VITUS 979 Bertin

[biggs682]

Whats your verdict folks ?
View attachment 440625

Shame they didn't sweep the path first

 

[woodbutcher]

Few more photos :

 

[woodbutcher]

Shame they didn't sweep the path first

Bloody Paris , scruffy lot

 

[biggs682]

Bloody Paris , scruffy lot

Oh the bike is nice

 

[woodbutcher]

I agree Mr. B but it comes with a price tag which is fairly high so l want to be sure before l go ahead. The bike is in Paris so much too far north for me to go for a look

 

[woodbutcher]

Last pic , promise :

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Were the joints on these glued only or screwed and glued?

 

[woodbutcher]

Were the joints on these glued only or screwed and glued?

This seems to answer your question :
The first Vitus-branded Vitus 979 Duralinox frames of 5083 aluminum-magnesium alloy tubing and lugs were developed in 1978 and introduced in the Spring of 1979 3 with Ateliers de la Rive designing and producing the 979 Duralinox tube sets, forks, head tubes and rear triangle stays, and Angenieux-CLB producing the cast alloy internal slip-fit lugs, bottom bracket, fork crown, drop-outs and rear brake bridges. Vitus 979 frames were also supplied to Motobecane, Peugeot, and Gitane 4. Of interest is the fact that they were glued together! US Patent 4,479,662 5 for the Vitus 979 by inventors Paule Defour and Antoine Dumas is a fascinating read.

 

[Ian H]

I believe you got a tube of glue with a new frame.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Nice. When bikes were bikes and not plastic mouldings.!

So true. It's one of the reasons I intend to just stick with lugged steel no matter how old-fashioned it may seem. Can't abide the ugliness of modern stuff, especially of the aero carbon variety.
The Vitus isn't really my sort of machine - too racy and aggressive - but its a good looker nonetheless. Mind you it's very difficult to make an ugly bike out of slender round tubing. Even the most humble everyday utility machines with no sporty pretensions whatsoever can still look handsome.

 

[woodbutcher]

So true. It's one of the reasons I intend to just stick with lugged steel no matter how old-fashioned it may seem. Can't abide the ugliness of modern stuff, especially of the aero carbon variety.
The Vitus isn't really my sort of machine - too racy and aggressive - but its a good looker nonetheless. Mind you it's very difficult to make an ugly bike out of slender round tubing. Even the most humble everyday utility machines with no sporty pretensions whatsoever can still look handsome.

Couldn't agree more, and modern plastic may make marketing sense in that you can "update " designs every year if you feel the need. After all once the equipment which moulds the plastic into shape is set up, all you need are low paid "by Western standards" Asian workers in factories operating cheaply also by Western standards and you are in business. This applies to more than bicycles, l know because l spent part of my working life setting up such plants in Vietnam, the Philippines and mainland China ...not to make bikes but to manufacture "high end" furniture for the USA. And very profitable it was to !
As a footnote to all this rambling, the other day l was on my usual ride on the Vitus 992 and had stopped to talk to a friend who has a shop here in Cazals. Two guys on modern Giant bikes went past while we were talking but without acknowledging our "bonjour" . This slightly annoyed me so when l eventually got on my bike again and set of at a brisk pace l was very surprised to see the two guys way in the distance down one of those dead straight roads common in France, lined by Plane trees on either side. Childish l know but l set off in pursuit and after a klm or two l caught them and passed them on my "old fashioned" 24 year old bike. They didn't see me again, most gratifying !

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Childish l know but l set off in pursuit and after a klm or two l caught them and passed them on my "old fashioned" 24 year old bike. They didn't see me again, most gratifying !

I'd have been gloating about it as well. There's nothing like bringing someone too offish or aloof down a peg or two. Like leaving some flash but clueless muppet in a shiny £50k car for dead whilst driving a scruffy £100 banger that looks like you dragged it out of a scrapyard.

 

[Milkfloat]

I'd have been gloating about it as well. There's nothing like bringing someone too offish or aloof down a peg or two. Like leaving some flash but clueless muppet in a shiny £50k car for dead whilst driving a scruffy £100 banger that looks like you dragged it out of a scrapyard.

Only if they are aware they are racing, otherwise you just come across as sad old men trying to relive your your youth.

 

[mikeymustard]

Nice looking bike. Wasn't this one of Sean Kelly's favourites? I thought they had a rep for being a bit flexible too, a situation that was rectified in the 992. Definitely not a bike for an old cart horse like myself, but at the right price, and considering its historical significance, how could you resist?

 

[woodbutcher]

Nice looking bike. Wasn't this one of Sean Kelly's favourites? I thought they had a rep for being a bit flexible too, a situation that was rectified in the 992. Definitely not a bike for an old cart horse like myself, but at the right price, and considering its historical significance, how could you resist?

Its the historical significance of the 979 which interests me and the fact that Sean Kelly was clocked doing 124 km on one. This is a quote by Kelly
“What was I thinking as I plummeted down the descent of the Poggio in pursuit of Moreno Argentin? I was thinking of winning, nothing else. I was going to give everything to catch Argentin and win the race. If I finished the day lying on my face among the tomato plants and shards of glass, so be it.
If it was good enough for "King Kelly" it is far to good for me but l love riding the bike and as far as being flexible is concerned that may be true for big frames with heavy riders but as you say that was sorted for the 992 and to be honest mine is rock hard but l absolutely love riding it as fast as my rubbish leg muscles will allow