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Mid-80s Royal Blue Vitus 979 - L'Eroica Ready! - $395 (Davis,CA)
5th Street near Pole Line
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Vitus was the world's largest manufacturer of aluminium bicycles and at the fore-font of technology with most rival brands still using steel. During this period Vitus pushed the boundaries of frame construction further by introducing carbon tubing to the bonded 979 frame with the introduction of the Carbon 3, Carbon 7, and finally the Carbon 9 in 1986.
This bike is in excellent condition with French, Italian and Japanese components. Shifts and brakes with ease. Wheels are straight, true and spin easily. Spokes are in excellent condition. Excellent ride over rougher roads and ideally suited for riders 180 pounds or less.
Specific Information:
Weight: 20 lbs, 6 oz with Specialized Turbo tires.
Frame Serial #: E070583
Seat tube size: 58cm (also stamped on left side of head tube)
Cinelli Giro D’Italia 64-38 bars with original Ciclolinea bar tape
Concour Confort Saddle
Kalloy Saddle Post
Shimano 600 Head Set
Shimano 600 Brake Set (left hood shows wear)
Shimano 105 Shifters
CLB Bottom Bracket Shell marked BSC
Campagnolo NR Front Derailleur
Shimano 600 SIS Rear Derailleur
Shimano 600 Brakepads and Gear Cables
Ofmega Super Competition Crankset with 52 and 42 tooth rings
Look Arc Delta pedals
Sachs Maillard 7 Speed Free Wheel (13-15-17-19-21-23-26)
Matching Mavic MA2 700C Wheels laced with double-butted stainless spokes (wheels are “Performance Custom Quality” numbered 024634 and 024632).
Suntour Cyclone Sealed Bearing 36 hole hubs front and rear.
Mounted tires are new and are Pasela Panaracer 700x28C however, I can provide the original tires that came with the bike - Specialized Turbo R 700x25C. The original tires hold air but should be replaced.
Includes one bottle cage on down tube but also bosses on seat tube for another.
Stem and saddle post can be easily removed.
Very small scratches on frame and seat stays that are only noticeable about 2 feet away. Some visible oxidation on Suntour hubs. Dural 979 decals in excellent condition but Vitus top tube decals are deteriorating. Will provide two new replacement Vitus decals for installation by buyer.
I am the second owner but have never ridden this bicycle as it is too small for me. It appears to be outfitted with the original components as purchased by the first owner in the mid-1980s. If desired, I can provide info on the original owner (now deceased) if of interest.
Good information on this bicycle including manufacturing and racing history can be found at the “On the Drops: Light and Legendary: Vitus 979” by Peter C. Kohler at Vitus 979 History.
If interested, please reply via email with a good phone number to reach you and we can set up a time for you to see and ride the bike.
1980's - THE GOLDEN YEARS & SEAN KELLY ERA
The 1980s was an iconic era for bike racing as technology rapidly evolved and some of the all-time greats hit their prime. Debuting in 1979 the Vitus 979 frame became one of the most successful racing bikes ever built. Raced by many including Australia's Phil Anderson and Allan Peiper, Ireland's Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche, Britain's Graham Jones, Colombia's Luis Herrera and America's Marianne Mart.
It was of course Sean ‘King’ Kelly that became synonymous with the Vitus brand given his domination of the classics and Grand Tour win at the Vuelta Espania onboard the 979, becoming the world's No.1 ranked cyclist of the era. Sean's uncompromising gritty style, all-round ability and powerful sprint earned him the reputation as the hard man of cycling, with many of his wins on a Vitus now an integral part of cycling's folklore.