1990's Orbit Italia

[Illaveago]

I have recently picked up this bike. It is a make which is unfamiliar to me. I've always associated the name with a sugar free chewing gum.

It was cheap and I fancied a project. It also involved a trip to a place where we've never been to before. It was a shame that we picked a day that was raining which made the journey tiring. I picked up the bike and loaded it into our car, dropped off the money and set off for Dorchester.

Today I had a better chance to inspect the bike . It is a 22 inch Reynolds 500 framed bike, 700 x 23 Rigida ally rims with a Sachs front hub and a Shimano rear with 7 sprockets. Shimano EX300 front and rear mech. I'm not sure the make of the cranks but they are really corroded. The chrome plating if that's what it is is bubbling up and lifting off. I will replace them! The handlebar stem is steel which is also plated. This will be replaced as it is too long for me. The ally bars will too as they are far too wide. I will be rummaging around in my spares box.

I think my first thing to do will be to git it a clean and see what needs doing . The front hub bearings are possibly the first to do as they felt notchy. I can't wait to take it for a test ride.

 

[midlife]

Trying to think if Andy Thompson built for them? I used to have a memory lol

 

[biggs682]

That should clean up ok
Surely that's a matching ex crank set ?

 

[Jameshow]

Nice daily ride!
Very late trad steel bike before the sti / alu / carbon revolution!
Cain't believe that was current only 20yrs ago when Ribble and Graham weigh had 2 page bike builder ads on CW!

 

[Illaveago]

That should clean up ok
Surely that's a matching ex crank set ?

I read that as Ex, passed on , is no more , pushing up the daisies!

 

[Illaveago]

I think the previous owner was a lighthouse keeper who used to cycle to work everyday going by the corrosion on the forks and cranks . It has a label on the frame saying that it was serviced in Southampton.

 

[Gillstay]

If it handles like my old Orbit Harrier you have a very useful bike.

 

[Illaveago]

If it handles like my old Orbit Harrier you have a very useful bike.

If there is a bit of a break in the weather and I have some free time from decorating I will see if I can get it rideable .

 

[raleighnut]

Nice

Yellow sticker on the crank makes me think 'Biopace', could be EX or maybe 'new' 105

 

[Cycleops]

Nice one. I remember those from the nineties I think. Quality machine. Might have distributed by Madison seem to remember.

 

[Illaveago]

It's strange that there isn't anything that I've seen which states where it was made , neither country or town / city.

 

[Jameshow]

Being lugged there is a good chance it was built in UK!
When Tig came along production started going offshore I believe.

 

[chris667]

It was made in Sheffield. They have gone now, sadly.

 

[Cycleops]

Was this anything to do with Lloyd @chris667 ? They're the only maker I know of from there. I'm in Sheffield at the moment and bought one of their bikes when I here a few years ago.

 

[biggs682]

It was made in Sheffield. They have gone now, sadly.

And they were also made around the Coventry area at one point as were Sirius and a few were made by Tom Bromwich and Lee Cooper whilst he was working with Tom