With the wife's assistance . . . . .
08-30-07 | 08:00 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 257
From: Ashland, VA
Bikes: The keepers: 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Twenty, 3 - 1986 Rossins.
With the wife's assistance . . . . .
OK folks, strictly speaking this one probably isn't vintage, but I'm still curious as to it's rough vintage.
Tonight the wife surprised me with the second worthwhile find in a week from the local transfer station (aka, dump, but not the country dump). Something called a GT Passage.
It's low end, hardnose, hardtail, sloped top tube. Given the tyres, frame layout, I'll call it a hybrid or maybe a city bike. Drivetrain is Shimano 100GS, seven speed (haven't figured out whether it's freewheel or cassette, but I'm guessing the former), quick release only on the front wheel, Shimano Exage hubs. The frame is not the famous GT triple triangle, so I automatically figured early this decade. Except that the chainwheels are Biopace. I thought they disappeared a couple of decades ago.
Sorry, no pics, I just got home about two hours ago. Pumped the tyres up and it's rideable, filthy, has a bit of rust, but it brakes, shifts (after a fashion) and there's nothing that can't be fixed by a stripdown or cleaning. Obviously another Craigslist bait, but the frame is taller than the Raleigh Seneca I'm currently using as my lunchtime commuter, so I'm considering transferring the rack and mudguards, keeping this one and selling the Raleigh instead.
Oh yeah, backing up two paragraphs: Yes, my WIFE saw the bike and grabbed it for me.
This is the second one she's brought home in the past four months, and this weekend she's agreed to sit down with me and the couple of flippers I'm finishing to get the short lesson on what it worth picking up from the dump and what is best left.
Some of you may want to mention this to your spouses.
Tonight the wife surprised me with the second worthwhile find in a week from the local transfer station (aka, dump, but not the country dump). Something called a GT Passage.
It's low end, hardnose, hardtail, sloped top tube. Given the tyres, frame layout, I'll call it a hybrid or maybe a city bike. Drivetrain is Shimano 100GS, seven speed (haven't figured out whether it's freewheel or cassette, but I'm guessing the former), quick release only on the front wheel, Shimano Exage hubs. The frame is not the famous GT triple triangle, so I automatically figured early this decade. Except that the chainwheels are Biopace. I thought they disappeared a couple of decades ago.
Sorry, no pics, I just got home about two hours ago. Pumped the tyres up and it's rideable, filthy, has a bit of rust, but it brakes, shifts (after a fashion) and there's nothing that can't be fixed by a stripdown or cleaning. Obviously another Craigslist bait, but the frame is taller than the Raleigh Seneca I'm currently using as my lunchtime commuter, so I'm considering transferring the rack and mudguards, keeping this one and selling the Raleigh instead.
Oh yeah, backing up two paragraphs: Yes, my WIFE saw the bike and grabbed it for me.
This is the second one she's brought home in the past four months, and this weekend she's agreed to sit down with me and the couple of flippers I'm finishing to get the short lesson on what it worth picking up from the dump and what is best left.Some of you may want to mention this to your spouses.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
08-30-07 | 08:06 PM
#2
Vello Kombi, baby
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,188
Likes: 16
From: Je suis ici
Bikes: 1973 Eisentraut; 1970s Richard Sachs; 1978 Alfio Bonnano; 1967 Peugeot PX10
What is this spouse thing? I just have ex-gfs dropping off boxes of Campy SuperRecord or bikes draped with first gen dura ace, this spouse thing sounds kinda like that but not as good...
__________________
"It's always darkest right before it goes completely black"
Waste your money! Buy my comic book!
"It's always darkest right before it goes completely black"
Waste your money! Buy my comic book!
08-30-07 | 09:04 PM
#4
juneeaa memba!
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,631
Likes: 5
From: boogled up in...Idaho!
Bikes: Crap. The box is not big enough...
