Interesting and rare find, the company is till in business too! Which was unusual for a Belgian bicycle company to remain in business as long as they did. See this: Vittorio Home You might be able to e-mail them to get the history and specifics on the bike if they have it and if you're interested.

I've been in touch with the new owners (Jan Groot no longer runs the business) a couple of years ago. Regrettably they don't have the old build records anymore, but they told me that the 'Populair' models were built with frames imported from Belgium. They couldn't tell me who the actual builder was.

Double Score! Trek Elance 300 and Schwinn Traveler III, both free on the curb, unadvertised. And both 23", just my size.

While raging against the dying of the light on my standard after work route, I came upon these two leaning against a speed limit sign. Called the wife, who was glad to pick me up (doesn't like me riding in the dark), along with the bikes.

I'm pretty stoked about the Trek. It has a lot of paint missing, but looks to be stock except for the rear brake, which was upgraded with a Sora dual pivot. I want to build it up for riding the Raleigh greenways. I think the taller, wider 27" wheels will smooth out the tree root humps. Previously I was given one just like it in mint condition, but 21" (too small).

The Traveler III is older and way heavier but in very good condition. With some alloy wheels it might make for a comfy greenway ride too.

So that's where my bikes went!

A lady advertised some bikes owned by her late father. I missed a possibly nice Trek (she couldn't remember the model - her mother gave it away) and a Peugeot mixte. This Fuji Royale was left, so it came home with me. Here are some photos after a quick wash and removal of some accessories (anyone want a Radio Shack AM bike radio?).

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417069http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417070http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417072http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417073http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417074http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417075http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417076http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417077http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417078

Ok, pretty sure we need to see the AM bike radio.

OK Mechanicmatt, here it is along with a Cateye computer from way back that was also on the bike.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417094http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=417095

Awesome!

Not a bike - but, Rigida 700c wheelset with Normandy Luxe Competition hubs for $5 ain't bad. These will be my new gravel wheels so I can move the Helicomatic back to normal road use.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...f/IMGP8784.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...f/IMGP8783.jpg

^Those hubs should last indefinitely as long as you re-pack them once a year, assuming they're in good condition as bought. Nice catch!

Cool old tech. I'd put the computer back if it works just.. because. :)

Solid State. Good. Because I hate those vacuum tube AM bike radios.

Love that computer. I wonder how long it took Cateye to realize a sensor doesn't have to be a giant disc, it can be a little pod clamped to a pair of spokes.

^^^I know they did it for a lot of their bikes, but I never understood the whole dropouts being behind the rear triangle thing.

Oxalic Acid by wrk101, on Flickr[/IMG]

Now all you need is a Jacuzzi...

I know where one is sitting that is in really nice shape if you want to come to NJ and pick it up, it really would work fantastic with all that OA, heated with water flow works good on a small scale I could only imagine using that.

Glenn

I took the Royale out for a ride today after a little work. I replaced the saddle with a Nashbar that I had on-hand, the melted hoods with some Cane Creeks, the cables and most housings, the downtube shifters with barcons from the stash, and added a layer of NOS Cateye cloth tape that I found yesterday. I'm working on the Cateye computer that came on the bike - I may install that if I can get it working.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419292

Grabbed this last week for free. I know its not especially valuable or collectable, but I like it. Despite being much to small for me, its a pretty nice ride, shifts great. So tonight I spent a few hours and cleaned it up a little, and it's probably going up for sale. If only it was a little smaller I'd keep it for my fiance, instead of the heavy suburban I found for her. It has some nice looking weinmann brake levers and newer bar tape. The bars were flipped around and the brake levers installed backwards in a weird attempt to make it rideable for someone much smaller, I moved all that back to the correct place.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419374
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127136...3/15244216903/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127136...n/photostream/

My wife ganked me a 1989 Raleigh Technium Frenzy for $35 the other day. It's not my size, been left outside for a long time, but generally complete and rebuildable.

Found this thing at a local flea market, pretty rough, couple of small dents, stuck seat post, surface rust all over, dunno maybe leave it as is and build a drop bar mtb?. Couldn't leave it there for $20 bucks :)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...ds/image-1.jpg

It was on its way to the dump when I grabbed it, it was a rental bike for ever 30 years... maybe I should've let it go haha

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps80d6ff5c.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psf554e8ef.jpg

Riding home from Trader Joe's, these lightweight WTB Moto Raptor tires were laying in a trash pile. $60/pair if new and they look almost new.

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/pzlgdkgdffo...Tires.JPG?dl=0

1980's something Peugeot. It has indexed shifting. I feel like it's the future.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7536/...e31fe328_b.jpg

This trek popped up on Craigslist for $25. Once I got it, it was in a little worse shape than I thought. Luckily I had the needed parts on hand. The only thing I had to order was a new seatpost. $12 off ebay.


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