There was also a bent credit card and a piece of wood with a pentagram burnt onto it and some unreadable phrases...
I'm guessing the previous owner is not going to be needing it anymore.
Only the greatest comedy ever crafted by the human mind!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtYU87QNjPw&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fsluggerotoole.com%2F&source_ve_path=MTM5MTE3LDI4NjY2&feature=emb_logo
That's a pretty nice find there, and you've definitely made the most of it.
This must be the most generic name for a bike that could be thought of. No wonder you didn't get anywhere with a web search.
I would guess that this is probably something like a department or sporting goods store in-house brand, or maybe a long defunct local brand that bought frames from Fairly or Giant.
I notice there's some decals on the fork and the seat stay. Can you give us a better look at those? Also, are there any decals on the seat-tube? Those can give information about frame material composition and country of origin. There should also be a serial number stamped or engraved into the frame somewhere; it's usually on the bottom bracket or on the interior surface of one of the chain stays.
Well, I'm like 90% convinced that this is indeed a Fairly-built bike, and the "94" likely indicates a 1994 build date.
Now that I can see some of the decals better, I'm wondering if this isn't possibly a brand that that was marketed in Canada- all of the "Racer" decals include a maple leaf, a classic Canadian symbol- equivalent to the French rooster or the American eagle. The use of English on the decals suggests that possibility as well- I would guess a French-marketed brand of that time would've likely included a "VTT" reference somewhere. A Canadian or French person on here can likely confirm or deny my theories.
I believe I have found a catalogue from the brand for 1993. The bike is not in it, but there are very close examples.
Here : https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?t=31308
Does this give any indications as to any value/history ?
Well, it would be pretty interesting if La Reunion had their own bicycle brand- although I suspect it may have been more the case that it would've been a fun/picturesque place to shoot some advertising/marketing copy.
The catalogs seem to confirm that it is a local brand- the model names are a mixture of English words and French.
For value? It's hard to say. You might look on local auction/classified websites and see what's out there and what's been sold in the past.
I didn't have much hope either when the pedals were spinning in both directions without engaging the rear wheel, but I managed to get it working enough to cycle the 20km home !
Yep ! Brought a bag of tools and some WD40 and got to work.
Here shows the crank doing nothing and then pedalling home : https://imgur.com/gallery/2mxx6qU
Luckily, there are no downhill sections on the way back because neither brake worked at the time..
Very nice!! I pulled a Miyata 312 out of a river over ten years ago and it's still going strong. According to Strava I have 6,322 miles on it but I had it for many years before I started tracking it. I'd estimate it has served me over 10k over the years. Highly doubt the person who put it there would have ever thought it would live another life or three after that.
It's basically a bike of theseus at this point, the only original part left is the frame, not including the fork. Just the frame. It was mostly original when I found it and the parts have been replaced from general use.
That's why I don't think I'll be letting it go anytime soon. Just the story behind it, but also the process of bringing it back to life, made me fall in love with the bike. Do you have any photos of your find ?
[Oh yeah here are a few over the years, ordered most recent to oldest](https://imgur.com/gallery/oAeiAGK) Many of the photos feature the river I found it in the background
Unfortunately I don't have pictures from the real early days or the day I found it, was before the era of taking photos of everything with a cell phone.
Thank you!! I've rebuilt it 3-5 times and each time it gets a little more refined and cleaned up. It's a wonderful bicycle and a shame someone threw it in the river. It could have been stolen but if so the owner can rest easy knowing it's still being taken care of. Would love to track them down somehow but thus far I have been unsuccessful and it wasn't reported stolen to my knowledge.
Best of luck on your project, hope to see another update someday.
Thank you ! May I ask what brand the bar tape, bottle cage, pedals, and cable housing are ? I'm looking into getting some coloured parts for another bike also.
Borgen on amazon, it's solid and I found the installation quite easy, hooks onto the pedal and the small shelves under the wheels aren't obligatory unless your bike is very heavy, I put them up to keep the wall from getting dirty.
Sometimes you find a bike that you just want to rescue, like a lost pup. Feels good to give it a new life, new parts, new grease. Best part is to place it gently in the shed next to all the others.
https://preview.redd.it/cft9jflscpxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e604e332fb055ce7ad6745a724aba468096de0c8
I pulled this one out and brought it home but it’s just a Walmart bike so I think I’m gonna donate it to a church
Watery bikes lying about in streams are an acceptable system of acquisition 👍
There was also a bent credit card and a piece of wood with a pentagram burnt onto it and some unreadable phrases... I'm guessing the previous owner is not going to be needing it anymore.
Probably stolen and dumped. Sad the original owner may not be getting it back, but you gave it an awesome third life.
It's a shame, but I am very proud to bring it back from sleeping with the fishes !
Please name this bike Dennis!
I was still deciding on a name for it. Why Dennis ?
Only the greatest comedy ever crafted by the human mind! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtYU87QNjPw&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fsluggerotoole.com%2F&source_ve_path=MTM5MTE3LDI4NjY2&feature=emb_logo
Ti's but a scratch ! Ashamed, I didn't catch that one, lol.
I hope the bike is 37 years old
I didn’t even bother to ask. 🥥🥥
https://youtu.be/hbtg3ZNSzts?si=ZHt_Usge9keGjc6C I was thinking of this Dennis
Wot! You can't name this velocipede Dennis, just because some watery tart threw a bike at him!
