Graecross 'Constellation'

[kukamunga]

Picked up a Graecross 'Constellation' touring bike last week. Haven't had time to clean it up or have a good look at it yet. At first glances, frame is Japanese and looks rather nice - deep burgundy color, 26.5 or 26.6 seatpost, Suntour rear fork dropouts, nice lugwork. Symbol on top of seatstays looks like 'four rings' or 'two rings on an oval' ( 'o8o' or 'o0o' overlapped, sort of )

Bike used to belong to an old Eastern Bicycle Touring Club member friend of 'il padrone's. I'll endeavour to clean it up and post pics soon, but any info on this frame/ model would be appreciated.

Cheers

[WyvernRH]

Interesting, every Gracecross I have seen has been a boat anchor with wheels but this sounds much more high class. Can anyone enlighten me on the history of the Gracecross marque?

Cheers

Richard

[fattima]

I just picked up one of these the other day as well. In average condition, plan to do it up as a bit of a fun project.

[kukamunga]

It appears I have two 'Constellations' in my collection; one is a heavyweight steel while the other feels like a lighter quality CrMo frame with no bidon cage bosses. Both are a burgundy color. Will investigate more....

[cludence]

I have found some info on this model in a magazine I have here. Unfortunately my scanner is being a pain so I will try to upload them tomorrow for you.

Karen.

[kukamunga]

Looking forward to it, Karen!

[cludence]

I can email it to you in the interim if it is bugging you. -Dont ask me, it wont let me upload to net at moment.

Karen.

[fattima]

Hi Karen,
Be great if you could post the article up when you get a chance.

[fattima]

It appears I have two 'Constellations' in my collection; one is a heavyweight steel while the other feels like a lighter quality CrMo frame with no bidon cage bosses. Both are a burgundy color. Will investigate more....

The one I have is fairly light as well with no bidon cage boss, it is metallic blue.

[kukamunga]

Most of my bikes are stored elsewhere. Could be a while before I get round to checking them out again.....

[cludence]

Dont kill me if these are too large!

[kukamunga]

Thanks Karen. Might visit and pick up my Constellations today. Did I mention that the lighter weight one had a Suntour 'Mountech' rear derailleur with three jockey wheels on it?! I vaguely remember reading something about these derailleurs, possibly in 'The Dancing Chain'?

[il padrone]

Ahah! A Freewheeling test review - I have the full set of Freewheeling downstairs so can hunt out the original article for you kukamunga.

$292 for a good touring bike Those were the days.

[cludence]

How many issues were there in total with the freewheeling mags? I was given a number of them yesterday but it is not a complete set so trying to work out how many issues short I am.

Karen.

[il padrone]

How many issues were there in total with the freewheeling mags?

55 issues, from 1977 (when it began as a quarterly) until Nov-Dec 1989, when it was combined with Cycling World for a few more years.

Recently there has been another Freewheeling magazine published, but no connection to Warren Salomon's mag.

[fattima]

Thank you so much Karen, really good of you to do this

BTW do you know what year the review is from?

[il padrone]

Bingo!! Freewheeling number 23, Jan-Feb 1984. A good year

[kukamunga]

Bingo!! Freewheeling number 23, Jan-Feb 1984. A good year

You've been waiting all these years to find a use for all those old magazines, hey Pete? (PS: Didn't pick up the bike/s today)

[Old Hutcho]

Kukumanga.

I bought one of these when I lived in Sydney in the mid 80's. My sons and I were riding all the organised fun rides in those days and it was "my" bike. Green with a silver or gold trim.

I rode it for years, stored it, rebuilt it with some flat bars and sold it to a work mate of mine who is still using it to beat down to the beach and back every day.

Mine wasnt a lightweight by any means but it was a very very reliable good quality steel framed bike. I read now that it is classed as a tourer? Maybe thats why it rode so soft.

The closest thing I have ridden to it is my current steel Shogun Alpine GT touring bike from 1986. It has very similar riding characteristics to the Graecross. Its just a beautiful ride.

[kukamunga]

I still haven't got around to getting the Constellations out of 'storage' yet

Funny you should mention your Shogun Alpine GT, Old Hutcho. I picked one up recently: grey, double butted chromoly, 27" wheels, 3 x 6 speed, bar-con/bar end shifters, canti brakes.... Probably from the mid-late 80's, and very nice. Does it sound similar to yours, Hutch? Unfortunately, mine is a bit large for me, and I may pass it on one day in the not too distant future (minus a few choice parts)

[Old Hutcho]

Kukamanga

Yes mate it does sound like yours. Mine is a peacock blue, original colour. I had never heard of them until one day I was going to Melburg for a VW show and this one bobbed up on Craiglist in Cranbourne. Funnily enough the same week on e bay there was a similar one, also in Cranbourne but that one was burgundy.

I am not entirely sure what the original equipment set up was but I believe I have the original cantilever brakes, I have banged on a set of 7 sp STI levers, (yes I know, how could I) and I have retained the original 3 x 7 crank/cog set up.

I think mine was from the mid 80's cause the dude I bought if off told me he picked it up in a pawn shop in super mickey mouse condition in 1990 for a grand! So I reckon it was a fairly good quality bike in its day. All I know is I got 6 bikes and its the one I like to ride the best. Its heavier than my road racer, better geared than my new hybrid, rides softer than everything but my new/old Miyata 414. Its the right frame with the right gear on it and I commute on it every day. I'm in love with it.

I wish I knew what frame material it is. All I know is the frame and the forks both have a sticker saying "CroMo".

regards

Old Hutcho

ps: If you want to send me your e mail address I can send a foto or two.

[kukamunga]

Shogun were still putting out an 'Alpine GT' touring model up to about ten (?) years ago. The closest thing these days would be your Fuji 'Touring', Vivente 'Randonneur' or Surly 'Long Haul Trucker' - all CroMoly frames and forks

[Old Hutcho]

Kukamanga

This is getting spooky. I actually almost bought a Fuji, had a real close look at a Vivente. The dude from the LBS was comparing my bike to a Surly. Although I havent actually seen a Surly the lbs guy was quite flattering in his assessment of the Shogun in comparo with it.

I dont spose youve got a Miyata 414 tucked away in your shed by chance? or a Gemini Club Sport? or a Apollo Jaguar? Na! The chances of that are pretty long. Arent they???


regards

Old Hutcho

[LuckyPierre]

I don't have a GT Sport, just Tojo

He's a Katana with 9-speed Ultegra, though he's still got his RSX gear on in this photo.

[kukamunga]

I dont spose youve got a Miyata 414 tucked away in your shed by chance?

No, but I did strip down and chuck out two '110's not long ago.....