cyclotoine

So I stumbled onto a Mairag with 3 stars on the top tube this evening. It say handmade in switzerland and is nicely built. I found photos of a bike with 4 stars and one with 2 stars on the net. I assume the number of stars denotes quality.

Nice features include double tapered seatstays, rear fender eyelets, lug cutouts, lug thinning, and very modestly reworked chainstays. They are not crimped in the regular low end fashion but ever so slightly flattened in the key areas for crank and tire clearance. All BSC threading.

Not so nice things include, the lack of a drilled hole at the bottom of the slot in the back of the seat tube (I will ad one) and a crookedly brazed on seat binder fittings, the use of a small globe of brass to prevent the shifters from sliding down, no reinforcing tangs on the fork legs. the lack of fender eyelets on the fork drop-outs while they are present in the rear.

The bike was originally equipped with Zeus components. The pedals, derailleurs and rear hub are not present but everything else is there including both skewers the headset and the seatpost binder bolt. The seatpost is a 27.0 and the frame sticker is a butted reynolds 531 frame tubes one, so the fork blades and stays might be something else... though I will let the experts judge once I have photos... (I need to grind down a 16mm socket first to get those crank bolts off). Rear drop-outs are gipiemme and front appear unmarked but are forged. Thankfully it is all english threading and I will be moving off all the Zeus stuff including the complete "new racer" brakeset... The frame is nice but not spectacular, it will become my new workhorse... my new fixed gear and the Jeunet will be sold to make space for the newcomer.

Anyone else ever heard of this brand? Can you share stories? Photos? any comments at all?

Pics soon sorry! I seem to attract more obscure brands.

humanreisberg

Yes, i can share a story. Here is my 5 Star Mairag Columbus SL, probably made around 1983/84. Mairag was bought by German company Schauff in the mid 80ies, Schauff racing frames also had the "Stars" to differ the models quality.
Starting with 2 Stars (entry), then 3 Stars for amateurs, 4 Stars for pros and 5 Stars for people with too much money (that is what someone told me a while ago). I got mine 1 and a 1/2 year ago from a father of one of my friends. In 1984 i was seven and definitely hadn't any money except for candy or ice cream.







Build up with a golden Campy brake- and crank set, Super record hub set with Mavic GP4, golden EDCO competition headset & bottom bracket, factory drilled NR derailleur, a Concor Profil and 3TTT handlebar & stem, this one is definitely an eye catcher. Check out the drilled steering head lugs (only on 5 Star models).

Here is a link too: https://www.mairag.de/index.html

Regards

Kilian

humanreisberg

And here is a link to the Classic Rendezvous site about Mairag:

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Switzerland/Mairag.htm

Chombi

Ooooohhhhh! me likey very very much!!
And I thought i only have Titan as a Swiss "must have" C&V bike........At least this one has a nice, "sensible" red and white Swiss themed paintjob, which I find perfect for a Swiss bike!

Chombi

mkeller234

H-o-l-y c-o-w!

jossef

I don't know if mine is Mairag or not. I've got a different style of drilling. Also found on the BB shell.
could you have a look at the thread 'experienced eyes only' in classic and vintage,(sorry not techie minded to do a link)
Maybe your expertise could shed some light on my mystery?