Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Aug 12, 2013 18:54:24 GMT
Ok, here is a project that I couldn't resist. A Viscount model that I must admit didn't mean much to me and I had never seen before. But, it was on eBay and within walking distance to go and get. Believe it or not it cost £16. How could I not bring it home? Some cyclists out there probably spend more than that on one tyre! I love budget cycling and vintage bikes! So, what was not to like about this find?! I intend to tidy it up and ride it. I think it's pretty much as it came out of the shop but puzzled to see it has Huret gears front and rear. (Not a make I am on intimate terms with- anyone here know if Viscount used them?) Quite a nice blue paint finish but I think it has faded a little from it's original. It has the suede seat on it that I originally had on my Indy 500. Not to everyones taste but I love it (just make sure to carry a plastic bag under the seat to cover it if you park up and it looks like rain. They are horrible to ride on once soaked wet) I probably would have paid £10 for the saddle alone. I heard someone the other day refer to it as the 'rat skin' seat. haha Anyway, here's the pics IMG_4218 by Sooper 8, on Flickr IMG_4220 by Sooper 8, on Flickr IMG_4219 by Sooper 8, on Flickr IMG_4229 by Sooper 8, on Flickr IMG_4225 by Sooper 8, on Flickr IMG_4227 by Sooper 8, on Flickr
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Post by velocipete on Aug 13, 2013 8:31:04 GMT
That should clean up nicely.Those Huret gear changers where the "tourney"of the day. Perfectly useable and fitted to thousads of Raleigh and other low end models. At least you wont need Steve's "Trusty" bottom bracket tool! A bargain.Have you seen the prices of some ebay Viscounts?Perhaps we shouldn't publicise there vertues too strongly until we've cornered the market! Cheers, Pete.
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Jem
Viscount
?
Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Aug 13, 2013 10:45:02 GMT
A bargain.Have you seen the prices of some ebay Viscounts?Perhaps we shouldn't publicise there vertues too strongly until we've cornered the market! Cheers, Pete. Pete, The first page that Google comes up with, when you type in 'Viscount bike', with is the huge Viscount CTC thread. So, if someone finds one in the garage and is about to sell it,and after they have had a quick look on the internet, who can blame them that they think it's a priceless classic worth £100's I guess we talk them up so much that it does ultimately have some effect on the price. For example, there was a woman's Deore 18AX up on Ebay, starting at 99p with no reserve. I posted a link on the forum and said someone should snap it up and the parts alone were worth £70. Next thing I know, the listing has been pulled and re-listed with starting price of £60. In the mean time I had mailed the seller asking if it was sold or still for sale. She said, she was re-listing it because her husband had said it was a classic and top of the range bike...(maybe he'd read my post on CTC?) But, it still amazes me how many people really into their bikes don't know Viscount/Lambert. I also think those that do know about them might also have heard the words 'death fork' and dismissed them. Either way, there's still bargains to be had. None of mine cost over £100 and the majority cost less than £50 I am totally broke at the moment but if I saw a Viscount at a car boot or on Ebay for less than £30, I'd probably buy it. I see those high flange hub wheels sell for £40/50 a set on eBay. The SR chainsets and vintage pedals go for quite a bit. The Shimano Crane RD or 600 go for £20 or so. I even see the saddles of that era and the specific Viscount ones (even well used ones) go for £15 or £20 So to me, it seems much more sensible to grab the whole bike while you can.
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Post by velocipete on Aug 13, 2013 14:49:54 GMT
That's true,but,the high number of ebay sellers who strip perfectly good bikes capable of years of service does annoy me considerably.It is particularly galling when all the parts are listed under the sellers other items. They seem to think that the parts are worth so much more than a complete going machine,and people will happily pay extra postage for the bits to rebuild their bikes.This practice is common with 531 framed older bikes.History gone,just like that! Cheers, Pete.
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