About three years ago I purchased two old run-down bikes from a charity.
I converted the first bike into a gravel bike afterwards, but that's another story.
The second bike is the subject of this post: it was an old road racer, in very poor condition.
The alu drop bars were crumbling metal, everything was covered in dirt and/or rust.
It looked like it had been left out to rot in the rain for several years.
But there was something about it that made me want to rescue it. So I did.
On removing the grime and stripping down the bike, I realised that the underlying components were actually pretty decent:
- Columbus SLX steel frame (golly)
- Full Shimano 105 (5500) 9 speed groupset, including crankset, cassette, brifters (sticking), derailleurs, headset, octalink bb and cabling for some sort of bike computer
- Mavic wheels (CXP12 622-14 v-profile) with Shimano 600 hubs
The exact model of this bike has eluded me for several years.
The label on the head tube says 'Lotus Sport'. Googling that returns a bunch of flashy cars.
I spent many hours (and search word combinations) trying to find it.
I tried using Google lens, but nothing matched, presumably due to the poor condition of the decals and paint.
I then found the 'Lotus Bikes' wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_(bicycles) - and looked through all of the different models they produced.
None of them matched this bike's frame, colour or decals.
Can't remember how I found them, but in the past few days I somehow finally landed on these Retrobike pages:
www.retrobike.co.uk
www.retrobike.co.uk
And I realised: that's my bike frame in the photos!
So it looks like I have purchased a rather rare Lotus Sport One-O-One.
I gather this was manufactured by British Eagle in Wales in partnership with Lotus.
Exciting!
I have two queries:
1. History
Can anyone help explain the likely year and history of this bike?
The info I found suggests early 1980's, but the ST-5500 groupset is early 1990's, so Shimano and not Campagnolo, so I'm not sure.
Perhaps the original bike was 1980's and the groupset was changed by the previous owner?
Or perhaps this bike was a different spec/model? Any ideas?
2. Is it worth restoring?
Not sure I have the budget to fully restore to original condition (whatever that was!), nor do I have a strong emotional attachment to the Lotus brand.
But I'm thinking it's probably worth doing - the underlying frame and components are good, and the bike is unusual. I like it and I think I'd enjoy riding it.
I''m tempted to change the colour (if that's not sacrilege!), but does doing so eliminate any resale value if I decided to sell it in the future?
I'd also need to get the replacement decals - assuming I can find a company to make new ones to match - to keep the spirit of the original bike.
Any thoughts or advice would be welcome.
Thanks,
J.
I converted the first bike into a gravel bike afterwards, but that's another story.
The second bike is the subject of this post: it was an old road racer, in very poor condition.
The alu drop bars were crumbling metal, everything was covered in dirt and/or rust.
It looked like it had been left out to rot in the rain for several years.
But there was something about it that made me want to rescue it. So I did.
On removing the grime and stripping down the bike, I realised that the underlying components were actually pretty decent:
- Columbus SLX steel frame (golly)
- Full Shimano 105 (5500) 9 speed groupset, including crankset, cassette, brifters (sticking), derailleurs, headset, octalink bb and cabling for some sort of bike computer
- Mavic wheels (CXP12 622-14 v-profile) with Shimano 600 hubs
The exact model of this bike has eluded me for several years.
The label on the head tube says 'Lotus Sport'. Googling that returns a bunch of flashy cars.
I spent many hours (and search word combinations) trying to find it.
I tried using Google lens, but nothing matched, presumably due to the poor condition of the decals and paint.
I then found the 'Lotus Bikes' wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_(bicycles) - and looked through all of the different models they produced.
None of them matched this bike's frame, colour or decals.
Can't remember how I found them, but in the past few days I somehow finally landed on these Retrobike pages:
Lotus Sport one 0 one - History/info request
You know how it is - you own an old bike, everyone comes to you for information..... But i don't really know anything! But i know some people that might. Lotus Sport - i know about the 108 & 110....but this one needs help. Anyone know anything? I assume a bigger frame builder made them for...
www.retrobike.co.uk
Lotus one-o-one 101
Is this something Lotus had made? Or a one off made up by a 110 fan? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3944608800
www.retrobike.co.uk
And I realised: that's my bike frame in the photos!
So it looks like I have purchased a rather rare Lotus Sport One-O-One.
I gather this was manufactured by British Eagle in Wales in partnership with Lotus.
Exciting!
I have two queries:
1. History
Can anyone help explain the likely year and history of this bike?
The info I found suggests early 1980's, but the ST-5500 groupset is early 1990's, so Shimano and not Campagnolo, so I'm not sure.
Perhaps the original bike was 1980's and the groupset was changed by the previous owner?
Or perhaps this bike was a different spec/model? Any ideas?
2. Is it worth restoring?
Not sure I have the budget to fully restore to original condition (whatever that was!), nor do I have a strong emotional attachment to the Lotus brand.
But I'm thinking it's probably worth doing - the underlying frame and components are good, and the bike is unusual. I like it and I think I'd enjoy riding it.
I''m tempted to change the colour (if that's not sacrilege!), but does doing so eliminate any resale value if I decided to sell it in the future?
I'd also need to get the replacement decals - assuming I can find a company to make new ones to match - to keep the spirit of the original bike.
Any thoughts or advice would be welcome.
Thanks,
J.
