Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

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Date: 16 May 2007 18:30:31
From: Sir Ridesalot
Subject: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

Hi there.

The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet. I
hope this one appears quickly as time is short.

I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.

Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?

Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird French
dimension?

Thank you all very much.

Peter

Date: 21 May 2007 19:13:54
From: Dave H.
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

"Sir Ridesalot" <i_am_cycle_pathic@yahoo.ca > wrote in message
news:1179365431.186127.243480@u30g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Hi there.
>
> The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet. I
> hope this one appears quickly as time is short.
>
> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
> fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.
>
> Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?
>
> Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird French
> dimension?
>
> Thank you all very much.
>
> Peter
>

Put thousands of non-racing miles on a 1985 Vitus 58c Carbon 3 frame since
1993, mostly while weighing 180 to 190 lbs. The Vitus is light enough (<20
lb), comfortable, and still a favorite ride up against bikes as much as 20
years newer.

Frame flex resulted in ghost shifting, which used to be a problem,
especially cranking hard on a hill. Cleaning and greasing the bottom bracket
cable guide, and a new cable, fixed that problem.

I'm going to take it out for a ride today.

Dave H.
======

Date: 17 May 2007 16:03:31
From: dustoyevsky@mac.com
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

On May 16, 8:30 pm, Sir Ridesalot <i_am_cycle_pat...@yahoo.ca > wrote:

> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
> fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.
>
> Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?

Humble opinion? A great wall display, "Where We Were a Good Long Time
Ago".

Those didn't crash well. Twice-bent Alu tends to crack.

Later, Alu frames matured and took over the world. For awhile.

(cont. H-O): Pass, except as wall hanging. --D-y

Date: 17 May 2007 14:42:10
From:
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

On May 17, 7:19 am, Ozark Bicycle
<bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com > wrote:
> On May 16, 8:30 pm, Sir Ridesalot <i_am_cycle_pat...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
> > Hi there.
>
> > The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet. I
> > hope this one appears quickly as time is short.
>
> > I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> > excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
> > fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.
>
> Other than an historical aspect, there is very little to recommend
> these frames, IMO; they are not particularly light, particularly
> durable nor particularly attractive. In it's time, it's claim to fame
> was it's lightweight, but it is not light by modern standards.

You mean the modern standard of a $2000 CF frame? Other than that,
they're still pretty light and they're more comfortable than a
contemporary aluminum frame, or even a 20 year old Cannondale. My bike
is about 18lbs, but I do use lightwieght parts on it such as
lightweight tubulars and old school rims. Most of the other parts are
also on the lighter side.

> Also, at 180lbs, you are at the upper limit as a rider for these
> frames. Failures can be 'spectacular'.

Are you saying that at 180 the OP is likely to push the bike towards
its upper limit, with the probability of a "spectacular" failure? Is
the probability of spectacular failure higher than that of a CF frame
with a few years on it? My gut feeling is that the probability of a
spectacular failure is lower than a CF frame or fork; debonding of the
tubes is the most likely failure, which is probably not catastrophic.

Nevertheless, there are some legitimate questions about this bike such
as high speed handling. I haven't noticed a problem but I don't push
it down mountain switchbacks. I would definitely recommend the bike to
someone my size or smaller looking for an inexpensive way to build a
light, comfortable roadbike. For 180 lbs, I don't know- not for
racing, but it could be a good way to build a bike that is very
comfortable to ride for a fraction of the cost of titanium or CF. I
don't think classic steel frames in the same price range would match
the Vitus for comfort. It's definitely more comfortable than my 70s
Colnago or PX10.

Date: 17 May 2007 21:04:14
From: A Muzi
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

>>Sir Ridesalot <i_am_cycle_pat...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
>>> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
>>> fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.

> Ozark Bicycle<bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote:
>> Other than an historical aspect, there is very little to recommend
>> these frames, IMO; they are not particularly light, particularly
>> durable nor particularly attractive. In it's time, it's claim to fame
>> was it's lightweight, but it is not light by modern standards.

