. If the guy's your friend he will probably let you pick wheels

Suntour AR.
Came standard on my 84 Trek.

Say what you wish about the first one, but the geometry seems a tad better then that of the second machine.

I'd nab both and swap the parts to the frame of your choice (set them to your preference, and see which one handles better to you), regardless of tubing.

I'm just throwing my own ideas into the ring at this point, but this is how I see the Fiori:

*Aero brake levers
*Shimano 600 crankset
*Shimano 600 FD
*Suntour RD as on it now (those late 80's Suntour RDs shift considerably smoother then the early '80s RDs, IMHO)
*Current Dia-Compe brakeset (shorter reach = less flex)
*Fluted post from 600-spec'ed bike (provided ST diameters match)

Just my opinion.

-Kurt

I think thats the way I'm going to go depending on fit. I'll just switch over the cranks and post if he lets me, and since it will become a fixie I don't care to much about the dérailleurs. What about the wheels?

Use the best of the two if they are decent. On the Fiori, did you notice the high flange front hub? It's hard to tell but it looks as if it might be a Campagnolo Record or Nuovo Record. The oval cut outs in the flanges look simular from a distance to one in the picture below (hub on far right). If so, it alone is worth a few $$.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...FFrontHubs.jpg

Alright, I'll check that out later. I didn't get to check the bike out anymore today, he ended up being out later then he thought and I had some more stuff to do. So hopefully tomorrow I'll get another chance.

And about the wheels, I know this sounds stupid but how do I know which ones are better? I know nothing about old bikes and very very little about roadies. I'm all about the BMX and Downhill.

If it says Campagnolo on either of the bikes, anywhere, it's good.

Once you get them into your hands, we can do more for you with dating the bike(s).

East Hill

Well, it wouldn't make sense if the front wheel on the Fiori is Campy, because the shifting is Shimano. The bike should have exploded already :p.

:D

It depends, actually. I've got a bike which was built up from a frame (the Nishiki Pro), and it has Campy hubs, Sun Tour (!) stem (!) shifters (yes, that's correct, Sun Tour stem shifters on a racing bike, go figure), Fiamme tubular rims, and GB brakes.

Yeah, something's been switched though. But if the front wheel on the Fiori is Campy, it's a good wheel.

East Hill

both seem to have forged rear drops. both have dt shifters. I would say therefore that neither is too junky.

You MUST buy both.

jim