Vitus 979 :: Information wanted

Quoted message said:

1. What would most likely be the bottom bracket threading (68mm English?)?

Yes

Quoted message said:

2. Is the frame compatible with modern 9-speed hubs (eg. Campag Veloce)?

No, it has 126mm spacing. Stretching alu frames isn't recommend but i streched mine to 130mm and no
problems until now.

Quoted message said:

3. Is their anything else to watch out for on this particular bike?

25mm seatpost size, it has to be a sturdy post because the post is clamped by pinching a bolt
against it. So now carbon or thin wall titanium/alu posts.

"Jason Hodges" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A guy around the corner has a Vitus 979 (55cm) for sale. Thinking this might be a good excuse to
play and learn a bit, I thought it might be a bit of fun to rebuild it with some modern
components.

Before jumping in to this, it probably prudent to get some more information. Can anyone (Sheldon?)
offer a bit of advice on the following?

1. What would most likely be the bottom bracket threading (68mm English?)?
2. Is the frame compatible with modern 9-speed hubs (eg. Campag Veloce)?
3. Is their anything else to watch out for on this particular bike?

Thanks in advance Jason

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

A guy around the corner has a Vitus 979 (55cm) for sale. Thinking this might be a good excuse to
play and learn a bit, I thought it might be a bit of fun to rebuild it with some modern components.
Before jumping in to this, it probably prudent to get some more information. Can anyone (Sheldon?)
offer a bit of advice on the following?
1. What would most likely be the bottom bracket threading (68mm English?)?

Yes, it is english.

Quoted message said:

2. Is the frame compatible with modern 9-speed hubs (eg. Campag Veloce)?

No, the spacing is 126mm, not 130. If this was my bike, I would just spread the stays, ride and not
worry about it.

Quoted message said:

3. Is their anything else to watch out for on this particular bike?

The joints are glued together. Some of these came apart. So you should check all the joints to make
sure none of the joints are loose.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)

In article said:

Quoted message said:

3. Is their anything else to watch out for on this particular bike?

25mm seatpost size, it has to be a sturdy post because the post is clamped by pinching a bolt
against it. So now carbon or thin wall titanium/alu posts.

Some 979s came with a more normal pinch bolt seat tube clamp. Mine (1985) has the set-screw
arrangement. An American Classic seat post works fine.

Some 979s have had frame joints fail. It's not common but it does happen.

The 979 was the most common bike in the pro peleton in its day, often painted to look like the
sponsors frames.

Enjoy!

Eric

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3. Is their anything else to watch out for on this particular bike?

The shift lever bosses are slightly odd. Any shift lever or cable adapter you bolt on will have to
have a flat backside, instead of the more usual arc. It's a minor detail, but can be frustrating if
you're not prepared for it.

Jeff

"Eric Murray" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

Quoted message said:

3. Is their anything else to watch out for on this particular bike?

25mm seatpost size, it has to be a sturdy post because the post is

clamped by pinching a bolt against it. So now carbon or thin wall

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

titanium/alu posts.

Some 979s came with a more normal pinch bolt seat tube clamp. Mine (1985) has the set-screw
arrangement. An American Classic seat post works fine.

Hmmm; I didn't think they changed until later - I had an '86 979 that had the pinch-type
seat cluster.

Quoted message said:

Some 979s have had frame joints fail. It's not common but it does happen.

Mine bit the dust in '94 in a very nasty field sprint pileup that bent the toptube, downtube and
fork, not to mention breaking both wheels, the handlebars and several of my most favorite vertebrae.
The frame joints were fine. Kind of a QC thing I'd say, if the frame's got some time on it and
they're still OK, I wouldn't worry too much about 'em. I think the carbon ones were more prone to
that problem due to the dissimilar materials being joined.

Quoted message said:

The 979 was the most common bike in the pro peleton in its day, often painted to look like the
sponsors frames.

Mine was pale blue just like Kelly's, of course... ;-)

Quoted message said:

Enjoy!

Indeed - flexy, but to date the smoothest-riding frame I've ever been on. Great for long days on
cruddy roads.

In article <[email hidden]>, Steve Blankenship

Quoted message said:

"Eric Murray" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Some 979s came with a more normal pinch bolt seat tube clamp. Mine (1985) has the set-screw
arrangement. An American Classic seat post works fine.

Hmmm; I didn't think they changed until later - I had an '86 979 that had the pinch-type
seat cluster.

Now that I think about it I got mine in the late summer of '86. I don't remember where I ordered
the bare frame from but I do remember that when it arrived it was so pretty I didn't want to
build it up.

Quoted message said:

Mine bit the dust in '94 in a very nasty field sprint pileup that bent the toptube, downtube and
fork, not to mention breaking both wheels, the handlebars and several of my most favorite
vertebrae. The frame joints were fine.

Ow.

Quoted message said:

Kind of a QC thing I'd say, if the frame's got some time on it and they're still OK, I wouldn't
worry too much about 'em. I think the carbon ones were more prone to that problem due to the
dissimilar materials being joined.

Yes. The carbon ones did have more of a problem.

Quoted message said:

Mine was pale blue just like Kelly's, of course... ;-)

Mine too. It was the best color.

Quoted message said:

Indeed - flexy, but to date the smoothest-riding frame I've ever been on. Great for long days on
cruddy roads.

I have an Airborne Zeppelin titanium now that rides as well. It's a little less flexible when
standing on the pedals, and it doesn't have the steep steering geometry that makes the 979 twitchy
and gives it a no-hands 'speed wobble' around 13 mph.

I still have my 979 though, I'm thinking of turning it into a rain bike.

Eric

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Jason Hodges
A guy around the corner has a Vitus 979 (55cm) for sale. Thinking this might be a good excuse to
play and learn a bit, I thought it might be a bit of fun to rebuild it with some modern components.

Before jumping in to this, it probably prudent to get some more information. Can anyone (Sheldon?)
offer a bit of advice on the following?

1. What would most likely be the bottom bracket threading (68mm English?)?
2. Is the frame compatible with modern 9-speed hubs (eg. Campag Veloce)?
3. Is their anything else to watch out for on this particular bike?

Thanks in advance Jason

🙂

Go ahead and pick the frame up. I don't think you will be
disappointed. Take the frame for what it is, a light weight,
glued alum. frame that is somewhat flexy.....but what a nice
comfortable ride on the flats. I purchased a 46cm Vitus 979
in 1987. It came equiped with Campy Super Record, it is Red.
The frame and gear are still in near perfect condition and I
have thousands of miles on this frame, I'm quessing between
7000 to 10,000 miles......the bike is 16 years old!! Sure, the
frame will flex, if you push it hard. That's not the idea behind
this bike. You can ride it for hours and it is still comfortable
and very forgiving. I live in Florida where the land is flat, few
hills. Perfect for this bike. In April of 2002, I purchased a Lite-
speed Tsali....I love it. But, I still love getting on this old
vintage French Bike. Go ahead, get it.