N+1 -- How did I do?
04-23-10, 03:30 PM
#1
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N+1 -- How did I do?
Okay, I've got the bug and have been lusting after 'old school' type steel road bikes. This morning I saw one on craigslist and this afternoon I adopted it. I still have to come up with a name.
It's a chro-mo double butted steel framed Specialized Allez. Based on the serial number, I'm guessing it was made in '96 (last two numbers). It has mostly Shimano 600 components, Felt carbon/al seatpost, Bontrager handle bars and Mavic rims. The tires don't look special but they are new.
Here are some pics. (It was raining when I brought it home and hadn't dried it off yet...)
So, how did I do?
DSC_4440..jpg
DSC_4443b..jpg
DSC_4441..jpg
DSC_4439..jpg
It's a chro-mo double butted steel framed Specialized Allez. Based on the serial number, I'm guessing it was made in '96 (last two numbers). It has mostly Shimano 600 components, Felt carbon/al seatpost, Bontrager handle bars and Mavic rims. The tires don't look special but they are new.
Here are some pics. (It was raining when I brought it home and hadn't dried it off yet...)
So, how did I do?
DSC_4440..jpg
DSC_4443b..jpg
DSC_4441..jpg
DSC_4439..jpg
Last edited by Nola_Gal; 04-24-10 at 10:18 AM.
04-23-10, 03:32 PM
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Very nicely I'd say!
04-23-10, 04:01 PM
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I paid $180...how does that sound? They have a couple of 'dealers' on CL around here that put out older bikes. Sometimes they're decent old bikes, mostly not. They don't put much out under $150-$200 so I figured $180 was probably okay for an old Specialized. When I got there to see it, it was so pretty and light and I was able to straddle it! It's a 54 and my Cannondale is a 50 but it fits...barely, but it fits. I'll need to swap out the stem for something shorter but that shouldn't be a problem.
I can't believe I was so impulsive but it felt RIGHT!
I can't believe I was so impulsive but it felt RIGHT!
04-23-10, 04:02 PM
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Nice bike! Steal is real!
........Haha! My wife has an 1984 Bianchi that she also rides. Ever since she got it, she's said, "this thing has a sole of it's own".
And had never ever heard the "steal is real" comment" I wasn't even on any of the bike forums back in 97 when we bought it for $40!
...we've put money it though, didn't look like this when we got it.
She has her full carbon bike now but won't let the Bianchi go!
Her 1984 steal Bianchi
........Haha! My wife has an 1984 Bianchi that she also rides. Ever since she got it, she's said, "this thing has a sole of it's own". And had never ever heard the "steal is real" comment" I wasn't even on any of the bike forums back in 97 when we bought it for $40!...we've put money it though, didn't look like this when we got it.She has her full carbon bike now but won't let the Bianchi go!
Her 1984 steal Bianchi
04-23-10, 04:04 PM
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Lugged steel, good move!
The bike is older than 1996, probably closer to 1990. 1996 was TIG welded steel (no lugs). 1994 was the last year for lugged steel.
The best way to date a bike is to look up the component codes. By the early 1990s, Shimano 600 bikes had brifters (not DT shifters). Of course, the components may not be original, but usually items such as the seat post are original, and it should have a date code as well. Doesn't really matter if it is a 1990 or a 1996, the value is there.
All six of my rides are lugged steel, so I am kind of prejudiced on this topic.
$180 is a good deal on this bike. Market value around here for an indexed 600 steel frame bike is closer to $250 to $275. Stem does appear to be on the long side. Easy change of course.
Most of my bikes are from the 1980s, its just where I ended up era wise. I do have one modern bike in the fleet.
thrifty bill
The bike is older than 1996, probably closer to 1990. 1996 was TIG welded steel (no lugs). 1994 was the last year for lugged steel.
The best way to date a bike is to look up the component codes. By the early 1990s, Shimano 600 bikes had brifters (not DT shifters). Of course, the components may not be original, but usually items such as the seat post are original, and it should have a date code as well. Doesn't really matter if it is a 1990 or a 1996, the value is there.
All six of my rides are lugged steel, so I am kind of prejudiced on this topic.
$180 is a good deal on this bike. Market value around here for an indexed 600 steel frame bike is closer to $250 to $275. Stem does appear to be on the long side. Easy change of course.
Most of my bikes are from the 1980s, its just where I ended up era wise. I do have one modern bike in the fleet.
thrifty bill
Last edited by wrk101; 04-23-10 at 04:18 PM.
04-23-10, 04:14 PM
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Good call! I have some 1997 600 and it is very different with brifters, crank arms very different and calipers.
04-23-10, 04:18 PM
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Sweet
04-23-10, 04:19 PM
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Very nice find, Very nice bike indeed!!
But, according to the law of n+1, you're still lacking one bike!
But, according to the law of n+1, you're still lacking one bike!
04-23-10, 04:30 PM
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How would I check based on the component codes? I know the stem and the seat post are not original. The rest I'm not sure but it all seems to match...front and rear brakes, front and rear derailers, dt shifters are all stamped shimano 600. I'm not really concerned about the date in terms of value but I would like to have a sense of 'knowing' the bike. I like what Mrs. Beanz said about her Bianchi...'it has a soul of its own'...I think that rings true about this one for me. It's just so pretty! 
...Me'h, someday I will find one that tickles my fancy!
04-23-10, 04:46 PM
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Just keep lookin' Mr. Beanz! 
Oh, and I looked up the component code on the cranks (thanks classic and vintage forum!) and it looks like the cranks are from January 1986.
Oh, and I looked up the component code on the cranks (thanks classic and vintage forum!) and it looks like the cranks are from January 1986.
04-23-10, 04:55 PM
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nice bike.
04-23-10, 05:13 PM
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wow, nice! what did you pay?
04-23-10, 05:23 PM
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oh, and it has the Jim Merz logo on the chainstay for whatever that is worth...I gather he was a frame designer in the '80's, worked independently until heading Specialized's R&D dept then left in 1990...
04-23-10, 05:29 PM
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Anyone have any idea what size stem would work? I know it's a quill but aren't there two sizes? Thanks!!
04-23-10, 05:38 PM
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Stem clamp diameter would depend on the bars, too hard to tell by looking at a picture. I would guess 26mm, but you never know, could be 25.4, probably not 26.4, but once again, you never know. EDIT: Ooops, just noticed the Bontrager bar mention. Almost certainly 26mm, then. If you have some calipers, you can check the diameter at the center of the bars with that.
Or you could go nuts and get new bars and stem.
Or you could go nuts and get new bars and stem.
Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 04-23-10 at 05:41 PM.
04-23-10, 06:14 PM
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What about the quill part that drops into the headset...is it either 1 inch or 1-1/8 inch?
04-23-10, 06:16 PM
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Nice find, and you got a decent price on it, too. Now you need a fixed gear, too. N+1 ain't done yet. (It never is................)
(It never is................)
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. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
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04-23-10, 06:23 PM
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Nola_Gal sez: What about the quill part that drops into the headset...is it either 1 inch or 1-1/8 inch?
04-23-10, 06:30 PM
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04-23-10, 06:31 PM
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04-23-10, 09:31 PM
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04-23-10, 10:04 PM
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Not safe for work
That looks like a great bike and a great find.
