"VINTAGE LIFE CYCLES"
CANADIAN & VINTAGE LIGHTWEIGHT BICYCLE
THE ON-GOING 2003 COLLECTION
e-mail  [email protected]
HOME          THE BICYCLES         FIX IT UP          ARTICLES          LINKS
Finding vintage lightweight bicycles, the ten speeds of the sixties, seventies and early eighties, is surprisingly easy to do.  Once found, they can often be had for a song and if you can't sing - for nothing at all.  Many of the bicycles on this page came directly from the Local Landfill Site, better known as "The Dump".  Each of these bicycles have been ridden, some requiring little more that inflating the tires with air.  Information pertaining to "How to Find" and "What to Look For" articles are at your disposal.
PEUGEOTS ARE PLENTIFUL IN CANADA
MADE IN CANADA
The Canadian Made Peugeot UO6 was the bottom line model for its time.  Even though it lacked some of the frills associated with its greater siblings, the bike is still rock steady to ride.  This bicycle was purchased from a local bike shop that was closing its doors for the last time.  The bike was rebuilt and traded for an Italian made Torpado "Luxe".
1981 PEUGEOT
UO9 SPORT
1984 PEUGEOT
UO9 SUPER SPORT
Both of these Peugeots are UO9 models.  They differ vastly in component grouping, as well as frame design. In addition to the components offered by the 1981 Peugeot UO9, the 1984 model also includes alloy wheels, quick release hubs, a unique brake adjusting system and a Maillard Helicromatic rear hub.  Unfortunately, the pantographing common on all earlier Canadian Peugeots had disappeared by 1984
Without a doubt, the orange 1980 Peugeot Sprint, once again Made in Canada, is the fastest bicycle in the collection to date.  Light and responsive, it required air in the tires to make its unused bones go. Forty five minutes effort lead to a twelve mile ride and the bike has been going strong since.
Imported from France, this early "Bike Boom" Peugeot UO8 has been fully refurbished.  The bike is very nice to ride, however; the transmission is not "State of the Art" and "AGDA" leather saddle is for tough tails.
MADE IN FRANCE
Absolutely complete and certainly unique in the collection this purple Peugeot factory issued touring Peugeot comes complete with factory braze-ons for fender and luggage rack mounting.  The original head/tail lights add that antiquated appearance complimented by the original Simplex chain guard.
The Peugeot PS28 is the highest end Peugeot in the collection.  It was found at the dump in "needs work" condition.  Though it took about two months of unfocused searching, all the components required to get the bike up and running were located.  An afternoon of assembly and tuning produced a "Rat Bike" that rides like a racer and goes like stink.
SEKINE
MADE IN CANADA MADE IN CANADA
This 1976 Sekine SHT was the first really nice bike found at the landfill site.  Campagnolo Nouvo Record fitted, this bike is a pleasure to ride, even though its steering is very fast, almost to the twitchy point.  Tires, thorn resistant inner tubes, handlebar tape and a couple of new control cables, coupled with a complete inspection were all that was required to get the bike up and runing.
As found, the Sekine R200 pictured required nothing to put the bicycle on the road.  Even the tires were in good shape.  From the bicycle's condition, it was obvious that the bike had seen little or no use.  The bike, having a small frame, was given to my wife who has expressed interest in giving riding a try.  She would be hard pressed to find a better vintage mount for a first road bike.
Sekine offered several models to choose from.  The "Medialle" SHC was a middle of the line machine.  The bike has a large frame and rides smoothly.  The large framed bicycle, in the picture, was built up and given to a fellow worker, in appreciation for his responding to a bulleting board add asking for old bicycles.  His response was this CCM Redbird, which is not an unusual part of the collection.
RALEIGH
MADE IN CANADA
Even the British decided to open a bicycle manufacturing facility in Canada.  The Raleigh "Grand Prix" is a nice bicycle and rides very well.  As was the case with so many other bicycles, this Canadian Made Raleigh required only tires, inner tubes, bar tape and control cables to make it road worthy.
Another acqusition from bulleting board advertising, this 1974 Raleigh "Superbe", with three speed internally geared rear hub and dynomometer front, was a nice bike to get hold of.  The bicycle is in almost perfect, absolutely complete, and original condition.  No effort has been made to ride the bicycle as yet, however; judging from its appearance, very little will be required to make it safe and reliable for the road.
MIELE
MADE IN CANADA
The "yard sale" found Miele turned out to be a Canadian Made bicycle.  The person selling the bike offered it up for a test ride before the sale was completed.  A quick going over, once the bike was at home, lead to one of the nicest first rides experienced since starting the collection.  Probably the best Canadian Made bicycle in the collection.
ACROSS THE POND BICYCLES
The late sixties or early seventies Holdsworth is one of the nicest and most unusual bicycle found at the dump.  Campy "Valentino" fittings handle the gear shifting chores.  A full restoration is being considered for this bicycle during the up-coming (long) Canadian winter.  If the project goes forward, the process will be shared with you on these pages.
MADE IN ENGLAND
Without a doubt, the Dawes "Galaxy" is the best preserved vintage machine in the collection.  The bicycle, "as found", was almost flawless.  Though there are some things that are difficult to understand when inspecting the bicycle, its condition can only be described as "great".
Raleighs originated in England and this early seventies Raleigh "Record" is a perfect example of the marque.  Not a high end bicycle, the extremely well preserved "Record" is, none-the-less, well made and offeres a ride comparable to the French made Peugeot UO8.
Not quite, but almost a complete mystery bicycle.  If it were not for the Raleigh headbadge, it would be impossible to tell what the bicycle is.  There is no indication on the frame identifying where the bicycle was made.  Viewing the drop-outs suggests that the frame is high end, most likely one of the Raleigh chrome-moly derivitives.  The bicycle was purchased in the United States.
TWO NICE VINTAGE TORPADOS
Early Italian "Torpado" in as found condition.  It is a collection favorite and will not be altered in any way from its original condition.  Three other Torpados of similar vintage have found their way into the collection.  One with a bent frame and one that's not much to look at, even though it has some nice components.
MADE IN ITALY
A second Torpado keeper, this one is the "Luxe" model.  It was in good cosmetic condition "as found" but some of the components had been removed.  The front derailleur went missing to make room for a chain guard.  A ten speed suddenly became a five speed which didn't really matter because the former owner never shifted the bicycle to begin with.
Very similar to the Torpados, the Chiorda mark has reached Canadian shores during the bike boom days of the early seventies.  Both Chiordas have fancy chromed lugs with window cut-outs.  Both sport Campagnolo transmissions and Bailla brake components.
CHIORDA
The yellow bicycle pictured to the left has no identifying decals what-so-ever.  The bicycle's origin is a mystery, however; it is very similar to this green Chiorda.  There are a number of differences, though.  The mystery bike is higher end with alloy rims and a very unusual independent style seat post clamp.
MOTOBECANE
MADE IN FRANCE
It took less than two minutes of riding to develop a true dislike for this Motobecane "Mirage".  Look at the Dunhill Ellipitical crank ring.  The bicycle, however, is in very good condition lacking many of the cosmetic challanges common to aging machines.
Again, from France comes this seventies Gitane, a famous and long lived French marque.  The bicycle is in very good condition with one single exception - a broken front derailleur.  Simplex plastic strikes again!
HOME          THE BICYCLES         FIX IT UP          ARTICLES          LINKS
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1