Bike Forums - So Zeus is hard to find in the States, eh?

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So Zeus is hard to find in the States, eh?

Timeline of Zeus components in South Florida as I've discovered them, beginning sometime in 2008:

2008: I pick up a Zeus 2000 RD at a local shop. Not perfect, but a nice piece. This was my first local Zeus sighting. Without a doubt, that part did not arrive in the bottom of that shop's grimy bin via eBay or any internet sale.

2009: Framebuilder Mike Terraferma informs me that one of the local riders owns a Zeus 2000 and Zeus Supercronos group - purchased new and ridden hard. I have yet to see them, but Mike has. Haven't had the time to meet the fellow.

2011: Two weeks ago, I do the yard sale rounds. I find a fellow at one sale who used to work at Dade Cycle (from '79 through '81). Says he owns a complete Zeus 2000 group.

Today: I drop by one of the LBS's and unearth a first-generation Zeus Gran Sport rear derailer, what appear to be shifters predating the aluminum ones on Velobase, and a front derailer which matches the Zeus Criterium - except for the logo:

http://www.kurtkaminer.com/zeus_gransport.jpg

Who said you can't find Zeus in the land of Eisentraut, Weigle, Litton, and Redcay?

-Kurt

I think the closer you were to New York or D.C. in the '70s, you were more likely to see some Zeus stuff. No doubt that made it down to Florida

New York was one of the particular hubs for parts imported to the States, from what I've heard; no?

Would be nice if someone knew the list of the original importers of this stuff. Case in point, I've been trying to figure out who was bringing Guerciottis here other than TSD. I know TSD didn't have the monopoly on Guerciotti imports; yet, they're the only firm that is connected with them according to what floats around on the internet.

-Kurt

Snow birds...............and their toys.

I never saw a lot of it at races back in the early 80s, but my first serious road bike - a 1980 Olmo Nuovo Super Sprint - was completely decked out in Zeus 2000. That included the fancily-milled and drilled crankset, drilled rear derailleur and a seatpost with around 30 tiny flutes. I bought it for the princely sum of $425 in 1986 in Phoenix, AZ at Bicycle Warehouse.

BTW, did anyone ever see anyone racing with PMP bent-arm cranksets? I must have seen two or three of those at every race back in the day. Weird.

DD

Zeus seems to be pretty hard to find in and around Thunder Bay. In all my hunting for vintage road bicycles, I have run across three, two of which I bought. The only one that I actually rode was the Zeus Alhpa, the first one I found...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...aFullRight.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 13613627)

Total Junk.....If you want I'll trade you some fantastic Suntour Cyclone parts for it......All kidding aside, those look great!!

During the early 1970s, Zeus was being imported by West Coast Cycle Supply, who also handled Azuki, Nishiki and Windsor, though I'm not sure sure if they imported components in addition to the bicycles. By 1975, Zeus Cyclery Corp. had been set up in NYC. Zeus was aways available, though it was/is hard to find relative to the other major brands. In Europe it was a major presence, especially in the aftermarket.

As for Guerciotti prior to TSD, there was a company called Sherpa Designs that handled them in the mid-1970s. I'm not sure if they were an actual distributor. During this period many large retail outlets would purchase in quantity directly from the manufacturers in Europe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 13613627)

a first-generation Zeus Gran Sport rear derailer

That seems to be the standard Zeus setup. I have 3 Zeus bikes... trying to finish one to post some pics. Never had any of the later, fancier stuff.

Ron Kitching in England pushed Zeus hard in his catalogs; little Campagnolo.

I have one of the Zeus RD's, but that is all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabid Koala (Post 13615300)

I have one of the Zeus RD's, but that is all.

I have a rusty front and a nice bb guide if you want them...

Kissena Cycles in Queens (NYC) sold them. My best friend in high school bought one in about 1977. It was beautiful. It had centerpull brakes which were the prettiest centerpull brakes I've seen to this day. They didn't stop well, though. I think the levers had too little leverage.

That Falcon that Tom gave me has a bunch of Zeus stuff on it. My new Competition has a really nice seatpost stuck in the seat tube.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drillium Dude (Post 13613769)

I never saw a lot of it at races back in the early 80s, but my first serious road bike - a 1980 Olmo Nuovo Super Sprint - was completely decked out in Zeus 2000.

Zeus 2000 doesn't surprise me as much as the earlier groups, as it was probably Zeus' best seller - from what I've seen, 2000 made it to OEM more than any other Zeus group.

Never seen a PMP in person, ever. I don't know if any made it down here or not, but Miami seems to be a pretty good place to find the obscure and the oddball. We've been wondrously overlooked due to the slow collectors' market down here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Angelo (Post 13613905)

Total Junk.....If you want I'll trade you some fantastic Suntour Cyclone parts for it......All kidding aside, those look great!!

Do something productive, Mike. Go beat your Athena 11 cranks. :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Mar (Post 13614008)

Good to know, T-Mar. Out of curiosity, was Sherpa in NY?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbakl (Post 13614532)

That seems to be the standard Zeus setup. I have 3 Zeus bikes... trying to finish one to post some pics. Never had any of the later, fancier stuff.

Zeus 2000 seems to be the most common groupset in the States; at least from what I've seen. I'm quite looking forward to examining that local Supercronos group.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueDevil63 (Post 13615584)

Ok I can't resist and not trying to hijack the thread but there isn't much Zeus traffic here. My 1980-81 Supercronos with all Zeus components except the seat and stem:

Very, very nice.

-Kurt

Quote:

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 13616068)

...Good to know, T-Mar. Out of curiosity, was Sherpa in NY?...

No, they were out of Colorado. They used to advertise in Bicycling. And they weren't tiny LBS ads like in the classifieds section at the back of the magazine, though they weren't huge either. They never mentioned anything else in their type, other than Guerciotti, so I never was able to discern if they were a large retail outlet or distributor, though the Sherpa Designs name sounds like they may have been an outdoors equipment manufacturer who tried to diversify. Bicycles would have been a logical next step.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueDevil63 (Post 13615584)

Ok I can't resist and not trying to hijack the thread but there isn't much Zues traffic here. My 1980-81 Supercronos with all Zeus components except the seat and stem:

Wow, that is something!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 13616068)

Zeus 2000 seems to be the most common groupset in the States; at least from what I've seen.

Maybe where you are: in 40 years I've only seen it in pictures, but have come across lots of the earlier stuff.