Just bought Vitus 979 with nearly all Mavic SSC (derailleurs, Retrofriction shifters, cranks, rear wheel and Modolo-made nonaero brakes). This was an eBay auction that ended at $225 and didn't make reserve because the seller didn't post any pictures. I emailed him for pictures, but only received them the day after the auction ended. I asked him what the reserve was and said I might be willing to pay that. He said the reserve had been $300 and sold it to me for that.
I love these "problem" auctions becuase they scare off bidders and give me some great opportunities in exchange for going to the trouble to send a few emails. If he had included the pictures he sent me in the auction, he probably could have gotten $400, maybe even $450.
My question is this. The bike has a headset which I think may be Mavic, but I can find no Mavic marking. It has a tall stack height and sort of "aero" shape like a lot of Mavic HS's. But there are no flats in the cups. Instead, the are vertical grooves in the surface of the cups all around. Obviously, you need special tools to maintenance it. Is this a Mavic HS? Does anyone know where I would find the special tools for it?
Also, the bike seems to have a Mavic BB. I've avoided these in the past because I understand they require chamfering the BB shell, which I didn't want to get into. Do these BB's require special tool to work on, or only for the initial installation? Can a covential BB be installed in a frame which has had a Mavic BB installed?
Finally, the front wheel is a replacement with some low end late 80's or maybe 90's Campy hub (not sure what model). I have a couple of Mavic front hubs, but I need a dark anodized Mavic MA40 clincher rim (were all MA40's dark anodized?) to match the rear wheel. 32 hole preferred, but 36 will work also. Anyone have one for sale, ideally at Cirque?
Regards,
Jerry Moos