Anybody know the history of Ross bikes?
09-27-06, 09:37 PM
#76
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The 290S was Ross' lowest-priced highline bike (does that make sense??). The frames were very well made, using Ishiwata tubing (although without knowing which year the bike is, it may not be Ishiwata). Should be a very enjoyable commuter, just like my 292S.
09-28-06, 04:14 AM
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Duane, did you ever contact Sherwood and get any info out of him? It sure would be nice to find out more about the heritage, product line, and maybe get ahold of some old brochures.
09-28-06, 06:18 AM
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I did, but he is currently out at the Interbike Show, and said he would respond to my questions when he returned at the beginning of October. I'll keep you posted.
09-30-06, 12:20 PM
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I'm planning on getting a Ross MT.Snow tomorrow i will post pics. I can't find any info on it and i'm lucky i found this thread.
11-09-06, 12:45 PM
#81
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Bikes: 1973 Paramount P15 1973 Paramount Touring Tandem 1985 Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra 1980 Fuji The Finest 1987 Carla Gialma 1986 Ross 294S 1954 Schwinn Jaguar MK II 1997 Bianchi Campione De Italia 1978 Raleigh Professional 1988 Cannondale 3.0
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I have the same Ross signature 294s w/all campy and Rigida 1320's, I purchased it from the original owner and he provided me the original invoice/owners manual for $485.00, dated 1986, probably a leftover 85, or one of the last of that series of bikes, oddly enough the original rims and tires were taken off shortly after purchase and are in very good condition, an aditional set of low flange campy road wheels were used, very low mile bike, a very sweet riding bike, I much prefer riding it as I am getting back into riding and have a few older racers of the era.
11-09-06, 02:38 PM
#82
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I have a Ross Mt. Rushmore vintage about 1993. Weighs about 33 lbs and is set up as a hybrid with Shimano Tourney components. 6-speed freewheel and triple crankset (though I can find no indication that Shimano produced it). The rear shifter has 7 detents so it may handle a 7-speed freewheel. Fully chromed frame that is holding up quite well.
It was a Christmas present and I doubt power-shopping wife spent much over $100.
It was a Christmas present and I doubt power-shopping wife spent much over $100.
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12-17-06, 09:47 PM
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Anrew, Hi my name is Larry Goldberg and I happened on this thread trying to find out the whereabouts of Randy & Candy Ross. I attende summer camp with them in the late 60's. We are trying to organize a reunion. Strange that my next door neighbor is Alan Goldmeier of Rand Bikes. Any info you can provide would be appreciated.
03-17-07, 11:13 PM
#84
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signiture bike ?
Last fall I purchaced several bikes at a local police bike auction (21). In the collection I bought alot of unusual bikes. One I'm having alot of difficulty finding any info on.It is a Signature bike called Djerba. The headbadge has a palm tree desert scene with the djerba name on it.All I know is this is the name belongs to a city on an island near northern Africa where a major bike race is held. Any info you have would be appreciated. thank you. Just on a side note I also own 2 other Rosses in my collection;a 26"compact(a heavy little booger, but well built) and a beautiful black grand tour II, a marvelous dream of bicycle genius. It rides like a whisper and is just a little heavier than a fart! A vintage mans dream bike,it cost me $50 and 2 fishing poles!
05-05-07, 08:17 PM
#85
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Wow! Lots of good info here!
I have a Ross Gran Eurosport that I bought new back in the '70's. It hasn't been ridden much for the last 25 years, and has spent most of that time hanging from a hook out in my barn. I got it out a couple of years ago, and found that the tires and tubes (27 x 1-1/4) wouldn't hold air - dry rotted - and hung it back up.
Just yesterday I got it out and bought two new tires and tubes at the bike shop, cleaned her up, squirted a little EB-Blaster on the works, and rode her about 4 miles today. This was the first bike ride in a quarter of a century for both of us, and we were both a little creaky.
This bike has the tempered lug frame, and on the rear of the frame at the hangars for the real wheel it's stamped "Chain Bike Corp". The bike has the old round Ross logo on the frame head, and it's painted white. All of the running gear is Shimano.
The bike seemed to ride pretty well, but I've got to take the wheels and crank off and grease the bearings. Paint is still pretty good, just a little rust at the top of the seat tube. The frame had cracked years ago at the top of the tube where the seat post is split, and I had had it welded. Otherwise no real damage or wear and tear. Still has the Ross-marked saddle in good shape (lucky the mice haven't eaten it!).
I noticed that all of the un-finished aluminum parts, like the brake levers, stem, shifters, etc. are sort of oxydized and pitted - I'd like to clean it up.
I'm 54 years old, and although I've been walking a lot for exercise I need to do something a little more aerobic. I'm getting a new Trek mountain bike, but if I get the old Ross fixed up I may ride that too!
I have a Ross Gran Eurosport that I bought new back in the '70's. It hasn't been ridden much for the last 25 years, and has spent most of that time hanging from a hook out in my barn. I got it out a couple of years ago, and found that the tires and tubes (27 x 1-1/4) wouldn't hold air - dry rotted - and hung it back up.