Oh, uh, I know about schwinn passage, and raleigh passage, but not a GT passage. If the cranks are original, then they are bracketed to mid-80's though. And it seems as if the biopace rings are having a minor renaissance on eBay recently...if they are clean you might consider offering them up.
08-31-07 | 03:31 AM
#5
Membership Not Required
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,853
Likes: 18
From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Ovaloid chain rings were still being installed in the early 90's. I have a 1991 Giant Iguana with Suntour Ovaltech on it. The lower two rings are oval, big ring is round. Tell you bride nice find! We get arrested if we remove things from the dump around here
or the recycling center...
Aaron
or the recycling center...Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
08-31-07 | 03:41 AM
#6
Freewheel Medic
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,569
Likes: 3,314
From: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
The guys at our town dump love it when I haul away a whole old bike, and then a few days later bring back just the pieces I don't want.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
08-31-07 | 07:42 AM
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 257
From: Ashland, VA
Bikes: The keepers: 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Twenty, 3 - 1986 Rossins.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
08-31-07 | 07:45 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 257
From: Ashland, VA
Bikes: The keepers: 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Twenty, 3 - 1986 Rossins.
Oh, uh, I know about schwinn passage, and raleigh passage, but not a GT passage. If the cranks are original, then they are bracketed to mid-80's though. And it seems as if the biopace rings are having a minor renaissance on eBay recently...if they are clean you might consider offering them up.
Rolled the Sports in to work today, so I can take the Seneca home for photography and stripping down the parts I don't want to sell. Should be interesting using a 3-speed around town for a week or so.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
08-31-07 | 11:54 AM
#9
Vello Kombi, baby
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,188
Likes: 16
From: Je suis ici
Bikes: 1973 Eisentraut; 1970s Richard Sachs; 1978 Alfio Bonnano; 1967 Peugeot PX10
"Sounds like they're making offerings to make sure you don't try to come back "
Nah,they like me... you've met at least one of 'em Syke, you know that...
Speaking of the SuperRecord, luker, it wound up on the Paramount, which is now decidedly non- stock (SuperRecord, Retrofriction shifters, Berthet pedals)... which is undergoing its' maiden ride just today... sure took me long enough...
Nah,they like me... you've met at least one of 'em Syke, you know that...
Speaking of the SuperRecord, luker, it wound up on the Paramount, which is now decidedly non- stock (SuperRecord, Retrofriction shifters, Berthet pedals)... which is undergoing its' maiden ride just today... sure took me long enough...
__________________
"It's always darkest right before it goes completely black"
Waste your money! Buy my comic book!
"It's always darkest right before it goes completely black"
Waste your money! Buy my comic book!
08-31-07 | 09:38 PM
#11
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 257
From: Ashland, VA
Bikes: The keepers: 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Twenty, 3 - 1986 Rossins.
Well, there's the good points and the bad points. Like, I was ready to retire at age 49 eight years ago.
Then I married her . . . . .
Then I married her . . . . .
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
09-01-07 | 05:41 AM
#12
Membership Not Required
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,853
Likes: 18
From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
...I know the feelingAaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
09-09-07 | 06:59 PM
#13
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 257
From: Ashland, VA
Bikes: The keepers: 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Twenty, 3 - 1986 Rossins.
Late followup: I got the Passage finished last night, took it out for the first test ride today. Nothing particularly memorable, definitely a low-level bike shop bike. Just the same it rides decently, shifts well (or at least it will once I finish getting the gunk out of the shifters), and will probably serve quite well as my lunchtime runabout at work. Definitely lighter and more responsive than the Raleigh Seneca it's going to replace - and having the proper frame size is a joy.
Final cost? $12.00. One tube and a nice set of handgrips. Everything else cleaned up and was reusable, major work was taking the rust off the handlebars and painting them black.
Final cost? $12.00. One tube and a nice set of handgrips. Everything else cleaned up and was reusable, major work was taking the rust off the handlebars and painting them black.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Last edited by sykerocker; 09-09-07 at 07:14 PM.
