Way back in March I posed the question, would you like/use a OTS specific classified section on the OTSG.  I then put the question to a vote.  You kind of overwhelmingly approved of the idea, so for the past 3 months I’ve been working off and on in the development of just such a function.

I had toyed with idea of opening up the “posts” to a “For Sale By Owner” category, but knowing my track record of tardy posting I figured this should be something I hand over to you the reader. I chose a FREE, somewhat intuitive classified software package and configured it to my liking. I named her Emporium and she should be just that.  All things old, crappy 10-speed brought to life in commerce and community.  

I approached this project very loosely and open minded, with a couple exceptions.  

Here how I see it:

• It’s FREE, but if you sell lots of stuff on it, say thanks with a donation.
• Use it or don’t use it, I don’t care.
• If no one uses it, I’ll just remove it. No skin off my back.
• It is VERY rough.  I am counting on you, the user, to report any issues, flaws or general suggestions to me.
• I am requiring registration to post on the Emporium, but you are free to browse without registration.
• I am requiring a “Request for Registration” to prescreen potential users, and to thwart the spam-asses.
• Any personal information you share with me will not be used feloniously or shared with any third parties.  If you don’t want to share the information—don’t.  All I need is a valid email, an alias and preferable your first and last name.
• I have not written any Terms of Use or CYA legal jargon, so if I grant you registration, I am expecting you to use this service respectfully and responsibly, or I will remove you and your postings immediately. 
• I reserve the right to reject or remove any user for any reason, but don’t worry, I’m a nice guy.
• I have limited the registration through requests for several reasons, including but not limited to: no spam bot protection currently in place on the site, no Terms of Use and legal jargon, in an effort to control the traffic and user base during fine tuning and development.
• I would like the Emporium to stay on topic.  I will delete any non-relevant ads as soon as I see them. The whole point is to provide a speciality market.

Thats pretty much it, but I may add  to or edit this list in the future.  

Go ahead, take a look around.  There isn’t much to it, just a shell. But with your help, it’ll be the bumpinest little 10-speed flea market on the planet.  

The slow moving train that is International Week, is making a stop in Sweden.  Our resident Swede, Jan, sent in two of their finest for our enjoyment.  The first is a Monark Ultra Lyx.  Note the one piece crank; I thought we Americans were the only ones who did those?  My eyes may be messing with me, but that bottom bracket looks to be somewhere between a standard American BB and a Euro BB in diameter.  Jan, can you shed some light on all this?  One other note: In the second thumbnail image, the name S. Maes is stamped into the bar.  Is that perhaps the originator of the Maes bend?

A typical sports bike from the 60-70´s era made for the aware and fast commuter! These kind of hybrids between race and easy everyday riding were the key for the bike as something else than just transport in Sweden. They were often seen in long distance races for amateurs. This is a Monark Ultra Lyx (“Massive luxury”) with Simplex derailluer, crankset and Racer brakes. Very stylish bar, rack and mudguards makes it a timeless glider. Unfortanely its a bit too small for me (27 1/4 wheels) but I consider trying to rebuild to fit 28″ wheels (those lovely mudguards has to make way?) but I´m not sure. Anyhow, it will be safe in my garage and I can enjoy it now and then poppin´ down to the local shop.

Here is an update on Jan’s Dusty Rose Mustang from last November.  After seeing this—the coolest Dadsmobile in the Northern Hemisphere—how could anyone bear to lumber down the bike path on a “comfort” bike lugging a Burley?

The Mustang really knocks the socks off any father-figure-bike-wanne-be! Me and Franz (15 months) just gliiide! Take care – Jan.

Wow, after two weeks of fancy photography and high-brow Japan(ese) OTS, it is back to Earth we fall.  The next two weeks we’ll be venturing away from Japan to feature OTS from around the globe(or at least part way around).  These bikes come from countries who may or may not be known for their old, crappy, 10-speed craftsmanship but still deserve our appreciation.  What does this mean to you? Well, it means you’ll enjoy another 2+ weeks of Varsity-Free browsing, welcome to International Week(s).

Leading us off on our adventure through central Europe and beyond is Ben H. and his Puch Meteor Lux mixte.  Ill kept, lightly ridden, bottomed out Austrian mixtes are just the kind of offering that keep all our feet on the ground and keep us reaching for the WD40.  Pair that with the modern classic photographic technique, the backsidagarägdorotype, and you’ve got a OTSOTM in the making.

This is what luck and $10 will buy you. Everything works, but the bike is going to get some upgraded alloy parts including a crank set, wheels and stem/handle bars. The paint has very few issues and the flaws that are present should buff out.

Thanks Ben

Since I am no where near a computer this fine Sunday morning, I have employed my trusty robot assistant to post, this, the final OTS of Japan(ese) Week(s).  Scott L.‘s tranquil photographs of his 1977 Nishiki International are a most fitting accompaniment to this long lazy weekend.

Thanks for posting the Rapide. It was exciting to see it there. This
is the bike that was in the background of the assembly photos.

She’s a 1977 Nishiki International, I think. I’ve swapped the barcons
for a Suntour Symmetric down tube shifter, changed the brake levers
and wrapped the bars with cotton and shellac. Everything else is
probably original or at least from the same time frame. Well, except
for that horrid saddle. It’s just what I had on hand.

Thanks again Scott

In 16 months of OTSG we haven’t had one Owner Submitted Maruishi Roadace. Now suddenly, we’ve had two submitted in ten days!  This ACE is a NOS appearing RX-5 sent in by John C.  

John, I find it admirable that you sprang for some drop bars, but chose to reuse the “touring” levers. The “reach”, however, is  a stretch.  

I came upon this Maruishi Roadace RX-5, and could not resist it- even though I had two old ten speeds already.  As found, it had a pair of aftermarket “comfort” handle bars (which I immediately replaced with more respectable drop bars), and the sprung Avenir seat seen here (which is actually rather nice).
  The advert showed a crummy camera-phone picture, and carried a caption of ”Women’s bike….used in fair to good condition but needs a tune up”. In reality, there is not a scratch on it, and it did NOT need a tune up.  It has a lovely claret-red chromalloy double-butted frame with silver lettering, Shimano brakes, shifters and F & R derailleurs, Araya alloy wheels, and a Sakae crank. – For $30, I figured I could not go wrong.

Thanks John