1981 specialized sequoia rebuild

[Chuck moo]

Years and years ago I worked in a bike shop and Micheal a customer of the shop used to bring in his bike for various jobs, it was a Specialized Sequoia. This bike used to wind me up, it had campagnolo brakes and hubs and it just didn’t seem right id never seen one looking like this. So fast forward several years and much pestering ( we now ride together ) Micheal decided to sell me his old bike. he told me how he had bought it new in Chicago in 1981 and that it was only avaliable as a frame set and how he had it built up the way it is. It turns out that this was the first year specialized had done a frame let alone bikes . So I’m still trying to learn more about these frames and eager for any input. I’m hoping some discussion from this will help clarify things .

 

[Chuck moo]

 

[garanti_construit]

Lovely frame. Some information here: https://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.com/2020/01/old-is-good-specialized-sequoia.html

 

[Chuck moo]

Lovely frame. Some information here: https://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.com/2020/01/old-is-good-specialized-sequoia.html

Hi, sorry for the delayed reply, thank you for that link it’s really helpful.

 

[Chuck moo]

So here’s some update pictures. I’ve took everything apart cleaned / polished and regreased stuff. Both rims had split at the spoke eyelets , I had one replacement rim that was NOS so I used that but due to my own urgency I used a Mavic reflex on the rear to get up and running. I think long term I’ll be looking to go over to clinchers and larger capacity tyres . New bar tape, brake lever hoods, Sachs rear block and a used but I think nicely coloured rolls saddle . At this point I have the original Jim Blackburn bottle cages to go on , a new longer chain to take the stress off the rear mech a bit and a pair of Campagnolo pedals with clips and straps. I love the avocet chainset which I feel is something you just don’t see that often but I suppose the bike is like that anyway as ive never seen any reference to one in the uk . The suntour mechs and bar end shifters seemed to be derigeur for that era. All in all the parts don’t feel tired and all the bearing surfaces look great too .

From what I can establish the frame was bought in 1981 , it’s frame number is 0017 580 ( it’s a 58cm size) , it has the long pointed lugs, no seat tube bottle cage mounts, designed by Tim neenan decal, earliest style decals, chromed Shimano dropouts, all of which point to it being one of the earliest frames , I know there were a batch of fastback seatstay frames first so this is the 17th frame to be numbered and sold in the first year of production . I’m claiming to my friends that it’s the 17th frame( bike) that specialized made .

 

[KeepItSteel]

Very cool. Nice find

 

[Chuck moo]

Here’s a picture from the veloretro in ulverston , well a camping ground near by. So all up and running with both original Jim blackburn bottle cages fitted .

 

[was8v]

Wow what have you got!

Certainly a special bike!