What do I do with this Serotta Colorado frameset?

[Fat Cat]

Single speed would be criminal. Cheap but criminal.

JMO of course but single speed sux and is a waste of a good bicycle AFIC



BTW the paint looks way thick and could easily be covering a serial number. Did later frames ever not have a serial number?

[charliedid]

Echo robt57 multi gear flat bar commuter.

5 speed with thumb shifter and an old silver commuter bar/stem from the Co-Op

Worry not about its origins too much, it's a cool bike.

[Derosid]

If it’s a real Serrota I’d just get a new quill stem and bars and ride it. Nitto still makes a very nice stem (the Pearl) with a 26.0mm clamp, and there are plenty of 26.0mm drop or flat bars. Old steel frames are cool!

[cgolvin]

Originally Posted by paredown

It's not rocket surgery...

Good one.

I'm with @reuben -- build it however you see fit, your plan sounds good to me.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Originally Posted by Black Dog

It’s real. I have a Colorado of the same vintage and it’s more or less the same. It has definitely been poorly repainted and decals applied incorrectly.

That transition between colors. Oof.

[cequip]

With a vintage frame like this, you can totally reinvent it over and over. Single speed one year, flat bar commuter next year, 3x9......etc., etc. No right or wrong way to do it. Have fun with it!

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

I'm assuming that's a threaded fork, so one unfamiliar bit for you will be getting a threaded headset, quill stem and "undersized" handlebars to get the steering going.

you don't have to go with smaller diameter bars.. Velo Orange makes a quill stem with a removable faceplate for 31.8 bars..

https://velo-orange.com/collections/...ceplate-31-8mm

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by paredown

I think not an LT, since they had provision for rear rack/fender attachment. Looks Serotta to me--and as has been said, any standard modern wheel/group should be usable for a retro-modern cruiser.

Are you sure about that? I've not owned an LT but I can't see that the OP's frame differs from the LTs in the 1991 catalog. LT was the first thing I thought of from the photos. It could also be a Colorado or early Colorado II. If the chainstays are straight it was made before 1992.

[robt57]

Aren't the TT cable loops a sure delineator of mid 80s most, especially if 120mm spacing @ rear. Which of course has good chance of a 130 cold set before paint.

[paredown]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

Are you sure about that? I've not owned an LT but I can't see that the OP's frame differs from the LTs in the 1991 catalog. LT was the first thing I thought of from the photos. It could also be a Colorado or early Colorado II. If the chainstays are straight it was made before 1992.

Not enough coffee when I posted--I was thinking of the Rapid Tour (RT) that I have had a hankering for--and generally you know way more than me about Serottas~

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by robt57

Aren't the TT cable loops a sure delineator of mid 80s most, especially if 120mm spacing @ rear. Which of course has good chance of a 130 cold set before paint.

The Colorado, early Colorado II, and Colorado LT all had top tube cable loops. The Colorado TG had them as well but was tig welded. 1992 was the last year for the CII, LT and TG but internal routing was standard on the CII for 1991-2. If the OP can read the serial we should be able to determine the model.

[Flinch]

Originally Posted by arroqueno

With that said, I definitely did not find a serial number on the bottom bracket. Here’s what I have from further information gathering:

Check the fork steerer tube for the serial number - it may be stamped there. Barring that, check the rear dropouts, inside and out, for the number - it may be paint covered.