auchencrow

Great possibilities there bibliobob !

toytech

I did indeed after some maintenance and improvements, most notably the suntour front derailler and Huret shifters.

noglider 

soonerbills, no, the bikes came with all European components in those days, so the derailleurs and shifters are replacements. The European parts didn't last long, which is why you see them replaced so often.

soonerbills

Hi soonerbills -
Looks like a 71-72 to me. I beleive the Shimano DRs/Suntour changers, saddle and foam padded bar tape later additions.
The rims, crank, GB stem and brakes are original, with the possible exception of the hoods.


I think you are right on the year. i remember reading or hearing here on the forum that the last two digits are the year but can't remember for sure.
I think the sticker was a "531" but is pretty well gone. Is there anything special about the lugs?


soonerbills, no, the bikes came with all European components in those days, so the derailleurs and shifters are replacements. The European parts didn't last long, which is why you see them replaced so often.

Tom, The derails are Shimano Crane. Are these desirable as a vintage pieces? I read they were the early Dura Ace models. The freewheel has a massive "granny" gear and the big chain is "big". Was this the norm for extra large frames or is this just a unique feature for this particular bike maybe a customer preference?

auchencrow

Is there anything special about the lugs? - Of course there are special - They're beautiful Nervex lugs (but they were standard issue at the time).

Are these (Chimano Crane DR's) desirable as a vintage pieces? You bet! Very much so.

massive "granny" gear and the big chain is "big". Was this the norm? I don't know about the granny gear availability.

sailorbenjamin 

I don't think the Crane origionally came on these bikes but they're way cool.

noglider 

soonerbills, you have the original cranks and chainrings, and they're probably 40t and 52t. That was normal. I think the original freewheel was 14-28t. So putting on a bigger freewheel (for lower lows) makes sense. And yes, the Crane derailleurs is close to period-correct. They're slightly newer but only slightly. They may not even be newer but yes, they are replacements. So do keep them if they work well, and they probably do.

Oh my God, I just realized I had a bike dream last night where I was elated with the performance of some old Suntour derailleurs and shifters.

auchencrow

noglider - We all dream about stuff like that - but no one else admits to it!
-A

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Its no Dream. Its reality.

Soonerbills, if thats a 71-72 (and i would agree it is) its 531 main tubes and hi-ten forks and stays....that is the same color my '72 was when I got it although you've got significantly more paint than I did.

Bikedued

Throw some Cyclone M-II on one of your bikes, and you will be. This Nuovo GS on my 510 is what makes me wish I was elated, lol.,,,,BD

noglider 

Funny you should mention that. I acquired a Zebrakenko with Cyclone derailleurs, and the thought to swap those parts out has occurred to me. I don't think I've ever tried them.

Bikedued

Definitely try them! You will be pleasantly surprised, especially if they're the M-II variety. One of the smoothest shifting
friction derailleurs I've ever used. That's what I have on my copper SC earlier in this thread.,,,,BD

ohjonnybegoode

After I swore I was done buying bikes for awhile…I saw a CL ad for a Super Course, so, of course I bought it. I’m guessing it’s a 1973 vintage..looks like the serial number on the left rear dropout reads 0055660. 23.5 inch frame…just large enough for me to fit on comfortably…Bronze Green with a Stronglight crank, Simplex derailleur, alloy rims, Normandy hubs, etc.

The bike is in decent shape…it’s missing the rear brake and chain, and it needs a thorough cleaning…the Brooks B17 Narrow isn’t in the best shape…but it’s going on my Super Course MkII…and B17 that I picked up last week for it is going back on the auction site…the sale of which will offset the price of the bike…. I think I’m going to tuck this one away for awhile until I decide what exactly to do with it.

auchencrow

Hi ohjohnnybegoode! Welcome to the multiple SC owners' club -

The Brooks still has plenty of miles on it - but I would give it a liberal dose of Proofide top and bottom now and again in a few weeks, then just occasionally thereafter.

Look for cracks on the DR's plastic housing. If there is any you may have to take some advice from this thread for later DR substitutes - There is a plethora to choose from that will work on these bikes.

I would recommend shopping for a Weinmann 750 for the missing brake - the 610 is too short for some of these SC's so unless you get it free - play it safe.

