Andy,
Great find! The saddle and rear derailleur are worth $200!
1. I've only seen a few "Ron Kit" bikes in the US during the past 35 years so they may be pretty rare here. This looks like a great bike but maybe not in the wall hanger or special rides only category. They were intended to ride not look at! ;-)
On the other hand, I would probably use a "beater bike" for commuting myself, one with a good but tired looking frame that had decent but worn components (less likely to be vandalized or stolen).
2. With some exceptions, components are not always a good way to date a bike because they're so easily replaced. My guess is that it's a mid 70s bike. In the late 70s, bikes like your would probably have more "glitzy" components.
3. NO! I can't remember whether Ron Kitching has his own in house frame shop or not. Some of the UK members can better answer that. Ron Kitching sold Andre Bertin frames but I'm not sure whether Bertin private labeled frames for them.
There were too many local builders in the UK plus import duties could have made French built Ron Kit frames/bikes uneconomical. My impression was that Ron Kit frames were good commercial quality off the rack items, nothing fancy or special.
I think that they offered frames in several different levels. They may have also sold some built up bikes with standard components plus they assembled bikes with components to the customer's requirements???
4. ???
The bike is unique as it stands with a nice mix of components. These were top of the line in the day. The TA crank can easily be converted to a triple with a new BB spindle plus smaller chain ring and bolts.
Judging from the length of the Cyclone FD you might be limited to a 34T front sprocket.
Enjoy...
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
andy rahe wrote:
> Hello everyone. My name is Andy Rahe and I am new to the CR list. I used
> to commute to work on my bike 100 miles a week, but that stopped and now am
> trying to think about riding to work again, although a much shorter trip. I
> live in Gahanna, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. My first bike was an entry
> level Bianchi and it for sure did the job. Several years later I made a
> huge upgrade to a custom made Serotta. I am a teacher so I was worried
> about leaving my Serotta sitting around at school, so I began the search on
> Craigslist for a vintage ride that I wouldn't be worried about too much.
>
> Now, to my current situation. About two days into my search I found someone
> selling a Ron Kitching Cyclassic. I researched and it seemed interesting
> and I was actually able to purchase the bike for $200. I took it to a shop
> and they got me new tires and cleaned it up for me. The bike looks like
> this. ( It's my first time using flickr so hopefully this link works.)
>
> http://www.flickr.com/
>
> frame- seems to be in great shape with some rust spots but minimal from my
> rookie perspective
> bocama lugs
> campy parts- hubs, brakes, rear derailleur, shifters, seatpost, pedals
> TA cranks(?)
> suntour cyclone front derailleur
> ideale 92 diagonal seat
> zefal frame pump
> cinelli handbars
> decals seem to be in great shape
>
> OK,
> 1. so I am not fishing for an evaluation, but I am trying to figure out
> if this bike is rare or not. I was hoping to commute on this bike but if
> it's only one of a handful in such shape is that ethically prudent? The
> gentleman from Craigslist said is grandfather gave it to him and he was a
> rider, it was in the barn for 20 years. I am guessing besides the new
> tires,the cable plastic(guides?) and the leather bar tape i had added at the
> shop that it is all original.
>
> 2. I am trying to date the bike. I read somewhere that suntour cyclone
> wasn't released until 1975, does anyone know the production dates for a ron
> kitching cyclassic. There are his catalogs and if this information is in
> there then please feel free to point me in that direction.
>
> 3. Is there anyway to tell who actually made the frame, I did find the
> bocama lug angle numbers all over the place, but there doesn't appear to be
> anything on the frame that I can see. I've read about Bertin making the
> frames, but uncertain if one can actually find out.
>
> 4. Any other info you have for a newbie about the ron kitching bicycles
> would be great,
>
> Thanks again for reading my post and I have really enjoyed all the emails on
> this list.
>
> Andy Rahe
> Gahanna, Ohio usa