Hi Steven and welcome to the CR group.
<<...The serial numbers on the Fejus serial number page do not seem to run in any real order. >>
Re: your statement above, I looked at the serial number registry and it makes sense to me!
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
Looks like your bike is pretty close to a 1962-3 model. Your serial number, 94181, puts your bike right after Cliff Feldman's #94170, which he bought in NYC in 1963 and he thought might have been a year older model. That is pretty darn close and about as close as one can expect. Many of these bikes sat in boxes in warehouses for a number of months, etc. But if you put 1962 parts on yours, you would be pretty darn accurate...
<< One other question. I always found that the toe clips were uncomfortable during long rides. My toes would hurt. Should I put clip less pedals on the bike for riding? *No, I will not throw away the Campagnolo pedals. Or is there a remedy for the toe clips? >>
First thought I had; Are you really going to be taking long rides on this bike after painstaking restoration? I hope so but often these special bikes are reserved for shorter more elegant rides on pretty days. But in any case, toe clips need to be the proper size, with the correct set up and appropriate shoes, in which case they should not be uncomfortable at all. Some of the CR gang in Michigan can perhaps lend a hand in that set up, when you get to that point...
Good luck with your "labor of love"!
Dale Brown Greensboro, North Carolina USA
-----Original Message----- From: Steven Johnson <scjohn2008@gmail.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Fri, Feb 5, 2010 1:30 am Subject: [CR] New Member who owns 1060's Frejus Road Bike.
Hi Guys,
My name is Steve Johnson. I attended college at Indiana University (1963-1966). While there I became interested in bicycling and purchased a used Frejus Road bike from a pretty well know rider at IU, Eddie Doerr who at one time rode for the Alpha Tau Omega Little 500 Race team. It had a chromed frame with complete Campagnolo equipment (Gran Sport derailleurs, dual shifters, headset, seat post, front and rear drop outs, cranks, pedals, chain wheels and quick release hubs).The handlebar stem is a Ambrosia Champion and the brakes are Universal Model 61 Center pulls. *The serial number is 94181* and it has lube fittings on the bottom bracket and on the head tube. When I bought the bike it had sew up tubulers. The seat tube had a Reynolds 531 butted frame tubes decal. When I first bought the bike, it had low flange Campagnolo quick release hubs, but my room mate had borrowed my rear wheel one day and had a pretty bad fall, He was real nice about it bought me a complete new real wheel and rim, with a Campagnolo high flange quick release hub. When I bought the bike, the chome on the top tube was pretty badly pitted (from sweat I believe). After IU the bike did not get used much other than an occasional ride as I entered the Air Force (1966-1970), had gotten married, finished college etc.In 1984 my family moved back to the Detroit area and I went to work for my father in-law's tool company. While there I became friendly with a guy in the shop who liked to ride a lot and got me interested again. This was about 1985 and when I looked at my bike, I decided it needed some refurbishing. I read as many articles I could and bought a few bicycle manuals, bought a bike stand and tools I needed and proceeded to take my bike apart. I bought new bearings for the headset and bottom bracket and repacked them. I also bought all new cables for the brakes, and shifters. I took the derailleur apart and inspected and cleaned it. I never liked the saddle that was on the bike when I bought it, so I replaced that,but dumb me I threw the old one away instead of keeping it. I think it was an Ideale saddle, but it was not leather.It was hard as a rock. Also the hoods on the brake levers were cracked and the levers themselves were scratched up, so I replaced them with Superbe Pro levers. Again, stupid me, I think I threw out the Universal levers. As I recall one of my rims had a dent in it, so I had both front and rear hubs refurbished and restrung onto clincher rims. I am sure you purest right now are pulling your hair out. Lastly, because the chrome was pretty badly pitted etc, I took the head badge off and had the frame sandblasted and painted a blue color by a local paint shop. I put the bike back together and rode regularly until about 1995. During this time, I would ride occasionally with my friend from the tool company. He wa quite a bit better rider than me as he often rode with the Wolverine Bike Club ridres. I also joined the Ann Arbor Bicycling Society. I mostly rode with their Far East Fringe group out of Plymouth 2-3 times a week. During this time I and my wife rode in several bike tours in the area. In 1995 and 1996 I had a couple of surgeries and I have not ridden much since then. My bike sits on the bike stand in the basement. However I am getting the bug again. I am thinking about getting the bike some what restored so it at least looks more like a Frejus. I am thinking that Assenmacher (Matt) Cycle shop wold be a good place to get that done as they have a great reputation and they are not far away. I've bought decals from Cyclomondo that look like the ones that were on my bike before I had it sandblasted. I did take a before picture of the seat tube showing the original decals. I recently received a copy of a 1960's era Frejus catalog from Velo Retro*. I** ** **have been hoping to pin down the date my bike was built*. The serial numbers on the Fejus serial number page do not seem to run in any real order. And then, researching around a bit, I see that Thomas Avenia was the big importer of Frejus here in the USA. But I came across the thread on this site that stated Tom had died. *Are there any authoritative resource or bike enthusiast that might tell more about my bike?* I suspect it may have been a high end Frejus in its day. I am confident that the frame tubes are Reynolds 531 butted tubing. I am not so sure what the forks, seat and chain stays are make of. My Reynolds decal only said the frame tubes were 531 butted. As I understand, this was not uncommon for Frejus. I subscribe to the email list, so I read all the various threads. I found the recent thread about the drop out screws interesting.At first I did not understand what they were talking about, so I went down and looked at my screws. I had replaced them with new ones when I had refurbished my bike in 85, so I have the caps.I will appreciate any and all comments and .criticisms. That Frejus is my connection back to my younger days. I see it as the Italian sports car that I will never own as it is too impractical. *One other question. I always found that the toe clips were uncomfortable during long rides. My toes would hurt. Should I put clip less pedals on the bike for riding? *No, I will not throw away the Campagnolo pedals. Or is there a remedy for the toe clips?
Steven Johnson
Canton, MI USA