1980s Serotta
 

Okay, here's my 1980ish (I think between 1982-4) Serotta I picked up a couple months ago at the Stop and Swap in Maryland. I paid $175, which, while high for me, I suspect is a relative bargin for an old lugged steel Serotta. Columbus tubing (just Columbus, not SL or SLX) Campy drops and ends, Cinelli bottom bracket shell. Largely Campy Victory group, with Michie Primato hubs laced to GL40s, Cinelli bar and stem, Bernard Hinault turbo seat.

I was standing by the door when the seller wheeled this one in late in the show. I looked it over and bought it pretty much on the spot; it made the show for me. Syke can testify as to the bike's condition when I bought it-- covered with grime, with some rust along the top tube (I think the bike had been used on a trainer and then as a commuter). It was in sad shape, but looked reworkable.

The stem was stuck, but it came undone after a couple of applications of PB blaster. The rust was very surfacey, and I got a reasonable, though not exact match on the paint, so I was happy. I did wait awhile to start, as I fired off an email to Serotta asking about the vintage of the bike and the possible availabilty of touch up paint, but Serotta doesn't seem to be much on answering emails, and I'm not much on tilting at windmills, either. The bike had Suntour barcons on it when I found it, and as much as I like them, I prefer Simplex retrofrictions on a bike of this vintage. Happily, I happen to have a couple of pairs lying about, waiting for a bike. Everything cleaned up reasonably well, and the wheels retensioned and retrued without much hassle. New rim strips as well. The headset bearings were 3/16 for some reason known only to Campy, and the bike hadn't been overhauled in a long, long, time.

In addition to the shifters, I changed out the brakes to some Campy Veloce, because Rivendell had them so cheap it was less to buy them than new pads (well, almost).

Note the rear brake bridge, a bit different than the Serottas I've seen on the web. Comments, any one?

The dating is largely a guess, but the bike is pre-SL/SlX (see remains of Columbus sticker), there serial number starts with an 83, and the campy group (such as it is) dates to 1984, or at least the crank does. Minus an answer from Serotta, I'll go with that.

It rides very well, and has been rescued from the trainer/commuter hell it was in. Right now it rests in the room with the Paramount and the 1967 PX10, and will be ridden on nicer days, in a rotation with those two bikes, the Eisentraut and the AD Vent Noit II, I think.

Pog,

Nice find. well worth the price I'm thinking.
My Serotta is serial number 90415, and was sent to the bike shop that
sold it in 1989, so I call it an 89. It's a Nova Special but has a standard
Columbus decal, nothing specific about the tubes. I think that Serotta was
already messing with proprietary tubing so it won't say SL, SLP, SLX.
Theres an 89 Brochure on Bulgier.Net that I sent Mark it's got some
interesting info.
btw. I did get response from Serotta, but via the Forums, write to the
mods/admins they all work for Serotta.

Marty

That bridge looks like the one on my circa '84/85, only mine has "Murray" stamped on it instead of Serotta (7-Eleven Team replica). Bridge looks otherwise the same, though.
Mine is built with SLX and has the appropriate decals. In that size, I'm thinking the bike could be a mix of SL/SP. Nice acquisition. My Serotta is my best-riding bike, and the one I will never part with.

Great find Pog,
Marty and several of the other guys told me to go for mine, which turned out to be an '85 Nova Special, and it is one sweet ride. I had to wait 3 weeks for a reply from Serotta's office, but the mods were super responsive in less than a day.

Congrats!

+1 on the ride quality of the Serotta. Mine has been my daily rider for the past
6 years. Unfortunately I've come to realise after riding my Zieleman that I prefer
a larger frame, probably going to sell it and look for a replacement (no not CF!)

marty

Thanks for the forum tip, I may try it over there, but I think the dating is about right on this one. Not today, I don't have the full serial # on me.

As to the ride quality-- it seems quite nice, but the weather there has been crap, and aside from a ride to work last Wednesday and a few tools around the block and local park, it hasn't had an extended ride. I'm hoping this Sunday is nice enough for a spin out to Ashland and back. But it is very promising.

I've a Brooks to put on it as well, or an Ideale, but the Turbo is beat and seems comfy, so I may keep it.

Lotek and other Serotta owners, where in the bleeding heck is the serial number located? Either all the coats of paint that David put on mine has filled in the number, or I'm blind and can't find it.

Pog, beautiful Serotta by the way. Love mine! :)

Jon, should be on the bottom bracket. If you can't find it there look on
the fork steerer tube. It should match the serial number on the frame if it's the
original fork

marty

If $175 was high for you, I'll gladly reimburse you if you send the bike to me. I'll even throw-in an extra $25 to make it worth your while.

that is, metaphorically of course, a steal. I recently went through a bike racer buddy's stuff (gone to that great road race in the sky). His Serotta Colorado, much later than yours, was cinched up for $750 before they even organized the estate sale. Ultegra 8-speed, btw. beat to crap, too.

I don't recall ever looking at it at all before organizing the pile of stuff for the sale (except the normal view of the back wheel, of course).

Thank you for the kind offer. With my poverty, that cash is tempting. I was pretty certain it was a steal (like luker says), I'll admit, esp. at the Swap, where moderate level motobecanes were about 500$ IIRC. I did wonder, given the dirt on the bike and wear, if I would find some serious issue with the frame while fixing it up. However, I was pretty certain I would not find another vintage Serotta in my size at that price ever.

However, I'll pass, despite my lacking cashflow at this minute (between a root canal and the next issue of my book, I'm broke). The bike looked pretty rough when I bought it, but now that I've fixed it up some, it looks great. Finally got out and gave it a few good miles after teaching today-- added about ten or fifteen to my commute. No problems other than a few small adjustments, and the bike is quick and a joy to ride.

Of course, part of this may be that it has been raining here for about a week and I've been commuting on an old Shogun Mountain bike I hacked into something pretty cool for foul days. It was my first real ride in a bit, and the bike is fluid and very fast. Got away from the constant stoplights in the city and really let it loose, and it felt great. Hope to do about thirty on it Sunday, weather permitting.

oh, yeah!

um, weather permitting...

I am sick of riding in a freakin' meat freezer. It's supposed to be spring, ferchrissakes!