Hello All,
I recently found an unidentified old French bike at my local Recycle-a -Bicycle. Painted a vibrant purple, it has a rather elegant diamond shaped head badge with the initials CS. Mostly Suntour components but I don't know if this is original. The original wheels were Ukai tubular rims with sunshine hubs. It has a rather unusual quick release on the base of the stem, even though the SR stem has the usual stem bolt (maybe the stem is not original). Stamped unmarked dropouts, and half chromed on the chain stays and fork. Very short top tube, 56 cm, for a 61 c to c frame.
Anyway, the brakes are Univeral super 68, very vintage looking, with a neat linkage type quick release mechanism. The only problem is that they don't work! I put on modern Tektro pads, tried tight adjustment, loose, etc. The rims are new and clean. The brakes simply don't stop the bike....unless you grab the very end of the brake lever from the drops and really squeeze hard.
Anyone have any idea what this bike may be....and why these very nice-looking brakes don't work? Thanks in advance.
Alan LaVine
New York, NY, USA