SocSecTrainWreck@earthlink.net wrote:
> You mean the modern standard of a $2000 CF frame? Other than that,
> they're still pretty light and they're more comfortable than a
> contemporary aluminum frame, or even a 20 year old Cannondale.
-snip-

Ozark's right.
Vitus 979 frame weighs the same as a current Gunnar Road frame, $725
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Date: 17 May 2007 14:24:38
From:
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

On May 16, 9:05 pm, Matt O'Toole <mattoto...@letterboxes.org > wrote:
> On Thu, 17 May 2007 12:11:10 +1000, John M wrote:
> > Sir Ridesalot Wrote:
> >> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> >> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of fondness.
> >> It includes the bottom bracket and headset.
> >> Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?
> >> Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird French
> >> dimension?
> >> Peter80's vitus will probably hold up fine for a 180lb cyclist, but
> >> will not
> > be very "stiff". Perhaps that is part of the appeal of the comfy ride. I
> > also think that the aluminum fork is a bit flexy. The 979 frames
> > generally take standard English threaded headset and BB with 1" quill
> > stem and 25.0mm seatpost. I have a well-used one from 1987.
>
> I had one for awhile too. They're definitely one of the flexier frames
> around, especially in the larger sizes. At 6', 170-180# on a 60cm frame,
> I had ghost shifts while climbing hard or sprinting, and I found the bike
> terrifying on mountain descents. After diving into a corner, I could
> never be sure where I'd come out.
>
> I've read that Sean Kelly felt the same way -- that the light
> weight was great for the climbs, but the descents were terrifying.

I bought one last year after reading about them here. It was a very
comfortable ride for city commuting. It was also terrifying due to
the constant ghost shifts. I could not stand up and start sprinting
without ending on on my nuts on the stem a few seconds later feeling
very lucky to have stayed upright. It was a deathtrap in SF traffic.
One day when this happened after I had had it for a few months I
though shit, I must be crazy to keep giving this thing a chance, I
know I'm going down one of these times. Sold it a few days later and
did tell the buyer about the problem.

Mountain descents were no worse than on my bridgestone RB-2, which is
terrifying.

-dl

Date: 17 May 2007 13:59:23
From: Sir Ridesalot
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

On May 17, 4:06 pm, Sir Ridesalot <i_am_cycle_pat...@yahoo.ca > wrote:
> On May 16, 9:30 pm, Sir Ridesalot <i_am_cycle_pat...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi there.
>
> > The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet. I
> > hope this one appears quickly as time is short.
>
> > I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> > excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
> > fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.
>
> > Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?
>
> > Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird French
> > dimension?
>
> > Thank you all very much.
>
> > Peter
>
> Hi there.
>
> I just uploaded 8 pics of this frame here:
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/
>
> I also just noticed that it was on Ebay in January of this year.
>
> After looking at the pics do you think I should pass on this fame? BTW
> the price with the Campy headset and Campy bottom bracket is $150
> Canadian.
>
> Thanks again from Peter- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Hi all.

An addendum. My ride to look at and/or pick up the frame has had an
emergency pop up. Therefore I will not be able to get this frame.

Thank you all for your advice.

Cheers from Peter

Date: 17 May 2007 13:06:02
From: Sir Ridesalot
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

On May 16, 9:30 pm, Sir Ridesalot <i_am_cycle_pat...@yahoo.ca > wrote:
> Hi there.
>
> The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet. I
> hope this one appears quickly as time is short.
>
> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
> fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.
>
> Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?
>
> Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird French
> dimension?
>
> Thank you all very much.
>
> Peter

Hi there.

I just uploaded 8 pics of this frame here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/

I also just noticed that it was on Ebay in January of this year.

