Phil H’s Mid-1980s Saint Tropez La Sport

Posted

Sorry for the slow week, I think it was the Transit of Venus that got me all jacked up.
Here is Phil H’s OTSG First Saint Tropez La Sport.
I could go for a day or two in the French Riviera right about now, but I guess Phil sweet ride is as close as we’ll get right now.

Hi Cameron,

I picked up this OTS (‘T’ as in 12-speed!) bike a couple of weekends ago as a project and also because I didn’t see a Saint Tropez in the OTSG listings.  I don’t know much about the brand, except that it appears to be a level up from department store stuff in that it was purchased ~25 years ago from a still highly regarded LBS.  But other than that, it has all the ear marks a good ol’ bike boom baby.

It was in rough shape when I got it off CL for $25, but after a new saddle, tires, tubes, brake pads, padded saddle, and handlebar tape, along with a lot of steel wool on the rims, derailleurs, and brake levers, and a good dose of elbow grease throughout, we have a serviceable, if not heavy (“Aerolite tubing??”), bike that is ready to ride again!

Enjoy, and thanks again to everyone here for the inspiration.

Phil H.

Related posts:

  1. Scott V’s 1985 Club Fuji
  2. Art C’s 1972 Centurion
  3. Timothy J’s High-riding Bianchi
  4. Doc Sprocket’s 1969 JC Higgins
  5. Matt K’s 1980 Motobecane Mirage
  • BeaterRezQ

    Phil H., now that’s a headbadge! (nearly takes up the entire headtube)
    “A level up from department store stuff” describes it very well. Far from El Cheapo, but neither is it high-end. It’s been my experience that “those” kind of bikes oftentimes make for a very worthy and dependable ride. Irregardless, it cleaned up nicely and is back on the road again, nice!
    –BRQ

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000708370801 Phil Harrington

      Thanks, BRQ. Flipped and sold just like that. On to my next project!

  • Trailerparkcyclist

    Nothing wrong with Aerolite, Phil. Remember, it goes faster downhill. One of these days I’m gonna ride one of those featherweight carbon wonders to see what the big deal is, but until then, make mine steel.

    Cameron, I agree that this Venus thing was tough,but it is nothing compared to a transit of Uranus.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000708370801 Phil Harrington

    As I just posted on the OTSG FB page, when I’m not riding, I’m stargazing. Some transit shots taken through one of my scopes: http://spaceweather.com/submissions/large_image_popup.php?image_name=Phil-Harrington-IMG_0628a-Large_1338986824.jpg 🙂

  • Ryan Surface

    Phil nice clean up job – like the before and after shots of the FD and Crank – and I agree with BRQ that is a cool head-badge. Glad to hear it was a quick flip and someone is out there smiling and riding a cool rehabbed bike boom “10” speed.

  • Ryan Surface

    The bikemanforU channel did a review of an old Saint Tropez a few years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaVNJW_ivQ8