Just yesterday I got it out and bought two new tires and tubes at the bike shop, cleaned her up, squirted a little EB-Blaster on the works, and rode her about 4 miles today. This was the first bike ride in a quarter of a century for both of us, and we were both a little creaky.
This bike has the tempered lug frame, and on the rear of the frame at the hangars for the real wheel it's stamped "Chain Bike Corp". The bike has the old round Ross logo on the frame head, and it's painted white. All of the running gear is Shimano.
The bike seemed to ride pretty well, but I've got to take the wheels and crank off and grease the bearings. Paint is still pretty good, just a little rust at the top of the seat tube. The frame had cracked years ago at the top of the tube where the seat post is split, and I had had it welded. Otherwise no real damage or wear and tear. Still has the Ross-marked saddle in good shape (lucky the mice haven't eaten it!).
I noticed that all of the un-finished aluminum parts, like the brake levers, stem, shifters, etc. are sort of oxydized and pitted - I'd like to clean it up.
I'm 54 years old, and although I've been walking a lot for exercise I need to do something a little more aerobic. I'm getting a new Trek mountain bike, but if I get the old Ross fixed up I may ride that too!
06-11-07, 12:34 PM
#86
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Anyone Know Or Hear Of A Ross Diamond Cruiser 186?? Bought This Bike New In The Early 80's And For Sure It Wasn't Cheep. Its A Great Cruiser And Still Rides Like A Champ. Does Anyone Own One Or Have Info On It??
06-11-07, 01:29 PM
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https://www.airfreetires.com/Specs/Step3.asp?model=Diamond+Cruiser&brand=Ross
Compare what's on your bike to the spec sheets, that will tell you the year.
Got a pic? I loves me some Ross's
Compare what's on your bike to the spec sheets, that will tell you the year.
Got a pic? I loves me some Ross's
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06-11-07, 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by SCRAPHOUND
Anyone Know Or Hear Of A Ross Diamond Cruiser 186?? Bought This Bike New In The Early 80's And For Sure It Wasn't Cheep. Its A Great Cruiser And Still Rides Like A Champ. Does Anyone Own One Or Have Info On It??
Wheel/Tire size: 26x2.125 Gumwall - 36 x 105 spokes
Braking System: Alloy side-pull caliper
Gears: 5sp dérailleur w/stem shifter 14 - 28T cluster
Crankset: One piece 6 1/2" hot forged 48T
The 1984 catalog shows the Black basic model plus a 'deluxe' Concord Blue model with chrome fenders. Sizes were men's 21" and 23", plus ladies 19".
Frame is 1020 steel
Shifter: 5 sp thumb
Brakes: Alloy side pull
Cluster" 14 - 32
Crankset: 46T
Stem: Ross 4 bolt
Handlebar: Cruiser ('81 had risers)
Hubs: Heavy duty BMX
Rims: Heavy duty steel
Same tires
Cushion grips
Sorry, no prices in this catalog
06-20-07, 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Stacey
Hi Adam, thanks for posting and welcome aboard. I have an old Barracuda (think Sting-Ray) in pieces and I have most of the parts, save for seat, bars & wheels. PM me if you're interested. I'm in upper Bucks Co. PA. If you're still in the Allentown area you could drive by and pick it up... freebie. One of the rear dropouts is stamped 'Chain Bike Co.'
Any info on BCA, Bicycle Corporation of America? I've heard there was a Ross tie-in there, as the BCA bikes have an Allentown origin as well.
It's cool to 'talk' with someone closely associated with a piece of local lore.
Any info on BCA, Bicycle Corporation of America? I've heard there was a Ross tie-in there, as the BCA bikes have an Allentown origin as well.
It's cool to 'talk' with someone closely associated with a piece of local lore.
Stacey, by any chance, is that Barracuda still around and would you be willing to part with it?
By way of introduction, let me tell you (and the board) that my name is Rick, and I'm a teacher living in southern central PA. I rediscovered old bikes in the last year or so when I found an old girls' banana seat bike in a thrift store. Pink with a flowered seat. It said "Polo Bike" on the chain guard, which I thought I remembered seeing on old Ross bikes. The headbadge is the same shape as old Ross ones, but it says "STARFLITE" written vertically in red. I figured it was made by Ross for some department store or something. If anyone knows more about the Starflite name, I'd love to hear it...
Since finding the Polo Bike, I've cleaned it up and my 10-year-old daughter rides it. I also found a 20" Ross convertible that I swapped some parts around on, and I recently rescued a beater Ross Apollo without rims from the back-room junkpile of my LBS. I also have a Sears Spyder (made by Huffy, I think) 20" musclebike frame with parts scavenged off a thrift-store Columbia girls' bike. The online pics of bikes in the New England Musclebike Museum got me hooked on Barracudas, and I'd LOVE to find one (even just the frame) with the two sets of twin tubes running from the dropouts to the head tube...
--rick
06-20-07, 11:40 PM
#90
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Since this thread got bumped, I guess I'll post photos of the recent 'on the curb for trash pickup' find. A friend grabbed this for me last weekend:
It's a 290S, but I don't know what year. The serial number seems to suggest the frame is 84, but the components date 86 (at least the FD, which seems to match the brakes and RD).
