RE: [CR]Lamborghini Bicycle - no mystique! New topic-"Astra" bike?

(Example: Racing:Beryl Burton)

From: "Mark" <rena.cutrufelli@comcast.net>
To: <biciclassique-velos@yahoo.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: [CR]Lamborghini Bicycle - no mystique! New topic-"Astra" bike?
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2004 10:09:12 -0400
In-Reply-To: <20040701021234.9775.qmail@web40303.mail.yahoo.com>


Yes I owned an Astra, my first, or near-first 10 speed. It was gold painted and yes they were lower end Motobecanes, although that is something I learned recently from list discussions about Astra (note Archives-several threads on Astra). Somehow many listmembers remember these fondly- that includes Dave Tesch who once wrote me saying he too missed his. I bought mine in a HiGear (Like Western Auto store). The decal said it was French as Lou said or maybe even this one was Belgium I can't recall. So as a kid I thought it must be quite the stuff. At the time my Mom thought the Gitanes more interesting and showed me some as a possibility. Even though my very first two wheeler was Italian, I didn't even think of going Italian then, probably associating the best bikes with the TDF. Think I had mine till the late 60's or early 70's.

Mark Cutrufelli Laurel,MD

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of biciclassique-velos@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 10:13 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Lamborghini Bicycle - no mystique! New topic-"Astra" bike?

Thanks to all of you with knowledgeable responses and educated guesses! It just goes to show you: a badge does not a great bike make!

I'm over my infatuation!

On another subject: Has anyone ever heard of a Japanese "bike boom" era 10-spd named "Astra"? I friend at my local bike shop just got one in tire but mostly original condition. I'd say it looks to be about late 60's but here are some of the details:

Wing nut hubs 27" steel rims Mystery Japanese tubing (prob. Hi-ten?) Derailleurs are Huret copies Metallic green with white panels, sticker-style head badge.

Just curious about this bike as I've never seen one and thought it might be of interest to the "Japanophiles" on the list like me...

John Lima
Wakefield, RI