After looking at the pics do you think I should pass on this fame? BTW
the price with the Campy headset and Campy bottom bracket is $150
Canadian.

Thanks again from Peter

Date: 17 May 2007 05:03:00
From:
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

On May 16, 8:30 pm, Sir Ridesalot <i_am_cycle_pat...@yahoo.ca > wrote:
> Hi there.
>
> The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet. I
> hope this one appears quickly as time is short.
>
> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
> fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.
>
> Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?

Maybe. I am about 160 and my 56cm (CTC) frame works well. From what I
have read the taller frames start to get more flexy, but I don't
really notice a problem. In fact, I think the frame is a comfortable
ride. It's possible that if you are taller and really like to stomp
the pedals out of the saddle, the flex could cause phantom shifting
with narrower spaced gears. I use 9s spacing with 8 cogs, though, and
I don't have a problem.

> Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird French
> dimension?

The stem is normal; the thing that isn't is the seat post. I forget
the size- I think you can find it with a search on Google groups- but
it is relatively hard to find if there isn't one with the frame.

Date: 17 May 2007 04:19:00
From: Ozark Bicycle
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

On May 16, 8:30 pm, Sir Ridesalot <i_am_cycle_pat...@yahoo.ca > wrote:
> Hi there.
>
> The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet. I
> hope this one appears quickly as time is short.
>
> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
> fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.

Other than an historical aspect, there is very little to recommend
these frames, IMO; they are not particularly light, particularly
durable nor particularly attractive. In it's time, it's claim to fame
was it's lightweight, but it is not light by modern standards.

Also, at 180lbs, you are at the upper limit as a rider for these
frames. Failures can be 'spectacular'.

>
> Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?
>
> Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird French
> dimension?
>
> Thank you all very much.
>
> Peter

Date: 17 May 2007 12:11:10
From: John M
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

Sir Ridesalot Wrote:
> Hi there
>
> The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet.
> hope this one appears quickly as time is short
>
> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be i
> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal o
> fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset
>
> Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist
>
> Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird Frenc
> dimension
>
> Thank you all very much
>
> Peter80's vitus will probably hold up fine for a 180lb cyclist, but will no
be very "stiff". Perhaps that is part of the appeal of the comfy ride.
I also think that the aluminum fork is a bit flexy. The 979 frame
generally take standard English threaded headset and BB with 1" quil
stem and 25.0mm seatpost. I have a well-used one from 1987

--
John M

Date: 17 May 2007 00:05:23
From: Matt O'Toole
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?

On Thu, 17 May 2007 12:11:10 +1000, John M wrote:

> Sir Ridesalot Wrote:

>> I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
>> excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of fondness.
>> It includes the bottom bracket and headset.

>> Is such a frame suitable for a 180 lb bicyclist?

>> Is the stem the normal one-inch quill or is it a weird French
>> dimension?

>> Peter80's vitus will probably hold up fine for a 180lb cyclist, but
>> will not
> be very "stiff". Perhaps that is part of the appeal of the comfy ride. I
> also think that the aluminum fork is a bit flexy. The 979 frames
> generally take standard English threaded headset and BB with 1" quill
> stem and 25.0mm seatpost. I have a well-used one from 1987.

I had one for awhile too. They're definitely one of the flexier frames
around, especially in the larger sizes. At 6', 170-180# on a 60cm frame,
I had ghost shifts while climbing hard or sprinting, and I found the bike
terrifying on mountain descents. After diving into a corner, I could
never be sure where I'd come out.

I've read that Sean Kelly felt the same way -- that the light
weight was great for the climbs, but the descents were terrifying.

How's that for feedback?

If all you're going to do is ride around on easy terrain, it's probably
fine. If you're a powerful rider or you're going to be riding in the
mountains, a stiffer frame would be more suitable.

Matt O.

Date: 17 May 2007 01:53:00
From: Kerry Montgomery
Subject: Re: Re Vitus 1980's Frame?