another unappreciated old bike
12-03-08, 01:03 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
another unappreciated old bike
My son brought over a friend's bike with a flat to fix. He had the rear wheel off. First thing I noticed was the DuraAce hub and Wolber rim. It had a old cheap-ass Forte tire that had blown out its side.
Then I saw the bike - an early 80s(?) Vitus, anodized blue, full DuraAce, with rusted chain, two flats, bad tires, loose hub, rusted/gouged rim, bar tape in total tatters, and a cheap cable lock used to secure it to the racks at the local high school.
I remember lusting after these back in the day. A co-worker had one, claiming sub-20lbs, when my Trek weighed 23. It was aluminum and seemed so exotic.
At any rate, I spent a few hours, fixed it up (had to donate quite a few things), and am ready to send it on its way. Was tempted to offer to buy it from the kid, but I can hardly walk through the bikes in my garage as is. It's a beauty though.
Then I saw the bike - an early 80s(?) Vitus, anodized blue, full DuraAce, with rusted chain, two flats, bad tires, loose hub, rusted/gouged rim, bar tape in total tatters, and a cheap cable lock used to secure it to the racks at the local high school.
I remember lusting after these back in the day. A co-worker had one, claiming sub-20lbs, when my Trek weighed 23. It was aluminum and seemed so exotic.
At any rate, I spent a few hours, fixed it up (had to donate quite a few things), and am ready to send it on its way. Was tempted to offer to buy it from the kid, but I can hardly walk through the bikes in my garage as is. It's a beauty though.
12-03-08, 01:16 AM
#2
Rumblefish
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Bikes: 1973 Crescent Pepita Single Speed,1978 Raleigh Competition G.S.,1976 Raleigh Super Course MKII,1970's Motobecane Super Touring Fixed Gear, 1980's Denti Road Tech Five,Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo,1973 Atala Giro,Cheap MTB Tandem,Schwinn World Sport
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Build an addition to your garage, you know you'll fid a few more you just can't pass up.
12-03-08, 01:21 AM
#3
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How about an offer to trade plus some cash? Win-Win if you ask me!
12-03-08, 05:33 AM
#4
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12-03-08, 10:28 AM
#5
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the kid should at least offer you visiting and riding rights
...was he happy?
...was he happy?
12-03-08, 11:21 AM
#6
aka: Mike J.
Yep, +2, definitely let him have a look at your tradables and see if anything catches his interest or better fits his needs. I can easily see a streetable updated rigid MTB or upgraded BMX as being more to his liking than a lightweight skinny tired dropbar roadbike. 
