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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

1219.0. "Old Lejuene Racing Bike Dilemma" by GSFSWS::JSMITH (I Bike Solo II) Sun Jun 25 1989 16:15

    	I picked up an old LEJEUNE bicycle at a yard sale this
    weekend.  I bought it primarily for the frame which is Reyonalds
    501 but upon further examination at home I'm inclined to think
    that this was a 60's or 70's state -of-the-art vintage racing machine.  
    My suspicion stems from the components like full campy Nuevo Record,
    Cinelli Bars and Stem, High Flange hubs, Tubular rims and Brooks Pro 
    Leather Saddle.  It even has a campy seat post (non-aero of course).  
    My delimna is that I bought the bike for the frame which fits me well 
    and will make a great winter beater about 4 lbs. lighter than my old 
    indented frame Schwinn which has a lot of character.  The concern that 
    I have is that the bike looks neat aside from the light rust on some of
    the original steel components.  All of the original decals are in good 
    shape.  Would it be better to preserve the bike for collector value or 
    go ahead with the conversion since it'll never be worth much to a 
    collector.  I personally have no interest in it other than potental 
    resale.  Besides, my wife would kill me if I bought another bike just 
    to keep in the garage.  What would you do under these circumstances?
    
    			Jerry_Who_Is_Becoming_an_Old_Racing_Bike_Restorer
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1219.1preserve, pleaseSHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredMon Jun 26 1989 01:359
    You've pretty much said it all, Jerry.  If your circumstances don't
    allow you to keep a bike like this for essentially aesthetic reasons,
    I'm sure there would be someone out there (some deranged high-income
    bachelor) willing to pay you for it.  Your description makes it sound
    so neat that it seems a shame to submit it to the indignity of a 
    New England winter... :-)
    
    Good luck,
    -john
1219.2You can't have "too many bikes."NOVA::FISHERRdb/VMS DinosaurMon Jun 26 1989 10:577
    Ok, what size is the frame?
    
    Actually you're probably best off converting it to a winter beater.
    
    Oh, and what color did you say it was?
    
    ed
1219.3531 not 501?AKOV11::FULLERMon Jun 26 1989 12:294
    Reynold's didn't come up with 501 tubing until the 80's to fit
    a low end niche.  It is probably 531.
    
    steve
1219.4Going to get it ready for the road!GSFSWS::JSMITHI Bike Solo IITue Jun 27 1989 12:3217
>    Reynold's didn't come up with 501 tubing until the 80's to fit
>    a low end niche.  It is probably 531.
 
    	Your right on top of Reynolds frame material.  Upon closeer
    examination the box shaped numbers appear to be 531.  Looking
    thru the various bike catalogs for replacement and upgrade parts
    has been too tough on me.  I stripped off the old tape, brake levers,
    rear deraileur and wheels.  The bottom bracket, and head set appear
    to be ok.  So I'm going to either rebuild the old hubs with clincher
    rims or buy the $109 special set from Colorado Cyclist.  I'll save the
    old parts for restoration if I ever loose riding interest in it.
    Will a new Athena rear deraileur work with the New Record Shifters?
    Will I be able to mount the Standard 6 rear wheel since the old
    wheel was a standard 5?  Just 6 mm could make a difference?  Can't
    wait to get it on the road now.  Thanks for your comments.
    
    					Jerry
1219.5YESAKOV11::FULLERTue Jun 27 1989 12:4011
    re: 1219.4  The answers to all your questions is YES.
    By putting a 6 speed hub (125 mm vs 120) you will need to spread
    the stays each time you put the wheel on and off.  This would
    be frustrating if you are racing and need a quick wheel change,
    otherwise just a little hassle.
    
