supersport

I recently moved to northern Italy (Dolomites, Baby!) and just picked up a used touring bike a couple weeks ago. It is a 1994 (most likely) Giant. The model is Squadron. Size is 60cm. Needs some work, but it's rideable. The bars are bent and the front shifter is broken, but otherwise it's in excellent shape. It was essentially free. Next summer we hope to ride the Stelvio and other passes in the area. They are mostly a day trip from Trento, where we are. Here are some photos.


The new Giant touring bike beside the Adige River bike path in south Trento. Adige River in the background.


Larger photo here.
Steel fork, with fittings for low-rider racks. Cantilever brakes and a good set of fenders. Generator powers a front headlight and a tail light. Tail light was smashed when I got the bike. The generator wiring goes to the headlight and through the downtube to the bottom backet.


Larger photo here.
Frame and fork. Evidently this bike was originally sold at Francesco Moser's store in Trento. He is a local boy, has a big store in Gardolo, a town a few kilometers north of Trento. The Trento store is tiny. The top tube says "Touring Line". The smaller blue letters you can't read say "Sportive". It's really a very nice bike. The parts code indicate the components were made in July '93, so my mechanic says it was probably a '94 model. It is in excellent condition for a '94 - no rust and the original tires. Someone bent the handlebar and broke the front shifter and the tail light. But all I had to do to get it running was put a new tube in the rear tire. I'm only using the middle chainring till we can fix the shifter.


Larger photo here.
Bottom bracket and steel triple crank (170mm). The frame is 60cm. Largest frame I've ever had, but it fits great due to my freakishly long legs. The generator, lights, and fenders are an integrated system. You an see here where the wiring for the tail light comes out from under the bottom bracket and hooks to the fender. The rear fender has two conductive strips embedded in it that go back to the tail light, so there is no wiring needed. And a kickstand.


Larger photo here.
Rear rack is steel. You can see the wiring going from the fender to the tail light.


Larger photo here.
Giant Cr-Mo 4130. Not the very best, but respectable. Paint is black with a tiny bit of metal flake.

It has a Suntour drivetrain. Not good. Hate the grip shifters. I'd like to get good Shimano shifters and rear deraileur. Also, longer cranks. I like 175's. I'd like to replace the bent bar with flat bars and bar ends which have worked for me in the past. Furthest I've ridden it is a couple 40-milers, so I'll have to get a better seat soon.

That's it!

xilios

Nice bike, enjoy setting it up for touring.

kipibenkipod

Hi,
Very nice.
Please update us on your changes in this thread.

Thanks,
Kfir

supersport

Finally getting some time to sort the bike out and ride. Basically, all it needed to get on the road was a rear tube. The bike had bent bars and a broken front shifter when I got it. So, we set the front derailleur on the middle ring, lived with the bent bars and called it good for a few months. A while ago we had a friend who was coming over from the states bring an inexpensive flat bar, some clipless pedals and shoes from the States. We picked up all the other components from the local home improvement-type store, a front shifter for about 8 bucks (or Ay-you-rows, as they call them here). Some alloy bar ends from the same place for about €5. Ignore the bike with the basket. It's the grocery-getter.



Here's the pedals, and a couple bottle cages for €3.20 each.



Replaced the busted tail-light for €1.80.



Kept the seat, which is turning out to work okay. Added some €15.50 saddlebags.



I think I'm ready to go! Here's a shot of the Adige River cycle path about 6km north of where I am.



You can find larger versions of these photos and some other photos here.

kipibenkipod

thanks for the photos and the update.

Kfir

Black Shuck

Nice looking bike, I think the front fork is bend backwards a little though.

mwoeber

Thanks for the post/update. How has that light system been working for you?

jonsam

What a beautiful place to ride. I'm jealous.

Buglady

This isn't helping my urge to run away from home AT ALL I was in Northern Italy about 11 years ago and I wish I'd spent more time there (and rented a bike!).

cyclezealot

Nice bike.. Great tour.. Do you do much night riding.?.. Does the generator lighting system provide you wth sufficient lighting for all night conditions.?