lookie what i got!
- Thread starter ratrodrob
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cool Olympia..
I don't know much Bout it!
But it's Dang Cool!
Kev.
I don't know much Bout it!
But it's Dang Cool!
Kev.
Taken from http://www.bikeforums.net archives in regards to Olympia Bicycles. A few relavant posts: (Not in reference to your particular bike!!)
It's the second oldest Italian bike company, right behind Bianchi. They made everything from city bikes, to lightweight racers. Your bike looks like late '70s.
luker
you need a new chain and most likely a new freewheel as well (although it looks okay in the pictures). Crane was the top-drawer shimano stuff in the '70s. Late '70s it morphed into dura ace (long after the rest of the grouppo). Simichrome or maybe naval jelly on the rust with some bronze wool, and those lugs will look like new. Treat the saddle and retension it (there's a nice long thread recently about leather saddle maintenance). You'll be amazed! It really doesn't look far from perfect.
Peter Askin
I just joined this forum, and came across your question of last year about Olympia . Absolutely top notch brand of Italian bike. If you go to Italy, you sometimes see very old ones used as daily transportation, which is a certain kind of testimony as to how well made something really is. Olympias were sold in the 70's and perhaps early early 80's Westchester County, New York, by a man who had been boyhood friends with the family that owns Olympia Cicli in Italy. He was the sole importer- all Olympias that are in the US today came from him. At the time of your posting, I'd just returned from Italy with a new Olympia IQ 2. I'm 48, and bought my first Olympia at age 17, from the man here in New York. Cost 195 bucks.
Olympia today has taken pretty active steps to stay technologically current- they are as into carbon fiber and aluminum as anyone out there, and make a ful line of racing, mountain and city bikes. At the time that I got my new Olympia, I also had a new Kestrel 200ems. Great bike, but nothing I've ridden goes around turns like the Olympia!
What model bike do you have? Does it still say anything on the top tube? The decals from that era were pretty fragile, but you may have a Sprint Junior, or a Special Piuma (piuma is feather in Italian).
It's the second oldest Italian bike company, right behind Bianchi. They made everything from city bikes, to lightweight racers. Your bike looks like late '70s.
luker
you need a new chain and most likely a new freewheel as well (although it looks okay in the pictures). Crane was the top-drawer shimano stuff in the '70s. Late '70s it morphed into dura ace (long after the rest of the grouppo). Simichrome or maybe naval jelly on the rust with some bronze wool, and those lugs will look like new. Treat the saddle and retension it (there's a nice long thread recently about leather saddle maintenance). You'll be amazed! It really doesn't look far from perfect.
Peter Askin
I just joined this forum, and came across your question of last year about Olympia . Absolutely top notch brand of Italian bike. If you go to Italy, you sometimes see very old ones used as daily transportation, which is a certain kind of testimony as to how well made something really is. Olympias were sold in the 70's and perhaps early early 80's Westchester County, New York, by a man who had been boyhood friends with the family that owns Olympia Cicli in Italy. He was the sole importer- all Olympias that are in the US today came from him. At the time of your posting, I'd just returned from Italy with a new Olympia IQ 2. I'm 48, and bought my first Olympia at age 17, from the man here in New York. Cost 195 bucks.
Olympia today has taken pretty active steps to stay technologically current- they are as into carbon fiber and aluminum as anyone out there, and make a ful line of racing, mountain and city bikes. At the time that I got my new Olympia, I also had a new Kestrel 200ems. Great bike, but nothing I've ridden goes around turns like the Olympia!
What model bike do you have? Does it still say anything on the top tube? The decals from that era were pretty fragile, but you may have a Sprint Junior, or a Special Piuma (piuma is feather in Italian).
ratrodrob said:
Fully Tuned up!
Steel Whool The Chrome
Make sure Tires are Good.
and If It was Mine, I would List it after all that for $175.00
on Craigslist.
It's a Well made Bike.
Sorry to bust your bubble, but your olympia bike is a 70's dept. store bike made by huffy, ck seattube, not the italian brand olympia. its still a cool old school bike though.
CCR
Mouth-Breather
ratrodrob said:
yeah im pretty sure the craigslist vultures woulda let you know too, perhaps not as nicely, still a nice clean bike with some style, (i like the varsity myself)
