I picked this one out of a church garage sale ten years ago. My wife thought I was nuts for even looking at it. "What do you need another bike for?". My cousin pulled her aside to explain that I knew what was going on. The pirce tag $30. Went to pay for it and took a closer look at the tag.....$3. The pictures show exactly how I bought, I've nevered cleaned it, added to it or removed anything. I plan on restoring it and when my wife isn't looking hang it above the couch. Of course if people wish to ride it they can. The bike is too small for me. Any info on this bike would be greatly appreciated too. Thank you in advance.

I also have a 1986 Bianchi (Superleggera?) Super Record through out. I bought it new, traded it in 1988 and bought it back in 2000. It had the aero water bottle and flat spokes, which both bottle and wheels were gone when I bought it back. It also has "Bianchi" or "B" engraved everywhere. I'm hoping that someone has a scanned catalog, picture or website with more info on the bike. I really need to get rid of the current color pink (shudders). Before restoration begins I would like to have as much reference material as I can get.

Hello Jayna Que,

Your bike looks very similar to the Bianchi i bought (2 pages before). I was a bit disappointed about the dropouts, as they look like stamped. But mine has a nice painting on the seat tube (see pic).
Can anyone say sth. about the brake, I have the same, but only in ther rear, front is a cheap(?) Weinmann 500. Could it be somehow Campy-related ? I think their earlier brake stuff was labeled "Universal" ? RD is a shimano lark 55 (or SS), could this be original ? Only 8 speeds.

DivineandBright, indeed the Bertins colour is really neat, looks even better in sunlight. Just seems like they put a little amount of gold in the paint, it shimmers just like the paintjobs they do in the pimp my ride shows :D But it's way too small for me, so I put it on german ebay that it can help finance my bianchi tinkering :) At least I hope so.

Have a nice day, Bavarese.

This could make a fine "catch" for someone... though you're not going to get it for 20$

I was looking for somewhere to post this in the C&V forums, and thought this would do.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/bik/111352014.html

not my bike, just wanted to pass it along.

Now I know you guys think that with the number of bikes I'm finding lately, I probably don't have time to trawl ebuy, but I needed something to liven up my porch photos (anything for my art) and found this little auction, at a most reasonable price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7195081669
It arrived today in fine fettle. I believe it's a 531 frame; the 26.6 seatpost (that's what it is) suggests that. Probably mid-seventies. Model 472? Bocoma lugs, simplex drops. The rust is largely limited to the frame; the chrome is in superb condition. Rust is completely surface; overall, the frame is fine. Pretty blue-grey colour. It'll likely sit for a bit and then I'll get a wild hair and build it up; I've got the parts lying about and always enjoy a good build.

Nice looking frame. :) I like your backdrop, much more artistic than that old green lawn thing you had going for a while.

Today I found a bike rack for $2.98, very cool, here's a picture, with my car. Also in the shot is a 57cm Schwinn Paramount, 50th aniversary. Kind of eclectic component mix. Shimano 105 eight speed drivetrain. Dia Compe "Gran Compe II" levers and brakes. Eight speed 105 cassette hubs laced to Mavic Open Pros with double-butted spokes. Cinelli bar (odd model, bar ends sweep inwards) and profile stem, with profile designs tri bar. Headset looks like a Stronglight A9 to me. High end campy pedals (just kidding). Guy at the thrift said they were the only ones that fit he had. Alas, the frame has some nice rust spots, but I don't thing it's irreperable, and the wheelset is likely worth more than I paid.

I'm unsure as to the heritage of this one, if it's a Japanamount or a later Waterford model, so I'm starting another thread to solicit the experts.

damn pogue where do you live? I don't even want to hear some bizarro land where everyone give you sweet bikes all the time! Here they haven't even heard of 531. if I find a tange 2 I am like jelly. You suck you suck you suck~! (J/K)

"I don't even want to hear some bizarro land where everyone give you sweet bikes all the time!"

Me am live in such a place, how you know ? Best bike here is Roadmaster Mt. Fury, every one glad to trade crappy Colnago for it.

Since I started reading this thread I have been searching for a find worthy of posting here.
Today I had to attend a meeting on the other side of the city so I always make it a point to check a large threift store when I am in that part of town. After the meeting I stop by and see what was probably a mid 80's Raleigh Sportif, judging by the stem mounted shifters and foam handlebar cover. Previous owner had installed a huge seat and the chain was rusty, other than that it looked pretty good. From what I could see. Someone was looking at it pretty closely, I skulked around hoping he would pass on it and I could grab it. I did see a 530 sticker, couldn't tell much else.

Of course the guy looking at it wheeled it up to the register and my search continues

A '69 James 3-speed roadster, with wheels and fenders that some hateful individual had stomped into crapola. It really looked like a sad little pile of parts laying on the curb. The S-A AW hub was worth my stopping, but this thing turned out to be better at second glance.

The bike practically put itself back together in a Christine-like resurrection, drawing what it needed from my everlasting parts stash. Two hours later I was riding around.

It's great to have a parts stash like that. One day I hope to have one as extensive. So far I'm on my way with a spare, well, just about everything but a couple seatposts. Honestly I'd rather locate a frame in my size, or be lucky enough for a fellow BF'er to stumble across one that is willing to send it my way. (58cm lugged roadie for a finder's fee anyone? ;))

Having extra parts on hand is only a plus IF you can find them when you need them. I average about 80 percent. A little organization in the shop goes a long way.