Bikedued

With the Deep sides, that looks like a B.15 Narrow? Nice find, I wish I had a green one. My black prugnat started life as a green one, but
the only traces I found were inside the BB, and the fork. They even stripped the steerer, but left a tiny ring near the crown race.,,,,BD


Oops, missed th B.17 narrow notation... Still a sweet looking saddle. Slather it with proofide, top and bottom.. Do that several times, then rub the finish out.
Maybe even some neutral color Meltonian leather polish for good measure. I've brought back a few that look like yours, and they're usually perfectly
fine once treated, and ridden a while.

ohjonnybegoode

Thanks....the color and the saddle are what led me to make the purchase...it may very well be a B15 Narrow...it's just worn off enough on the side to not be able to make out the model...I was thinking B17 Narrow as that was orginial equipment. Either way, it will look nice on my Mk.II...

shnibop 

just bought this today, it was a little big for me but hoped it would fit my brother... and it doesn't. the components are a mess and mostly non-original to the bike. cudak888 is guessing that this is an early 70's super course that had been fully chromed at some point. the chrome looks pretty nice overall, but around the head tube and where the seat stays meet the seat tube there is some surface rust forming. if it fit, i would build it up and have a cool looking beater, but at this point i might as well let it go to someone who might be able to enjoy it.

anyone interested in picking up this little gem? frame only or the whole mess





set of pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/3519041...7623697240054/

auchencrow

hI sHNIBOP -

WOW - It looks like someone went through a great deal of trouble to upgrade their baby (though I could do without the stem shifters). The Capaella lugs look great in Chrome! I don't think it would be difficult to arrest that little bit of rust - a little rust-to-prime converter and a daub of chrome paint would make it hard to detect.

What crank, DRs and levers are on it?

AndyK

Nice Supercorses!

Are there any with all Campy NR / SR ?

cudak888 

Incidentally, shnibop, I hadn't noticed the riveted-on headbadge. It's been re-chromed for sure.

-Kurt

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Never seen one in chrome before...what year is it?

interesting rear cog set

sciencemonster

Hadn't been here in a few days, but coincidentally I just rebuilt a supercourse last night fro a friend of my son's. No big deal, except it was a Mixte, which I've never seen before:



Sorry I don't have better pics, I didn't think there'd be a thread on SCs, so I only took this one to show her the progress.

The bike had sorry components and French upright bars when the girl got it...she wanted road bars becasue although she's never ridden a bike before, she did know that they were cooler. She wouldn't put any money into it, so this is about finished. Relubed and new cables/brakes/tires. It looks like it had never been ridden. Not a scratch, not a sign of wear anyplace.

I told her the bike was worth putting a hundred or two into new components...we'll see.

Mark

auchencrow

Hi Sciencemonster -

That is really very unusual - I've never seen a SC mixte before.

What new components are you recommending? It does not look like it needs a thing to me (except for a Brooks)

sciencemonster

She actually showed up at my door to look at one of my bikes, but I told her my bikes suck and to quick go buy this mixte...and then I got stuck renewing it. I offered to just becasue I had been interested in the mixte, but not interested enough to go to Mountain View and pay $100 - but I did want to play with it.

It had french stem/handlebars/mafac plastic levers that someone had switched out when it was new...a bike shop no doubt. It had a horrible plastic Simplex RD on it, which I swapped out fro the only thing I had that fit - a Huret. I sold her the stem, handlebars, RD, brake levers, new cables for $60 and a lube job for $50, and the price of some brake shoes, barwrap, and housing. I tried to talk her into buying a seat and a decent drivetrain...even just a SIS freewheel...but she didn't bite. I would have recommended last year's Veloce - it's cheap, and it works. I just don't even bother with vintage drive trains...htey just suck.

I told her that when she gets sick of the crappy shifting, to bring it back, I'd install upgrades for free. The bike was well worth investing money in.

It was amazingly light. I was really impressed, even withall the crappy parts on it. I didn't weight it but I would guess well under 25#. The Gran Prix mixte I had must have weighed twice as much. It was really small though - she was 5' 6" and could have easily ridden a mens bike.

will015

I know it's back on page 1 and I don't want to hijack the thread....... but, bikamper, who makes those panniers on your SC? I'm guessing the panniers on your Superbe are swiss bread bags, correct?

BTW, cool bikes all. I've never ridden a SC but have had the pleasure of riding a loaned International for a while and it was smooth and lovely.

,Will