I built my website to help other people not make the same mistakes, that I made when I first started restoring or refurbishing old bikes. Rather than offer a limited, and often times inadequate, short answer here, I simply refer people to my website. Seems like a lot, and I mean a lot, of people like the information and presentation. The site is free, as you might know, and so are all the answers, that I offer each day, to the string of emails that fill up my in box. Again, no charge.

I link to the site on purpose and am pleased to have something to offer others who seek information, entertainment or what ever. As for the stolen bicycle...

The Specialized Junker II was one of 2,500 bicycles seized by police in Toronto a few years ago. The bikes were all stolen, according to the law givers. When the trial was over, and the thief incarcerated, the cops had to figure out what to do with the bikes. 300 of them were sent to Thunder Bay and all were to be given away to people who needed them. Sadly...

Of the three hundred bikes, the people in charge did not want to use the old road bikes or roadsters or antiques for their clients. I and a couple of B4H (Bicycles for Humanity) volunteers offered to help make the bikes road worthy. Out of the three hundred, only fifty or so were salvagable (foolish police sent the bikes with out pedals or saddles or seat posts.

The Specialized and two other old road bikes were given to me for helping out.

There are other people who have websites and links presented here also. I just try to offer question specific answers to anyone who is interested. And that is about 3,000,000 hits per month during part of each year.

Again, the site is free to anyone who wants to use it. I do invite donations but rarely get anything, other than a basket full of email each day.

You might notice that this post does not have a link, but I could add one so that you could see the other old road bicycle that I was given for helping out.

In closing, I do not link to other sites, with a single exception - Bicycles for Humanity - Thunder Bay. But I do teach people how to find the site that they should link to. Sort of a "give a man a fish, feed him for a day" and teach a man to fish and he will feed himself for the rest of his life".

https://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...zedSirrus2.jpg
Here is my 1988 Sirrus when it was closest to original. I've since converted it to a 3 X 8 Grand sport with a mix of Shimano 600 6600 and 5600 series 105.

.....and is now for sale there:



It appears to be a solid bike, and this example is in pretty good shape.

Lovely bike, SillyRabbit!

I just picked up one of the same. Allez SE, I believe the model year is 1986 based on that blue. Yours looks original as sold, Shimano 600 SIS (6208) components with the 600ax aero levers. Love the "Jim Merz" signature detail on the chainstay. Mine was a bit worse-for-wear when I got it:


I'm doing a re-fit with modern Campagnolo 10 speed, almost done and will post pics when that's finished.

1983 or 1984 Specialized Sequoia. Rebuilt as the PO had this set up as a tri bike. So most of the original bits were gone.

Oooo, can I play too?

3alarmer, that bike looks to be an '89 Sirrus? It's in much better shape than mine. I wonder where I've seen an ad of that bike before...

My '88 Sirrus is mostly original. The original white brake hoods started to dissolve but they apparently still make a decent-fitting replacement. Too bad it only comes in black. I upgraded to 7-speed SIS last year but needed a new rear hub. My LBS had a similarly vintaged 600 hub so I had the rear wheel rebuilt. I've upgraded from 105 to 600!

MD

BTW, I found your website to be fascinating, fun and full of useful info. I also happen to be the proud owner of many French bikes and found your information quite helpful and germane. Kudos!