RocknRolla Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 When we are kids, we don’t know the value of things. We also have no idea, the direction our lives may take. Some people claim they have everything planned to a T, but I certainly am not one of those people. Spending days and weeks during holidays at my best friend’s house, I was certainly aware of the bicycle in the study, we were expressly told not to touch it. It was carefully moved occasionally when we wanted to use an extra chair to play King’s Quest and later on Lesuire Suit Larry on the PC.That was as much involvement I had with the bike in the study. I knew it was of high value at the time, but I did not know how valuable it is to me, there’s no way to know at the time.Without going into too much detail and my whole life story, we rode BMX’s as our main mode of transport, after school in groups between the houses where we live. We explored areas of the neighbourhoods in which we lived and it was an integral part of our lives - It was a means to an end. Fast forward, a whole number of years, and cycling once again forms a strong part of my life, but not for the same reasons as the BMX at the time.After having conversations about cycling, and enquiring If my mate still had his cosmos bike that he and his dad had built up through Westdene Cycles at the time, he mentioned that his dad still has the bike that was in the study.He offered it to me.I very excitedly accepted. After some time, and logistics needed sorting out, getting the bike back to Joburg from the coast, I finally got my hands on it.While driving home last night, and seeing the bike for the first time in 20 odd years, my mind was flooded anew with lost childhood memories, of my mate’s father, times my mate and I spent together and a general sense of happiness. I had this silly smile on my face all the way home, this morning when I took some photographs, and every time I think about it.Thinking about cycling in my life currently, and the happiness it brings, and it being enriched by this piece of history has really made quite an impact. Keyz, when you are reading this – Thank you for 32 years of friendship and memories. It certainly has been 32 good ones because of it. Enough with the soppy stuff, down to business: The Bike is a Zeus, manufactured in Spain. Zeus being reportedly, one of the better Campagnolo copiers out there at the time.What set Zeus apart was that they manufactured all their own components, under the Zeus brand.Only items I can ascertain that are not OEM are the brakeset and the shimano FD. A complete bike, with restored decals and fresh paint are available on E-bay for about $600.Not that I am planning to get rid of it.
J∆kk∆ls Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 That granny gear still looks pretty hardcore. Boy did we get soft!
RocknRolla Posted January 28, 2016 Author Posted January 28, 2016 yeah, i'm gonna need some cement pills fo this bike.
Tubehunter Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 Eishhh! Now you've gone and done it! Expecting loads of pics of the restore process!
Tubehunter Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 You already post in this thread, but don't forget to put some pics there too! https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/46935-retro-bicycle-thread/
Mntboy Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 Rad looking bike RnR! Reminds me a lot of the first bike I can remember my dad using as a commuter to get to work and back. Enjoy restoring it dude!
Sarge Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 Hi gents, What is the trend in a case like this? Is it best to keep it original and just make sure that the bike is mechanically perfect, or is the best thing to completly re-build it? Respray etc. In a lot of cases with vintage cars, furniture the owners do their best to keep their projects origional. I personally would most probably try and get it back to how it looked when it left the factory. Regards Sarge
RocknRolla Posted January 28, 2016 Author Posted January 28, 2016 Hi gents,What is the trend in a case like this? Is it best to keep it original and just make sure that the bike is mechanically perfect, or is the best thing to completly re-build it? Respray etc.In a lot of cases with vintage cars, furniture the owners do their best to keep their projects origional.I personally would most probably try and get it back to how it looked when it left the factory.RegardsSarge I have mulled over this extensively. I will not be restoring the paintwork. It's not original then, it's a reproduction.The bike will be cleaned and checked mechanically, and only if there are complete failure of a part will it be replaced.
Beattbox Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 Amazing story and bike. I'll be watching this thread for updates and progress with interest.
Red Zone Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 I have mulled over this extensively. I will not be restoring the paintwork. It's not original then, it's a reproduction.The bike will be cleaned and checked mechanically, and only if there are complete failure of a part will it be replaced.Agreed, the paintwork looks in good nick, better to keep the original with some battle scars than to repaint, also the chrome-work on the fork looks in great condition. What Reynolds tubeset is it?
DJR Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 I have mulled over this extensively. I will not be restoring the paintwork. It's not original then, it's a reproduction.The bike will be cleaned and checked mechanically, and only if there are complete failure of a part will it be replaced.That's the way to do it!
Rock Guy Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 Awesome post! One of my fondest childhood memories is of my dad taking along me for his morning ride. I was just sitting on a thin little superman pillow on the top tube of his Peugeot, clinging to the bars for dear life. I can remember concentrating so hard to keep my feet out of the front wheel. We always went along a road that passes next to the river across from a well known boys school that had these little raised sections of tar kind of like____---_____---_____---_____. Every time we went across those I had to brace to keep from falling off the bike as I bounced in the air. This past December I pulled my dad's old bike out of his shed, fixed her up and took her for a spin. I was drawn to those little bumps like a magnet. The feeling of nostalgia riding over those bumps was just amazing. I felt like a was 4 again. Here's to growing up with bikes, and to our parents and friends for letting us have these awesome memories.
RocknRolla Posted January 28, 2016 Author Posted January 28, 2016 It's Reynolds 531 Paint is is very good nic, as is the chrome. Decals has some marks, but that is part of the bike's history.
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