    With all of your bikes, why another set of wheels?  I interchange
    wheels on our bikes as road conditions, etc dictate.
    
    steve
    
1219.6Windsor ProfessionalLAGUNA::BARTHOLOM_RIThu Jul 06 1989 18:2811
    I have a Windsor Professional that sounds alot like your LeJeunne.
    Here in San Diego don't need a winter beater but have been going
    through the same decisions i.e. should I refinish, should I convert
    to clincher wheels etc.  The frame is much more responsive than
    another road bike that I have which I have no explanation for the
    geometry seems to be about the same which makes me like to ride
    it but I have spent some Saturday nights sewing up tires which I
    don't!  Can anybody out there give me a better understanding of
    the Campy Neuvo Record equipment which I have on this cycle.  What
    is it worth i.e. how does it compare with other equipment such as
    Shimano, etc.
1219.7LeJeune UpdateGSFSWS::JSMITHI Bike Solo IIFri Jul 14 1989 16:2929
    	Well last week I was on vacation and needless to say, a good
    portion of my time was spent on the LeJeune.  I stripped all the
    hardware down to the bare frame (except the f.d.) and cleaned and
    polished it.  The frame is *beautifull* you should see the workmanship
    on the fittings and the bright red paint with the large LeJeune decals
    makes it look better than most of the new non-imron stuff you see
    on today's bikes.  The real treat is the Canelli Stem and Bars.  The
    Bars are actually engraved with the logo, not stamped like todays.
    They came clean as a whistle.  Also the old Campy 51 tooth *steel*
    crank is now spotless....I love it.....and I was able to clean up
    the brake arms to show the underlying blue tint in the impression
    where the name is stamped on.  This bike must have been in tip-top
    racing condition on the day it was hung in someone's garage and
    not used since (~20 years?).  The bad news is the wheels.  Since the
    spokes were steel they came clean with brillo but are really pitted
    and even though I spent the time getting all the old glue off and
    mounting a set of cheap tubulars on the original Champion rims, I'm
    afraid to take it on even a short club ride.  What I've decided, is
    to keep these wheels as original equipment and purchase a set for
    around town short crusies (As Steve aptly pointed out, I can use
    these on my touring machine also).  So the wheels and a set of aero
    brake levers are on their way from Col. Cyclist.  The areo levers are
    the only break with tradition (no pun intended).  If I'm going to ride
    it around town, I want people to think its a sleek, sexy sports model
    (similar to someone with a fetish for Porches) :-) 
    
    	Thanks for all the advice....I'm really enjoying this project
    This would make a great winter time topic.
    						Jerry
1219.8Old times...MABPRO::M_BOOKERMartin Booker, IBM Interconnect Mktg 226-5167Wed Aug 02 1989 18:1113
My first racing bicycle in college was a LeJuene very similar to the one you
have.  Beautiful, bright red, with 'second level' Campy parts and a wonderful
Reynolds 531 DB frame.  

This was the 'budget' bike to buy if one couldn't afford one of the great Italian
machines of the time (ATALA, MASI, BOTTECHIA, etc.),go up to full Peugeot, 
and was a good decision for me as a first time racer.  

The brakes were Universal centerpulls, a Brooks saddle, and the Campy 'Record' 
changers.

Enjoy...
MAB
1219.9Colorado Wheel DealGSFSWS::JSMITHSupport Bike Helmets for KidsTue Aug 08 1989 18:2613
    	The wheels from Colorado Cyclist arrived but now I have a
    new problem.  I like the looks and light weight so much, I'm
    torn between putting the new wheels on my Cannondale and putting
    the Mavic's on the LeJeune.  If I could just loose 20 lbs.:-(
    
    						Jerry
    
    	BTW - The $99.00 Special was for Shimano 600 EX hubs with
    DT spokes and Hard Anodized (sp?) Araya CT-19 Aero Rims, (not to
    mention the expert wheel building ability of the Col. Cyclist Craftsmen)
    to which I mounted a pair of Specialized Turbo R 700x25 slicks that look
    like tubulars.  Total cost with tubes and backing strips came to
    $125.