Found a Romic frame--now what?
 

So, I'm looking at craigslist (I need some wheels for my commuter) and someone has a 64 cm, Reynolds 531 frame up--so I call and go look at it.

It's a Romic--red, white, and blue paint scheme in very good shape--obviously ridden but well cared for. Someone bought it for the parts, took a full Shimano 600 set off it, and was selling the frame. So I bought it, and brought it home, and my wife is like "Sam, you already have 2 bikes...".

But this is a gorgeous frame. Serial number 14027 82587.

What should I do next?

Buy more bikes!!! (and post a pic for cryin' out loud...)

Pixxxxxxx!

Add a full Shimano 600 set and ride it.

Another Richmond Va area C & Ver!

Post some pics. I noticed there is a 531 framed bike up on CL now. I can't tell the brand from the picture and the dude wants $325.

Ask your wife how many pairs of shoes she has... she can only wear one pair at a time. Same with purses, pants, blouses, sweaters, etc. She has more than she 'needs' of many things.. your expenditures for personal items are not all that much different than her expenditures on personal items

Plus tell your wife it is like a gym membership fee... it keeps you motivated for riding, that it is money well spent for your health and well being, that SHE would want you to be happy and healthy....

I'll try to get pics up tomorrow.

And note--my wife knows that I tend to get stuff because it's nice, and then have it still sitting around needing to be fixed 5 years later.

Do you know much about them?
good information here:
http://www-hsc.usc.edu/~rpinder/Romic.html
And there are a few folks on the CR list who know
quite a bit about Romics.
Nice bikes I wouldn't mind owning one myself.

Marty

Pics, as promised.
Frame overall.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=224014
Dropout with hanger
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=224015
Fork and lugs.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=224016
Fork sticker
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=224017
Downtube sticker
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=224018

+ 1000

On a personal note, bikes are better than baskets. My ex collected Longaberger baskets; I didn't have any issues with it until I got the same thing you did. I pointed out that baskets, if pressed into service for their intended use, end up with filled with stuff. That meant we'd need to go out and buy more crap to put into them each time a new one was added to the collection. A vicious circle. Bikes are way better :)

That's a nice frame - Romics have a pretty good rep. That one deserves a full Campy/Shimano/SunTour gruoupset and to be ridden lots.

What's the threading and BB shell width?

DD

Very Nice! I bet it will ride like a dream.

Wait......what?

You only have TWO bikes? What's wrong with you**********?

as another poster said before, "Buy more bikes"

This is just women's strategic reverse psychology to get you to do things. You know when you're gf or wife is acting different and you know something is wrong but when you ask her she says everythings fine, but then you sorta have to keep bugging her to pry out the truth that something is wrong. It's just a tactic.....

She wants you to buy more bikes...

Very nice late 1987 model. A Shimano 600 (640X) will go quite nicely on that frame.

There's nothing wrong with an opportunity purchase, and putting it aside for later when you have time. It's a hobby... there's no need for a fixed schedule for hobby interests.

This.

What a great looking bike?! I love those fade to another color paint jobs! One tricolor deserves another. Great score, what was the price point?

looks bigger than 64. that is probably wishful thinking...

Sam, that is a great looking bike. Congratulations! Nice colors too! It will definitely generate a lot of attention once on the road. About your wife....whatever! :-)

Flash

Perhaps grow to about 7 feet tall?

Nice score. Not all Romics are nicely finished but that looks excellent. A nice Romic is definitely on my list.

Thanks Lotek for the link.

Looking at the specs page there and attempting to measure the frame, it matches pretty closely to the 65 cm X-100 Team Racing.

And I picked up a take-off Shimano 600 group (derailleurs, brakes, shifters and brake levers BB and crankset--no cassette) from a Centurion Ironman.

And I'm 6'4", so this is right at my size.

I am the proud owner of the 68cm Red Model 25 Sport Touring posted on Rich Pinders web site at http://www-hsc.usc.edu/~rpinder/Romic.html. I got in touch with him about two years ago. I purchased my frame back in 87' About the same time I met up with Rich I was able to reach the builders wife Gerry Gasiorowski. She sold me some decals and gave me some info on when my frame was built. If your interested I can pass her info along. She is getting very old and not sure if she still answers phone calls or e-mails anymore.

I then tracked down some new 531 decals. I am close to having mine refinished. I am also 6'4" and the 68cm fits me perfectly. Your going to love the way these old steel frames ride. Stay safe!

Last week was a bad and aggravating week.

Someone stole my commuter bike out of my yard--with my Trail-a-bike hitch, my Burley skewer hitch, my lights, my new winter tires...

Now I have only one bike, and it has a crappy set of mis-matched wheels. Anyone want to trade me a good set of 700c commuter wheels for a Romic frame?

Sorry about your week. Somebody will jump on that deal for sure. Too bad about the circumstances.