So haven’t been to our local swap meet in years, decided to go today in the 104 heat to just have a look. And to my surprise I found this little gem in the pile of mostly waste, and Chinese knock off goods.
Completely original, with 12 speed index, which may be the first ever edition of index shifting in the old Shimano 600 group. Cranks, wheels, cables, bars, and even the tape I think is original. Must have been in someones rafters for the past 35 years or so, even the tires look original. Might entertain offers if anyone is interested, but I might just put a new saddle, chain, and some HED jet 6 race wheels on it, and race this baby on a flattish course!!! Would be perfect for the national draft legal champs coming up, doubt that in a nice draft with new wheels that this baby gives up much in the way of speed. Feels pretty light too, I think I have just gotten used to big and wide carbon frames, and these little round tube bikes that were pretty minimal, hold up well on the weight front…
And yet, people still seemed to have completed IM races in these. How in the world was it even possible without carbon, aero bars, electronic shifting, aero tubes, 20-22 gears (2x10 or 11), or clipless pedals?
Cmon. This is fake. No one ever rode this beast and completed the Ironman <16:59:59.
Threaded bottom bracket. Now that was ahead of its time with that sort of common sense thinking 🤔.
I love the look of the frame.
My only concern ? I’d be shit scared about the 1980s aluminium of the bars and seat post age hardening, and being of questionable quality to start with. Nothing like a metal enema or dental remodelling due to a brittle failure to give you something to remember the ride for a loooooong time.
But she’s a beaut.
(Ref the bike not just the Russian lass pictured below it)
That was my first bike when I started Duathlon (but back then is was still biathlon). Warning - it is not very good on fast decents, gets a little squirmy and shaky. Also the bike geometry back then didn’t favor a quick leg recovery on the run right after the bike. Remember always watching everyone get off the bike and starting the run with wobbly and tight legs, just like they got off a horse. Loved that bike though, still have some ball bearings left from the bottom bracket and hub maintenance.
A couple years ago, Leon’s Triathlon was advertising a “retro” class. Steel frame required (magnet check @ bike check-in), bungee smugglers optional. I didn’t go so I don’t know if they had any takers. Never could find a “retro” class in the results, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t hand-score the class and give out an award on site.
I’m currently riding a Centurion Accordo on my short commute. I bought it as my first tri bike in the mid 80s (it was cheaper than the Dave Scott model), raced tris on it for maybe 7 years, then gave it to my Dad to race in Senior Olympics time trials. He quit riding after a crash and I took it back to use as commuter. I keep putting $ into it but I hate to let the frame go, which is still fine for a commute.
I see lots of bikes of that vintage on the large state university campus where I work.
That bike will be nice and fast on a flat course. I have a similar vintage Basso Ascot from 83 or 84 that is gathering dust hanging from the rafters, but every few years when my road bike would go in the shop I would bust it out for group rides and I was always impressed how it performed. Heavy as hell, but considering steel is supposed to be as stiff as jello, it always felt stiff, responsive, and fast to me. Corncob 12-18 cassette and the bike rides smooth and fast so long as the road doesn’t go uphill. Get some cloth tape for the bars.
Thats beautiful! The paintjob looks like a high end collectors item
Is that a shimano 600 groupset? //
Ya, I looked up and found all the original equipment for the Dave Scott bikes, made from 85 to 89. This particular one seems to be an 86, and it included the very first year that Shimano 600 came out with index shifting(SIS). I had a feeling it was around that time I first got indexing, this just confirmed the actual year. Dura Ace had it a little before, but the 600 group was the meat and potatoes of most bikes back then. And the original new purchase price, $525!!! Just looked on Ebay, and there are a few on there between $400 and $800, so a bike that has held value for 35 years!!!
Thats beautiful! The paintjob looks like a high end collectors item
Is that a shimano 600 groupset?
In case you were referring to the Trek, no the groupset is Suntour. The bike was one level below the full race version. Cost about $750 back then!
I’ve been looking for an IM Master for years! One of these days.
Here’s my retro ride, a 1967 Mondia Special. Swiss bike, same frame builder as the original Schwinn Paramont of the time. When I put Flos on my Cervelo, I put the Norvels on the Mondia. Other than the brake levers, wheels and an 8 speed cassette, the old Campy group is still all original. It holds it’s own, and I’d race it in a heartbeat. It gets all my outside training miles.
My only bike is a 1977 Trek. Was within the first year they sold complete bikes. It was a semi-custom deal where you had choices on frame components. I think the local bike shops actually built out the bikes.
Still all original just about everything except the saddle. It spent most of those 40+ years in a wet basement and was under water in floods a few times. It’s really rusty but I’ve been working on it. Replaced the 13-21 freewheel with a 14-28 from the same year. I now weigh twice as much as when I bought it at age 14 and it’s a bit tough going up hills with the lowest gear 42/21.
Have a friend with an auto body shop and he thinks he can match the paint. It’s way too rusty to touch up. I’ll have him paint in this summer and I can get replica decals online.
I’ll get a new nice looking saddle too. The WalMart saddle I put on it maybe 20 years ago feels absolutely perfect, but it looks dorky.