I haven't even graduated to having a 'shop' yet. All of my parts are currently residing in about a half dozen cardboard boxes in my bedroom. Granted a lot of the parts will have a home very soon and thus keeping them close at hand. :) All I have left to recieve is my Cinelli handlebars and I'll be adding a new image to the Vintage Rides thread. My Barracuda Mk.I may have fit in this thread when I bought it as a Centurion Sport DLX a few months back ($35) but I've put a fair bit into it now as she'll be built up this next week.

Hello All,
I came across this one at the local Salivation Army store. It looked recently used & the girl let me have it for $15, so I took it home. Anyone seen a Perfomance branded bike before or know anything about 'em? Google came up zip on it, as did mtbr.com or whuteva that other site is. Here are some specs to help ID it:

Performance M-Series M407:

17.5" True Temper AVR 4130 frame
MST front suspension fork
Dia-Compe V-Brakes
Weinmann 26 x 1.5 rims
Unknown (Shimano?) front hub
Shimano "Silent Clutch" Rear hub
Shimano STX F/R Derailleurs
"PowerFlo"? crank (or just the chainring)

I took it to a LBS & they gave it a going over, but didn't find much except a stiff headset, so they fixed that. It feels pretty light for a steel MTB, & it rides nice enough. Had to adjust the seat, tho. I mainly bought it for the frame because of the sloping top tube. I'm built like a Peanuts character (short legs, long torso, big head shuddup) & this bike actually FITS without my bits choking on the TT when I'm standing over it. I plan to replace the fork with a stiffie (no susp.) & I'd like to put a bigger chainring up front, repaint it flat black, maybe some nice roadie-like wheelset (26" of course). I'm just wondering if this bike is worth doing all that to? I mean, I did get it for $15, right? Any thoughts?

]::emperorTK::[===============

Addendum: I'm looking at my post & thinking it may not be in the right thread, apologies to all if this is so.

]::emperorTK::[===========================

No worries. We don't take offense at such things. The lack of response is almost certainly due to a lack of knowledge, rather than any fault of yours. My general rule is - if you're going to give the bike a lot of use, spending a hundred or so dollars on upgrading it isn't a waste. I'm not a big MTB enthusiast, but if you're not going to do any riding over rough terrain, the weight of a suspension fork is (IMO) not justified. Also, unless there's some problem with the wheels, you might consider just changing out the tires. If you're not going to ride through slop, aggressive tread will only create excess friction and slow you down.

Good luck with your project.

Z

No, for $15 it's definately a catch.

Personally I like to ride a bike for a month or so and make sure I'm going to keep it before I make any upgrades to it.

Steel is still real, Mr. Emperor. That is a smokin' catch for $15. A solid frame, and middle of the road (no pun intended) but perfectly serviceable parts. Just slap some skinny MTB tires on and go. Paint might be a waste of time, but that's your call. Leave the suspension fork, as you'd have to find the suspension-corrected rigid to preserve the steering geometry. Commute over pot holes and bad roads with impunity.

Emperor,

That's the same bike I bought for my wife sometime in 98. If I recall correclty it was somewhere around $300, maybe less.

It is a pretty good, basic mountain type bike with 'elastomers' (sp?)inside the fork. I am guessing some kind of compressible foam or plastic.

My opinion is that Performance makes or put together some pretty good value bikes. $15 was a steal.

Have fun!

Yes!

Finally got a really pretty good one FOR FREE

Astro Daimler full 531 frame (black) with superbe brakes and levers, avocet cranks and seat post, cinelli bars and stem, maillard sealed hubs (?) weinmann rims, cyclone mark II rear derailleur, shimano STX headset ?, 50T big ring.

I will post pics of this one, but not until monday as I'm going out of town. The frame has really cool reynolds stickers on the frame and fork. I am so happy. Oh yeah it's about like a 56CM-58CM Just the right size!

I can't believe how light this bike is even with the profile tri ***** bars attached to the handlebars.

I will get more specific if that would be interesting.

Infinity-- nice one! Post pics, we like ADs, esp. 531 ones. Your town must not be as bad as you thought. I keep telling folks you just need to learn where to look.

Meanwhile, back in Bizarro town, today did not toss any Schwinn Paramounts my way. Instead, I spent the morning photographing the tree in the front yard. Bikes kept cluttering my compositions. A Nishiki Olympic, 105 brakeset, Nitto bars and stem, Tange infinity DB frameset, shimano light action mechs, Sugino VP crankset. Absolutely filthy, but cheap. Even cheaper, this very cool Dahon folder, which folds down into a fairly small cube. Always wanted a folder, now I've got one. Should entertain my niece and nephew, who like visiting the "bike museum". Needs a new rear tube, I think, other than that okay.

I may need to have a yard sale soon. Nuthin' but bikes. Actually, I'll prolly just CL them. But I'm a keeping the folder until I happen upon a Brompton.

Watch out for them nuthin but bikes sales. I had one once and everyone drove by looking super pissed. One woman even yelled to her friend, "Why even have a sale? There's nothing but crap" within clear earshot of me. I was laughing, but I only made 25 dollars (and 18 of that was for a drill!)

Pogue - that Dahon looks very much like a 12 year old one on ebayAU right now. Can you tell me anything good or bad about them? The only thing I got from the description was that it has 16" wheels.

Cheers.

"Can you tell me anything good or bad about them?"

All I know is they're considered an entry level folder. I put a new tube on mine, and rode it about-- seems fine. 2 speed S/A hub. Steering is a little odd, but I think that's the small wheel size, which likely takes some getting used to.

You might ask on the folding bikes forum. I bet someone there knows more. This is only the second folder that I've ever had pass thru my hands, and the first was a folding mountain bike with 26" wheels, didn't fold that much smaller than a regular bike.

What size is that Nishiki? I know someone who rides a 58cm that's looking for a road bike.