Romany Touring Bikes - ever heard of them?

[Brian73]

It's a 1990s vintage (hooded brake levers with downtube shifters, triple chainset, canty brakes.

I've been after a tourer for a while, but have never come across these before.

[hexhome]

http://www.bretonbikes.com/romany.htm

This?

[Malaconotus]

Question came up previously here... viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21190

[Brian73]

Cheers

I googled around a bit and got the same results

I think it's going to be one of the old Madison Freewheel bikes.

I'll post some pics when I collect it.

[nosmo king]

I seem to remember a Revell Romany touring bike from the early eighties, probably in the Freewheel mail order catalogue ( in the old days before online shopping!!).

[Brian73]

Deore LX triple Chainset, rear mech, front mech and shifters. Sealed cart BB. Tange Double Butted Touring Frame (Made in Taiwan)

[Brucey]

see http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53136 for more romany details including from a forum member who used to work for freewheel/madison.

Your frame appears to be lugless (is it TIG welded?) which may mean that it is a Nigel Dean produced frame, although some of the other details are similar to some italian-made frames of that vintage. The groupset dates it quite accurately BTW if you know you shimano .

Nice bike. And for £60, a bargain...

cheers

[Brian73]

I rubbed off some of the dirt at the base of the seat tube, it's a Tange - 'Designed in England - Made in Taiwan' a little disappointing as I wanted a GB frame, but still double butted TIG Cr-Mo

[531colin]

Ridgeback is a Madison brand.
The "romany" bit is the model AKA 504
Much more recent than Revell romany or Orbit romany**
Another one herehttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ridgeback-504lx-Vintage-Cycle-Frame-/270800265132
Ridgeback did many decent hybrids over the years, this tourer will be the forerunner of the panorama.

** EDIT Actually contemporary with Orbit Romany, when I think about it

[Brian73]

M550 Deore LX dates 1990-92, so 20 years old.

Funny I was going to buy a new Ridgeback Voyage at Langsett Cycles, but saw this first. The guy who sold it lived about 2 miles from Langsett Cycles.

[reohn2]

I rubbed off some of the dirt at the base of the seat tube, it's a Tange - 'Designed in England - Made in Taiwan' a little disappointing as I wanted a GB frame, but still double butted TIG Cr-Mo

I wouldn't be disappointed if I were you,D/B Tange Cro-MO isn't cheap and nasty,its good stuff and should very durable.
It looks to be on an LX or even XT drivetrain so its pretty high specced.
What are the wheels ie;hubs and rims?

[Brian73]

Groupset is Deore LX, 7 Speed cassette freehub. M550 chainset.

[Brucey]

IMHO the benefits of more 'modern' touring bikes over this spec are very limited indeed; all the major components are proven to be functional, servicable and durable. The only ' stop'n'go ' bits that I'd change are the brakes, but only if I was looking to use the bike with a heavy load on.

Older lugged Revells were mostly quality frames in disguise, but this one is none too shabby either.

cheers

[Brian73]

I'm fairly new to touring. I've been out with my local CTC a few times but only day rides up to 70 miles. I've done 100 miles on my road bike in a day but it only weighs 8.5kg. I've never ridden a loaded bike. I've seen photos of some of the fully loaded tourers, looks a little scary. Watched Mark Beaumont's docus and the Hannibal tour from Spain to Rome, so may give it a try when the bike's sorted.

[531colin]

So if Revell was Madison, and Ridgeback is Madison.........
Is the difference that Madison called it "Ridgeback" when they started sourcing from the Far East, instead of badging UK produced frames?

Staying resoultely off-topic, I always work on the BB with the wheels IN, either removing or fitting, I'm more comfortable applying lots of grunt when the bike is on its tyres.