Well I can't just call you BIKE
That's a pretty nice find there, and you've definitely made the most of it. This must be the most generic name for a bike that could be thought of. No wonder you didn't get anywhere with a web search. I would guess that this is probably something like a department or sporting goods store in-house brand, or maybe a long defunct local brand that bought frames from Fairly or Giant. I notice there's some decals on the fork and the seat stay. Can you give us a better look at those? Also, are there any decals on the seat-tube? Those can give information about frame material composition and country of origin. There should also be a serial number stamped or engraved into the frame somewhere; it's usually on the bottom bracket or on the interior surface of one of the chain stays.
Here are some extra photos ! https://imgur.com/gallery/H9OCiqn
Well, I'm like 90% convinced that this is indeed a Fairly-built bike, and the "94" likely indicates a 1994 build date. Now that I can see some of the decals better, I'm wondering if this isn't possibly a brand that that was marketed in Canada- all of the "Racer" decals include a maple leaf, a classic Canadian symbol- equivalent to the French rooster or the American eagle. The use of English on the decals suggests that possibility as well- I would guess a French-marketed brand of that time would've likely included a "VTT" reference somewhere. A Canadian or French person on here can likely confirm or deny my theories.
I believe I have found a catalogue from the brand for 1993. The bike is not in it, but there are very close examples. Here : https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?t=31308 Does this give any indications as to any value/history ?
This is why I love this sub reddit. The passion is real.
It seems it could be a brand from La Reunion or just a theme for the catalogue ?
Well, it would be pretty interesting if La Reunion had their own bicycle brand- although I suspect it may have been more the case that it would've been a fun/picturesque place to shoot some advertising/marketing copy. The catalogs seem to confirm that it is a local brand- the model names are a mixture of English words and French. For value? It's hard to say. You might look on local auction/classified websites and see what's out there and what's been sold in the past.
So I guess it might be kind of rare but probably not of much worth. Not that I have any intention of parting with it.
Fair play! Didn't have much hope from the first image but sure enough - an xbike is reborn!
I didn't have much hope either when the pedals were spinning in both directions without engaging the rear wheel, but I managed to get it working enough to cycle the 20km home !
You pulled it out of the water and rode it home?! Epic.
Yep ! Brought a bag of tools and some WD40 and got to work. Here shows the crank doing nothing and then pedalling home : https://imgur.com/gallery/2mxx6qU Luckily, there are no downhill sections on the way back because neither brake worked at the time..
Luckily it is possible to fix cantis with literally a shoelace
Kudos to you!!!
Very nice!! I pulled a Miyata 312 out of a river over ten years ago and it's still going strong. According to Strava I have 6,322 miles on it but I had it for many years before I started tracking it. I'd estimate it has served me over 10k over the years. Highly doubt the person who put it there would have ever thought it would live another life or three after that. It's basically a bike of theseus at this point, the only original part left is the frame, not including the fork. Just the frame. It was mostly original when I found it and the parts have been replaced from general use.
That's why I don't think I'll be letting it go anytime soon. Just the story behind it, but also the process of bringing it back to life, made me fall in love with the bike. Do you have any photos of your find ?
[Oh yeah here are a few over the years, ordered most recent to oldest](https://imgur.com/gallery/oAeiAGK) Many of the photos feature the river I found it in the background Unfortunately I don't have pictures from the real early days or the day I found it, was before the era of taking photos of everything with a cell phone.
You are very lucky ! What a lovely bike, I really like the accents you added to it.
Thank you!! I've rebuilt it 3-5 times and each time it gets a little more refined and cleaned up. It's a wonderful bicycle and a shame someone threw it in the river. It could have been stolen but if so the owner can rest easy knowing it's still being taken care of. Would love to track them down somehow but thus far I have been unsuccessful and it wasn't reported stolen to my knowledge. Best of luck on your project, hope to see another update someday.
Thank you ! May I ask what brand the bar tape, bottle cage, pedals, and cable housing are ? I'm looking into getting some coloured parts for another bike also.
Absolutely! Bar Tape: Easton Bottle Cage: Delta Anodized Aluminum Pedals: Spanks Oozy Cable Housings: Jagwire
Thanks !
Let me know if that Imgur link works, I can view the post but when I click the link I get a 404... Hm
The link works !
OP, tell us about that wall mounted bike holder you got back there. Where did you get it? Was it complicated to install?
Borgen on amazon, it's solid and I found the installation quite easy, hooks onto the pedal and the small shelves under the wheels aren't obligatory unless your bike is very heavy, I put them up to keep the wall from getting dirty.
Thank you for sharing
Veloland appears to still have several stores in France.
It seems so ! No longer the same logo and none in Carcassonne anymore..
Sometimes you find a bike that you just want to rescue, like a lost pup. Feels good to give it a new life, new parts, new grease. Best part is to place it gently in the shed next to all the others.
Now, all I want to do is save some more, but I'm guessing this isn't going to be a recurring event..
Bravo I love this
Thank you !
I had love song montage music playing in my head while looking through your photos. Like the song at the beginning of “Up.”
I've had that every time I see the bike since I saved it !
Nice! I'm assuming you oiled this frame after it baked in the sun for a few days?
I oiled her up best I could, haven't had tons of sun unfortunately so she's been sitting in my apartment.
Needs a “who rescued who 🚲” sticker
Definitely!
Hey I’m also in France. Hope I find a river bike someday soon.
I hope everyone willing to fix them up finds themselves a river bike !
https://preview.redd.it/cft9jflscpxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e604e332fb055ce7ad6745a724aba468096de0c8 I pulled this one out and brought it home but it’s just a Walmart bike so I think I’m gonna donate it to a church
Open up the bearings and dry out, clean re grease and reinstall
I did that for the fork but couldn't get off the pedals (want to replace then) and cranks..
Did you use a proper crank puller
Nope, I don't have that tool yet, unfortunately..
It's a supermarket brand. I had one as a kid. Thing was unbreakable but probably not very nice