Gosh I thought it had lugs, not fancy, but memory of the details is weak now. The reason is I remember not liking the Schwinn lugless internally brazed look at the time- So I would have thought that I would have chosen a lugged bike.I do remember that it did have that big light blue transparent spoke protector.Also the limits of the derailler seemed easy to adjust. But I don't recall what derailler was on the bike.I don't think it had quick release hubs. (While in earlier discussions I think it was previously mentioned that it was a lower line Motobecane; I just did not know that then or at any time before I joined your list..)
At that time, my parents took me to a small shop in Washington DC that sold Gitanes,among others. The owner was from France, I recall. But for some reason that Astra was more desirable to me then, maybe because it seemed even more unusual. People, including Dave Tesch and others were quite attached to them, even at the time.I just don't really know the reason for the attraction to what wasn't a prime time Motobecane.But I do wish I could see one again, at least to refresh my memory. Anything that you remember unusual or special about them?
Dale, were the ones you sold often painted med-dark gold?
Best Wishes Mark Cutrufelli in Laurel,MD
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of OROBOYZ@aol.com Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 10:03 AM To: jswan@optonline.net; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR][Astra maybe French maybe Belgium made
In a message dated 1/3/2003 7:11:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, jswan@optonline.net writes:
<< I'm pretty sure they were a private label used by Service Cycle, a Long Island company, that later came out with the Mongoose line. I am under the impression that Astra bikes were built by Motobecane. >>
Astra was a supplemental line by Motobecane, definitely French. The relationship to Motobecane was rather like Azuki was to Nishiki, limited to one or two models at the lower end of the price scale. All the Astras I sold and saw were lugless, "induction" brazed rather like many less expensive later Peugeots. (Does any one know of lugged versions?) Service Cycle may have been a distributor but not necessarily the only source.
Dale Brown Greensboro, North Carolina _______________________________________________
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