A Bargain?

Post by **Mick F** » 6 Sep 2007, 8:32pm

I picked up a bike today.

A chap I met in passing today admired my Mercian. After a chat, he said that he used to ride a wonderful bike, but it's been in his garage for some years, and he's desperate for someone to buy it that will appreciate it. He bought it from Colin Lewis (Torbay) 25 years ago.

Spec, from what I've checked out so far:
Vitus 979 Durlalinox tubing - perfect and clean with "Campagnolo" written on the downtube. 22 inch BB to top tube. Campag Record components throughout. Campag Super record rear deraileur. Smooth running LF hubs, but rather rusty spokes, laced onto Mavic SSC sprints. The tubs are well rotten, but the wheels are true.

It has a double Campag Record C/S and a 7sp Mailard FW, but with with Simplex down tube levers (Why Simpex?) Not checked out the BB yet. Cinelli bars and 1R stem, but the brake hoods are perished. A Brooks Colt saddle in brown, on a Campag seatpin with a Campag clamp-bolt.

£50.

A bargain?

Tom Richardson · Post by **Tom Richardson** » 6 Sep 2007, 9:09pm

it looks good - proper top notch 1970's stuff with all the works (we used to drool over those large flange campag hubs, campag record track pedals, chainset etc). I'd hang it on the wall if it were mine - like a work of art

diapason · Post by **diapason** » 6 Sep 2007, 9:12pm

A gorgeous bike, and what a bargain. I hope you're going to ride her - she deserves to be used!

N

Colin Stanley · Post by **Colin Stanley** » 6 Sep 2007, 10:25pm

Mike F,
The world can be so unfair..............
What a fantastic bike. Nothing like riding tubs in my opinion. I am forced to ride Vittoria clinchers at the mo, but I remember my Pirelli tubs, mostly from the noise they made, which was absolutely wonderful.

reohn2 · Post by **reohn2** » 7 Sep 2007, 8:17am

Its got to be a bargain at that price Mick,a Brooks Colt went for nearly £30 last week on ebay.

pigman · Post by **pigman** » 7 Sep 2007, 8:49am

mick
simplex levers were used by most racers in the 80's because they were far better than any others. With others, you needed to tighten up the fixing nut so that they didn't inadvertently slip into a higher gear (caused by the gear mech's tension). However, this meant that changing to a higher cog was hard on the hands, esp towards the end of a long ride when you were knackered. The simplex levers had a spring mech contained within - indeed you may be able to see a bit of the spring' "hook" stick out. This design meant the lever was effortless to pull back, but had resistance when pushing forward. The downside was that the springs regularly broke suddenly, leaving the lever with no resistance at all - a real pain if you were out somewhere. I may have a stock of spare springs somewhere - do you want me to look.

Incidentally, if the campag stuff on the bike is in good nick, its now worth quite a bit of money to collectors, so don't ride it through the grime of winter.

Finally, has the purchase of this bike now solved your problem of riding another decent bike whist the mercian is being resprayed?

PW · Post by PW » 7 Sep 2007, 12:03pm

IIRC one Sean Kelly rode a 979 Vitus in his pomp.

Post by Si » 7 Sep 2007, 12:45pm

Very nice Mick, but you appear to have acquired so many bikes that you are now storing them in your sauna!

PW · Post by PW » 7 Sep 2007, 12:47pm

hubgearfreak · Post by **hubgearfreak** » 7 Sep 2007, 2:23pm

jammy devil

Post by **Mick F** » 8 Sep 2007, 7:03am

Yes, I feel a bit Jammy!

Thanks for the info about Simplex levers, Pigman. I've had a play, and they feel exactly like you say. Good quality too! My Campag Victory levers I had before Ergo were always a devil to get right. The screw would slowly loosen if you didn't have it tight enough, then it was too hard to shift!

Yes, it might have solved my problem about having a decent bike whilst Mercian do the business to my Vincitore, but the Vitus is a inch or two too small. I intend a strip down and inspect this weekend, then a re-build with my wheels (I've had a quick rough measure, and the rear looks like 130mm) then go out for a spin to see if I can get on with it.

I'm also aware that the Super Record rear is quite valuable, I think the frame is too ......

Not sure about a s/h Brooks Colt though.

As I clean stuff up, I'll photograph the bits, and you experts out there can identify the model and vintage, and value(?).

Thanks,

Post by **Mick F** » 8 Sep 2007, 11:06am

Hello again,

I've been fettling and tinkering and cleaning.

The brakes are not so nice. My old Campag Victory ones would be better:

The Mavic Sprints are ok, but as the tubs are rotten and perished, it's easier to temporarily fit my wheels and tyres. My nice wheels will fit, the frame rear is actually 126mm(?) but is very springy so 130mm is no problem.

My plan is to fit it all back together using my wheels and cassette, my old Campag Victory brakes, and cross my fingers it fits me! I may have problems with the seat-pin height, it's 25mm dia and not very long. Also, I can't get the old pedals off yet, I want to fit my Campag ProFits so my shoes will fit!

Not only can't I get the pedals off, I can't remove the cranks. I need a 16mm socket, though my crank extractor should fit ok. If I can get the cranks off, I can shift the pedals using my trusty vice .....

Off out soon, and won't come back till I've got a socket for the cranks.

Should be out for a test ride soon!

Post by Si » 8 Sep 2007, 11:27am

That chrome work ont he forks looks really good for it's age....infact better than my Fred Williams that's only around 15yrs old!

AlbionLass · Post by **AlbionLass** » 8 Sep 2007, 6:35pm

I'll give you £60 for it Mick, you'll have turned a tidy little profit!

j/k :wink:

Post by **Mick F** » 8 Sep 2007, 8:22pm

Not chrome - alu. And it's not for sale - - yet.
I didn't need a 16mm socket, I needed a 15mm socket!

Anyway, as I bought the wrong socket, I swore, and forced on a 19/16 socket instead - and it worked! Cranks off, and pedals too. Then frame polished and ready for rebuild. But I'll spend another 75p for a 15mm socket for the refit of the cranks. (I'm so old, I have an Imperial Socket Set!)