Morning Folks,
I'm offering this to the List before I try elsewhere - I wish I could afford to keep it.......
Tony Tom thinks it is a 1985 (possibly 1984) - I bought it new in 1994 from a shop which was closing because the owner (a delightful curmudgeon who had some of the most delicious frames and complete bikes I have seen in one spot!), was upset with the MTB "craze" (which hadn't even peaked yet). Hard to believe, but I have never built it up, so it is an 'unused' Ron Cooper frameset. It measures 22 1/2" (c-t) or 22" (c-c) with a 21 1/2" top tube; the wheelbase is 38 1/2" and the chainstay length is 16 1/4". I measure the frame angles @ 73 1/2o ST and 74o HT. There are no frame decals, and when I asked the "curmudgeon" what the frame tubing was, he replied "high quality - don't worry about it, just ride the damn thing...." It is a light frame @ 4lbs 3.6oz, and as a point of comparison, a 1980 Peugeot CFX-10 (full 531and the same size)) weighs 4lbs 10oz. The Cooper fork weighs 1lb 7.6oz while a painted Motobecane fork (the Peugeot fork is chrome) which is also 531 weighs 1lb 9oz.
The Cooper has Columbus drop outs; takes a 27.0 seat post and requires a braze-on front derailleur. The lugs are short point with heart cut-outs and the lower head tube lug is the 'signature' Cooper with a 'C' in the cutout, Cinelli type fork crown. Braze-on under the BB cable guides and external top tube brake cable guides. The paint is monochromatic (British Racing Green) and both the head tube and bottom bracket have been faced. The rear spacing is 126mm and the brake reach is modern "standard" - From all appearances and specifications, this seems to be a fairly serious racing bike, but if anyone needs any other measurements or specs, please ask (I didn't measure bottom bracket drop).
I will have pictures later this evening, but I don't use a hosting service, so ask me to send them to you directly.
The price is $1,250 and I may consider trades (frames; complete bikes; parts) to offset the cost up to about $600.
Interested individuals please contact me off list.
Thanks,
Chuck Brooks
Malta, NY NEUSA