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Post by triitout on May 11, 2016 3:23:47 GMT
How many of my fellow members are original owners? I know many have rescued/restored someone elses discarded Viscount, but whom amongst us still has their original treasure?? Please post your original owner stories here. Couldn't let the occasion of my first Viscount, a light blue Aerospace Gran Touring 40th birthday (May, 11th, 1976 purchase date) pass without it being noted. It's got over 30,000 miles on it, most coming between 1976 until 1990 when it was my only bike. Many great trips from Buffalo to Niagra Falls with my classmates in the day. My first long, one way trip from Buffalo to Rochester, a distance of 76 miles that I really wasn't confident about completing, was a real great experience. The bike made me a cyclist. Also did my first triathlon in the late 80's on it. Many, many great "first experience" rides. Moved onto the Vitus 979 in 1990 and in 1994, the Viscount went to the rafters in my garage until I stumbled on to Busaste's thread on CTC in 2009. Did some modification, and the rest is history. Seven great years of forums (big thanks to Steve and Jem) and seven more Viscounts in the fold. I would never have guessed that I'd still be enjoying the bike I identify with my youth and coming of age today as much as I did then.  DSCN0920 |
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on May 11, 2016 4:51:33 GMT
Not me; in 1976 my ride was an American Eagle.
Jim
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Post by 54roadie on May 12, 2016 17:38:02 GMT
Michael, that bike is beautiful, especially considering it's age and mileage (It's not the age, it's the miles...) I have not one of the bikes I owned as a young adult. Sold or traded all of them for the current collection, and while I love my stable, there is not one of those bikes I would not own and ride again. (But my original Viscount, which I picked up as a bare frame, would get a paint job. It was a yellow that I never really cared for.)
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,418 
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Post by Jem on May 12, 2016 20:32:32 GMT
That is such a beautiful crisp photo of a classic bike. Great work on that Michael. In terms of your question - no, I don't own the original bike, but I did manage to get the same model with the same original components. I rode it (with a gap of 35 years) down the same hill that I rode to school as a 15 year old, and believe me, it felt exactly the same. It was an unbelievable feeling of elation. Here it is  IMG_3707 by Sooper 8, on Flickr |
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on May 12, 2016 21:54:38 GMT
no, I don't own the original bike, but I did manage to get the same model with the same original components. I rode it (with a gap of 35 years) down the same hill that I rode to school as a 15 year old, and believe me, it felt exactly the same. It was an unbelievable feeling of elation. I can really relate to this except I am older. My first ten speed was 1n 1964 and I have one like it; the original roads are a bit far off. When I ride it, the nostalgia is amazing; see it at www.pedalroom.com/bike/1964-sears-jc-higgins-puch-27895Cheers Jim |
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Post by theluddite on May 23, 2016 13:29:53 GMT
I am the original owner of a 1978 Viscount Aerospace Sport, although it is by no means in original condition. I estimate it has covered close to 20,000 miles since new. The frame, wheels, handlebar stem and front derailleur are the only parts that haven't been replaced over the years.I swapped out the saddle and pedals when I bought the bike - I kept the Brooks B17 from my previous cycle - and the other bits and pieces have happened gradually over the years. I posted a picture and some history in the CTC forum a few years ago: forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21010&sid=b14206bd37881d1c7d53ba016baa4c5c&start=60#p224329Here is a more up-to-date view. Attachments:
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on May 23, 2016 13:38:32 GMT
Theluddite,
I see from your CTC post that you have fitted a Shimano 7-speed freewheel block. Can you confirm that this is fitted onto the original hub and still operates OK between the original 126mm spread of the rear triangle without fouling the seatstay? I assume the chain you are using is a modern 3/32" for 6/7/8 speeds. What range of sprockets do you have?
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Post by velocipete on May 23, 2016 19:56:45 GMT
Nice Bike,well loved and used!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by theluddite on May 24, 2016 8:51:23 GMT
Theluddite, I see from your CTC post that you have fitted a Shimano 7-speed freewheel block. Can you confirm that this is fitted onto the original hub and still operates OK between the original 126mm spread of the rear triangle without fouling the seatstay? I assume the chain you are using is a modern 3/32" for 6/7/8 speeds. What range of sprockets do you have? The 14/16/18/20/22/24/28 7-speed block JUST fitted without having to bend anything, but the chain ended up very close to the chain stay. Also, the derailleur didn't cope so well with the wider freewheel. In the end, I decided I didn't need that many speeds, and I'm now running a 6-speed Shimano freewheel (14-24). Everything now works perfectly. I use an 8-speed chain, which had a tendency to drop between the chainrings on the original chainset, so I replaced that with a Shimano Sora 52/39 8-speed chainset. The new chainset has a completely different chain line, so I then had to replace the BB spindle as well .(The only bike maintenance I ever did using nothing but hammers!) |
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on May 24, 2016 10:57:22 GMT
Theluddite,
Thanks for that. I'm currently resurrecting my 'original owner' 1976 Sebring, but trying to design in a broader spread of gear ratios for T'Eroica. I now have 52/36 at the front and was looking at 7-speed blocks to maybe smooth the steps between gears. I'll follow your lead and look at 6-speeds as a maximum. My 5-speed 14-34 skip tooth would fit, if I can get my Tourney GS derailleur to wrap all the slack between (52-36)+(34-14)= 36 links in theory. Can I get away with a shortened chain if I promise not to ride at the 'wrong' extremes?
