Cycling UK Forum

busaste wrote:

StellaLdn. wrote:I can't believe I just wrote that. Oh dear. I'm a lost soul.

Sit down next to me!

Quite an interesting collections of like minded people that I'm proud to be part of

My eyes popped when I see what's listed at "flea bay" uk

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BICYCLE-Men-s ... 3cdbae42bd
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/viscount-areo ... 1c3bd8f8f7

I hope someone gets a good deal on one of these

Here's something to enjoy….the opening monologue in the Viscount (Yamaha) owners manual, Gran Touring brochure and my original bill of sale for my blue Gran Touring model.







Sorry I couldn't get any better resolution on the text
Steve…get that back in gear for June

My yellow Gran Touring has got the original issue Suntour VT-Lux, and a V-Lux front. They still look like new as the bike apparently had a pretty leisurely life in Boulder, Colorado. It still has the Univ. of Colorado bike sticker on it.

My first blue Gran Touring's VT-Lux just broke apart somewhere around the 20,000 mile mark. I replaced it (probably back in the mid 80's) with a Huret Doupar which still shifts magnificently. Just by feel alone, I say it's the equal if not smoother than any other rear shifter I own and that includes the fancy new Ultegra 6700's.

The blue Gran Touring is now with me for 37 1/2 years, possibly the longest continuous ownership in the group??? Bought it back in the summer of '76. I know there have been a lot of additions lately but anyone out there have a long term ownership Viscount story to tell

I REALLY need a 50 degree F day to get out and off the wind trainer. Wind chills and temp just too cold in NY. Jem, your pic of yours and the Mrs bikes outside looked divine.

13-17 freewheel…I'd have to agree with you Steve, not for my "spinner", chicken legs either.

There are some secret Viscount hunters out here. A free as in "just pick-me-up and take me home" original Viscount Gran Touring in the nice light blue color showed up on Craig's List about 2 1/2 hours away. It was gone less than 1/2 day after it was posted. Bummer I hope it went to someone who knows a good aerospace frame when they see one.

Stella,it was a very scary accident where with no warning, my seat post snapped off at the seat tube. It was an alloy seat post on a 10 year old bike so I can't blame carbon fiber. I only remember hearing a "snap" noise and then woke up with police and ambulance present in the roadway. I was out cold probably for a while since it had to take some time for help to arrive. My helmet (not my head), was fractured and I ended up with a concussion and many of the post concussion syndrome maladies. This was back in 2009 and this is (knock on wood), the first year since that I've been comfortable (emotionally) riding again. Hence the need to lovingly scold you about not wearing a helmet

Lewisg, congragulations on the newborn are in order! Enjoy it because they grow up sooo fast

Hey Stella, it was only 28 miles today and the temperature was 50 DEGREES!
I will need the long rides come next summer. Just signed up for Ironman 70.3 Princeton on Sept 21st. Pysched
Think about the helmet for those bad hair days at least

Just finished the last outdoor ride of the year on my Pro. It was a nice 50 degree day here on Long Island. I'm a compulsive mileage logger and I actually put more miles on the Pro since heavy riding began in June than either of my "modern" bikes!

Stella, the rebuild looks great!………but where's your helmet????? I don't want to sound preachy, but I can tell you that wearing a helmet saved my life, and as we know s@#$%^&t happens. Be safe

Lewisg, very cool find at a real bargain price! A nice, unique present for the holiday. Enjoy

Just glanced at the CTC forum topic page for fun and was totally blown away on our Viscount Bicycles!! topic. The numbers dwarf everything else out there; 139 page, over 170,000 views and 2000+ responses. SIMPLY AMAZING A treasure of information and inspiration

Stella, check this out; http://www.secondlifebikes.org

I could see you doing something along these lines. Good luck

Lewisg wrote:Having tried to spot Viscounts in anything I've been watching for some time no the only definite thing I've seen is in my first ever viewing of "Breaking Away".

It's only a poster so far (still watching) but it seems there couldn't be a better movie for a Viscount spot!

Does anyone know of any others? The next closest I've come are possible (but unlikely) twin Pros in Friday 13th Part V!

Glad you like Breaking Away….my favorite. I never noticed the poster when I last watched it about 35 years ago. At what point does the poster appear? I'd like to take another look at it.

You tire looks like extra crispy toast. It appears to be dry rotted/cracking , all around. Time for new tires

Another BIG THANKS for the purchaser of a genuine Viscount shirt. I hope you enjoy it!
The Mojave GP made its inaugural ride today. It rode like a new bike and I'll do my best to keep it that way. It's "historical" significance has been pointed out to my by Busaste and I want it to stay special.

Thanks everyone for your good thoughts You all deserve to be updated since you are in a strong way all part of this adventure
I've started the preparation towards road worthiness. The only real work I see being needed is the drivetrain and shifters except for the beautiful crankset which is just as good as it looks in the pics (thanks again Jem). I started with removing and degunking the chain (easy) which carried half of the mojave desert back to NY. Next part gets interesting. Much to my dismay, the 70's Shimano freewheel needs a 70's removal tool (which I don't have and can't buy). To my bigger dismay, the freewheel has the other half of the mojave desert inside the body and is frozen (as in no movement). When things get tough, the meek get over to their LBS. Are you ready for challenges Stella??? I digress. Lucky for me, they've got the tool and the freewheel is off. After some fiddling, tapping and oiling, the freewheel was breathing and spinning We pulled th axle out to check the sealed bearing and remarkably they were clean as a whistle and needed no first aid. They looked at the MelRemo rim and verified that they had never seen a brake pad contact them and this bike does in fact have zero miles The shine on the Viscount high flange hub is just as brilliant as the cranksets. Sunday success: rear wheel, freewheel and chain are good to go

Based on what I feel spinning the front wheel, crank and headset, they are clear of the mojave sand and won't need attention. Next up will be the derailleurs and shifters. I guess I really didn't want (or get) a "turnkey" bicycle after all. Stay tuned

For those of you who remember the "new" Aerospace GP (mojave special) on Ebay that was discussed a couple of months ago, I am pleased to report that I was able to acquire it and took delivery last night. It's not everyday that you can find an unused 35+ year old bike in that condition and in my size no less . I must give credit to Jem for getting me in contact with the owner and getting the ball rolling. It is crazy cool to see a mirror-like finish on a new fork, stem and crankset. There were a few more scratches on the seat stays than what was described but for sitting in storage all those years, I am quite happy with the condition. I'd agree with the owner who described it as 9.5 out of 10. Sooper 8 posted the owners pics on the viscount and lambert board and they are much better than I could do. My winter project will be just changing out the bar tape and seeing if I can clean up the chain and freewheel which look to be loaded with dust/debris/corrosion and getting everything shifting and running smooth. New cables and new white cable covers would also look good. I wonder how the bearing grease is doing? It has the Viscount high flange hubs which feel super smooth with MilRemo 27" rims. Always hated the rock hard plastic saddle so that will go into storage and for comfort and ride ability, I'll probably go with my 44cm shallow drop bars. I do want (and need) to dial in the fit to match my other road bikes so as to really enjoy it. This is probably as close as I'll ever get to buying a new Viscount other than a restoration done by Busaste so I must say I am quite happy