I date it as late '80s to early '90s. It would have been quite a nice bike in its time.
The brief details:
62cm C-C seat tube
57cm top tube
Lugged double-butted CrMo; maybe Japanese, maybe Taiwanese.
Appears to have a full Shimano Exage 500EX groupset. Not sure about the hubs, headset, BB etc, but the derailers, crankset, brakes and levers are all 500.
I usually fit a ~55cm frame, but I find this one very comfortable to ride as long as I don't try to stand over the top tube
. Yeah, it's big. Not what would be considered "triathlon" geometry these days.
The remarkable thing about this bike is the condition of it. It appears to have been ridden a handful of times when new, then laid up in a shed for 20 years. Time has taken its toll, but overall condition is stunning.
It was grimy when I picked it up. I gave the frame a good wipe down with citrus degreaser and started to realise how good a state it was in. So I stopped, to let somebody do a proper resto job if they choose.
The tyres and tubes were perished (but still near new for wear), so I put a pair of basic Michelins on it. I rode about 20km on it, and it certainly is a sweet ride.
The photos...
Non-drive side:
Lugs:
Rear derailer - yes, dropouts are horizontal if you want to build a retro fixie:
Brake - see how worn the original pads are? A few spots of surface rust through the paint:
Pedals - Shimano. Old-school cleats and straps. Plastic toe clips aren't brittle:
Decals are in generally good shape; Most of the bolts and other un-painted parts have surface rust:
Rims: Alesa double-wall. Black anodised sidewalls have barely been touched by a brake pad:
Fork end: I've had the wheel in and out a couple of times - the intact paint suggests I may have been the first!
Looking to sell the whole bike, hoping for $350. Will consider breaking it up if there's interest in parts. I'm in Ballarat.
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