[CR]Introduction and Vitus question

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

From: "Steve Bowen" <steveb@pvbike.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 15:35:23 -0800
Organization: PV Bicycle Center
Subject: [CR]Introduction and Vitus question

Hello CR list

I've been reading the postings on this list for several months now and have learned a great deal. I recently bought a long-standing bike shop in Southern California (Palos Verdes) and am now attempting to make a living out of a hobby that I put a good deal of money in the last few years.

I recently picked up a Vitus frame and fork - looks like it was never built up but has a little bit of shop wear. It's anodized blue, and has a Shimano 7400 headset and bottom bracket. I've built it up with a mostly Shimano 600 group (the nice one with the engraving) but have had a hard time finding shifters that fit. The bosses have an unusual base - it's like the curved base that fits under (and comes with) later downtube shifters, but it's fixed to the frame. Anyone know what vintage this bike may be, what kind of parts it might have had originally (if Vitus was ever sold as a complete bike) and what kind of shifters I can get to fit it? By the way, the Shimano 600 rear derailleur is one of the smoothest shifting I've ever seen.

Thanks for any help.

Steve Bowen in cloudy Rolling Hills Estates, where it looks like everyone has gone out of town for the holiday weekend.