It's a 290S, but I don't know what year. The serial number seems to suggest the frame is 84, but the components date 86 (at least the FD, which seems to match the brakes and RD).
06-21-07, 03:28 AM
#91
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Originally Posted by ParkRNDL
Hey, I know this thread is forever old, but I was surfing around looking for Ross info and this thread (and this post in particular) caught my eye...
Stacey, by any chance, is that Barracuda still around and would you be willing to part with it?
By way of introduction, let me tell you (and the board) that my name is Rick, and I'm a teacher living in southern central PA. I rediscovered old bikes in the last year or so when I found an old girls' banana seat bike in a thrift store. Pink with a flowered seat. It said "Polo Bike" on the chain guard, which I thought I remembered seeing on old Ross bikes. The headbadge is the same shape as old Ross ones, but it says "STARFLITE" written vertically in red. I figured it was made by Ross for some department store or something. If anyone knows more about the Starflite name, I'd love to hear it...
Since finding the Polo Bike, I've cleaned it up and my 10-year-old daughter rides it. I also found a 20" Ross convertible that I swapped some parts around on, and I recently rescued a beater Ross Apollo without rims from the back-room junkpile of my LBS. I also have a Sears Spyder (made by Huffy, I think) 20" musclebike frame with parts scavenged off a thrift-store Columbia girls' bike. The online pics of bikes in the New England Musclebike Museum got me hooked on Barracudas, and I'd LOVE to find one (even just the frame) with the two sets of twin tubes running from the dropouts to the head tube...
--rick
Stacey, by any chance, is that Barracuda still around and would you be willing to part with it?
By way of introduction, let me tell you (and the board) that my name is Rick, and I'm a teacher living in southern central PA. I rediscovered old bikes in the last year or so when I found an old girls' banana seat bike in a thrift store. Pink with a flowered seat. It said "Polo Bike" on the chain guard, which I thought I remembered seeing on old Ross bikes. The headbadge is the same shape as old Ross ones, but it says "STARFLITE" written vertically in red. I figured it was made by Ross for some department store or something. If anyone knows more about the Starflite name, I'd love to hear it...
Since finding the Polo Bike, I've cleaned it up and my 10-year-old daughter rides it. I also found a 20" Ross convertible that I swapped some parts around on, and I recently rescued a beater Ross Apollo without rims from the back-room junkpile of my LBS. I also have a Sears Spyder (made by Huffy, I think) 20" musclebike frame with parts scavenged off a thrift-store Columbia girls' bike. The online pics of bikes in the New England Musclebike Museum got me hooked on Barracudas, and I'd LOVE to find one (even just the frame) with the two sets of twin tubes running from the dropouts to the head tube...
--rick
Sorry Rick, the barracuda has found a new home. What part of southern central PA are you in. I spent a lot of time in East Freedom, Blair County as a youth.
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06-21-07, 04:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Stacey
Sorry Rick, the barracuda has found a new home. What part of southern central PA are you in. I spent a lot of time in East Freedom, Blair County as a youth.
and the hunt for a Barracuda frame goes on. I'm in Chambersburg, about an hour south of Harrisburg straight down I81.Does andyross still check in here? I wonder if he or his dad would know anything about the Starflyte (department store Ross?) bikes I mentioned in my previous post...
--rick
06-21-07, 08:00 AM
#93
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I have nothing to contribute except some old ads that I scanned.
06-21-07, 11:04 AM
#95
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ID this Ross?
Fascinating thread!
So I'm looking for a bike that I can learn mechanics on, so I don't want anything too* valuable, but I want something good enough to sink money into.
I ran across this, and the guy says it's his brother-in-laws bike from the 70's, but he can't be sure of the date. He doesn't remember the model number, but I'm going to meet him at work tomorrow and look at it.
Like I said, this is my first attempt to learn about bikes and parts, so I can't really see what you guys can from the photo. Since there was such a variation in quality, maybe someone could help me out?
So I'm looking for a bike that I can learn mechanics on, so I don't want anything too* valuable, but I want something good enough to sink money into.
I ran across this, and the guy says it's his brother-in-laws bike from the 70's, but he can't be sure of the date. He doesn't remember the model number, but I'm going to meet him at work tomorrow and look at it.
Like I said, this is my first attempt to learn about bikes and parts, so I can't really see what you guys can from the photo. Since there was such a variation in quality, maybe someone could help me out?
06-21-07, 08:18 PM
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Barracudas!
My daughter April Ross has some new Barracudas in the cartons she is willing to part with, she lives on eastern LI, you can e-mail her at, april@mcrosscompany.com.
06-21-07, 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by andyross
My daughter April Ross has some new Barracudas in the cartons she is willing to part with, she lives on eastern LI, you can e-mail her at, april@mcrosscompany.com.
--rick
06-22-07, 07:57 AM
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That "Dancing Across America" poster is hanging in our shop to this day.
06-26-07, 06:54 AM
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I'm Trying To Post A Picture Of My Ross Bicycle And I'm Having A Little Trouble. Can Anyone Tell Me How To Post A Jpg File?? Thanks For The Help