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Post by cusqueno on May 24, 2016 13:28:14 GMT
Rear derailleurs. There was an earlier discussion here: lambertandviscount.online/thread/681/skiptooth-chain-deraileur-options See Busaste's reference to Tourney GS at the bottom of the thread. Note for newcomers - the 1970s Tourney was a nice mid-range RD with similar capability to the more expensive (lighter) 600 and Altus. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the horrid lower than low end mechs of the late 80s and early 90s. |
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Post by cusqueno on May 24, 2016 14:35:14 GMT
Theluddite, Thanks for that. I'm currently resurrecting my 'original owner' 1976 Sebring, but trying to design in a broader spread of gear ratios for T'Eroica. I now have 52/36 at the front and was looking at 7-speed blocks to maybe smooth the steps between gears. I'll follow your lead and look at 6-speeds as a maximum. My 5-speed 14-34 skip tooth would fit, if I can get my Tourney GS derailleur to wrap all the slack between (52-36)+(34-14)= 36 links in theory. Can I get away with a shortened chain if I promise not to ride at the 'wrong' extremes? A triple might be slightly more forgiving on your RD? I fitted one on my fillet brazed Aerospace giving 52-42-32 x 14-34 (skip tooth) 5-speed block, which works; although it hasn't really been used in anger; so a total range of 20 + 20 = 40 with a long cage Crane RD and a standard early Dura Ace FD (which does struggle a bit to cover three chain rings, but just manages it). See this thread: lambertandviscount.online/thread/1149/london-brighton What I eventually went with was 52-38 double and 13-32 six-speed cassette - total 14+19=33, using a long cage Deore Deer Head RD. I could have done with a more gradual progression on the cassette up to the 32T cog. |
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jun 18, 2016 8:31:43 GMT
After much fiddling, faffing and internet shopping, my 'original owner' 1976 Sebring is finally back on the road just in time for Eroica tomorrow. Not quite perfect, but 20 miles this morning without problem.  IMG_4471 by RMT@261, on Flickr  IMG_4472 by RMT@261, on Flickr |
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rmw
Viscount
Posts: 144 
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Post by rmw on Jul 5, 2016 8:06:44 GMT
I have a from new 1978 Viscount Aerospace. It has a seven speed block, the rear having been spread to accommodate it. It has a modern bottom bracket, Argos in Bristol did a ream and sleeve in 1999. I have just fitted replacement period Union pedals as the old ones were squeaking distractingly loudly. It has modern (2000) stem and bars after old ones wore out. Has Shimano 105 rear derailleur after original 600 wore out. Has original Shimano 600 front changer and Tourney brakes. I am afraid it is a bit of a scruffy bike, being a ride-around bike and not a restoration bike. The mudguards are even more mismatched than usual, as the front Bluemels broke I now have an aluminium shorty there and a full length sks on the back.
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Post by triitout on Jul 5, 2016 14:33:45 GMT
I have a from new 1978 Viscount Aerospace. It has a seven speed block, the rear having been spread to accommodate it. It has a modern bottom bracket, Argos in Bristol did a ream and sleeve in 1999. I have just fitted replacement period Union pedals as the old ones were squeaking distractingly loudly. It has modern (2000) stem and bars after old ones wore out. Has Shimano 105 rear derailleur after original 600 wore out. Has original Shimano 600 front changer and Tourney brakes. I am afraid it is a bit of a scruffy bike, being a ride-around bike and not a restoration bike. The mudguards are even more mismatched than usual, as the front Bluemels broke I now have an aluminium shorty there and a full length sks on the back. It's always a nice feeling to get on an original from your youth. As Jem previously posted, it does bring back a flood of memories. Mine too is a complete mush mash, but it still has the same soul! I recently acquired another matching blue Gran Touring in excellent shape which has all the original parts minus the front wheel and saddle, and this time around in the correct size. Almost like a "before and after" pair  |
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Post by 54roadie on Jul 19, 2016 0:14:01 GMT
Here's a bit of info for those interested in running 7 speed freewheels:
I have now twice used Sun Tour Ultra 7 freewheels on Viscount Aerospace frames. Both times, when first installed, there was minimal or insufficient clearance to the chainstay. However it was not a problem, as my parts bin used to have a good number of axle spacers and washers. I simply removed 1 mm spacing from the left side and moved it right. The wheel required a bit of dishing, but nothing extraordinary. Half turn tighter right side, half turn looser left, tweak any variance and done. I love those Ultra 7s. The Aerospace TT, as I call it, is now running a 13-24, which is perfect for me, on that bike. I run a SRAM 8-9 spd chain and shifting is smooth as silk.
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