Fw: [CR]Lotus / Tsunoda catalog

(Example: Framebuilders)

From: "Ed Braley" <edbraley@maine.rr.com>
To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Fw: [CR]Lotus / Tsunoda catalog
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:24:06 -0500



----- Original Message -----
From: Ed Braley
To: Joe Bunik
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: [CR]Lotus / Tsunoda catalog



> Thank you! I'm a Lotus fan, and I've always wanted to see this catalog!
>
> I have several Lotus bikes now; a Competition with 700C wheels, and (3) 650B
> converted machines, (2) Classiques and a Legend. In years past I've owned
> and sold another Classique and an Odyssey. Did any of you see that nice
> Lotus that sold for $810 on eBay just last week? I had considered bidding
> for that one, but it exceeded my limit.
>
> There were quite a few NOS Lotus bikes from this vintage still in bike shops
> in the late 80's and early 90's. The index shifting technologies and
> mountain bikes just about killed the sport touring bike market, and many of
> these friction shifting Japanese road bikes sat unsold. I bought one NOS
> Classique from The Cycle Shop in North Reading MA, and a both the Odyssey
> and the Legend from Frank's Spoken Wheel in Framingham MA.
>
> I knew a guy who had one of those pink metallic Supremes. What a bold bike!
> He was a good rider, too.
>
> These hand-built Tsunoda Lotus bikes were reasonably well made and equipped,
> and I think they look good, with nice paint work, lug lining, and chrome
> plating. The model names and specifications overlap a little, as they used
> similar frames with different components to create different bikes. That's
> typical I suppose. The key is the Tsunoda hand-built frameset.
>
> My Competition has Columbus SL tubing, and the stage racing geometry and
> general ride characteristics are very much like the later Bridgestone RB-1
> series bikes that I've owned. But I think that the Lotus is better.
>
> They're fun, inexpensive bikes, and they've gone relatively un-noticed for
> years.
>
> My 650B converted Loti are completely changed from stock, but you can see
> the frame details and workmanship in the photos I've put on-line.
>
> Here's my 650B converted Legend:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/25373440@N00/sets/72157600183614944/
>
> The Maroon Classique:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/25373440@N00/sets/72157600182835047/
>
> And the Bronze Classique:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/25373440@N00/sets/72157600182838472/
>
> I don't have pics of the Competition, but I'll put some on-line eventually.
>
> Ed Braley
> Falmouth, Maine
> USA
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joe Bunik" <jbunik@gmail.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 11:32 AM
> Subject: [CR]Lotus / Tsunoda catalog
>
>
> > Hi all
> >
> > http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/joe_bunik/lotus/
> > contains what I believe is a circa 1983 Lotus Bicycles / Tsunoda /
> > Alpha Cycles catalog.
> >
> > Has the full model lineup: the America, Grand Prix, Excelle, Unique,
> > Eclair, Classique, Legend, Odyssey, Competition, Supreme, and Super
> > Pro... plus detailed component specs.
> >
> > The images come 3rd-hand (with permission), sorry that they're not
> > just a little better (especially the Super Pro!).
> >
> > =- Joe Bunik
> > Pittsburgh, PA USA