Squirrelking
Dirt Disciple
So, a couple of months back I was messing about on eBay and spotted an old Galaxy for sale nearby. It looked utterly terrible but the components seemed to be in okay condition, I figured out I could use it as a donor for the old "Parkes" (I never did get round to sorting that question out, that's a lockdown job for me). £20 later and a drive to a retail park and it was mine.
On first glance it was utterly filthy but in far beter nick than I had counted on. Bits of surface rust but nothing troubling and the wheels spun nicely. To be honest only the headset seems to have suffered.
Fast forward to last week and I finally got round to pulling it out the shed for a much needed clean. And then things got strange. The gentle cleaning action of muc-off started cracking the frankly terrible blowover paintjob to reveal a pink monstrosity underneath. What the heck had I bought? I persevered and cleaned up what I could, happily finding out that despite the rusted cables and shot outers everything that should move did and everything that shouldn't didn't. After taking a knife to it I then noticed the head and seat tubes were actually blue underneath. Well off script.
I had it pegged as a 30/01 as the spec matched but this defienitely didn't. So after a bit of research I realised may actually have a Mirage. Not the same as the '75 linked but from the look of the '76 catalogue I think it's a year younger. The '76 has fixed cable guides like mine as well as the cable stop bridge, comes in cerise and has the same components as the illustration and spec sheet down to the screw clamp pump mounts. The Galaxy, on the other hand, had fixed mounts so rules it out further. Duo levers were an optional upgrade.
I found 75-6 stamped onto the Moxy cranks which I assume means they were made in June of 75, about right for the next model year. It also has rather nice lugwork around the headtube which seems to correspond to the higher models.
Finally, it may or may not be of use but the frame is stamped with J2504 5 on the LHS dropout and J P 11 on the bottom bracket. I suspect the latter has been done later as the stamping seems to have bashed the cup slightly.
I've not had a look at the forks to see if they correspond to the frame number yet but they have the same pink underneath. I've not weighed it either, I don't want to go getting my hopes up.
Full spec appears to be:
Weinnman 799 brakes and duo levers.
Suntour band on shifters, front Compe V mech, rear V Luxe mech (both stamped with 4532) and "Perfect" BB
Milremo saddle and pedals
Birmalux seatpost and aluminium rims mounted on Pelissier hubs.
GB bars and anodised black stem (now a funky off green colour)
So, '76 Mirage, yay or nay? I must admit I know nothing about them but if it is one I'd like to restore it as it's rather nice looking and actually seems to fit me.
On first glance it was utterly filthy but in far beter nick than I had counted on. Bits of surface rust but nothing troubling and the wheels spun nicely. To be honest only the headset seems to have suffered.
Fast forward to last week and I finally got round to pulling it out the shed for a much needed clean. And then things got strange. The gentle cleaning action of muc-off started cracking the frankly terrible blowover paintjob to reveal a pink monstrosity underneath. What the heck had I bought? I persevered and cleaned up what I could, happily finding out that despite the rusted cables and shot outers everything that should move did and everything that shouldn't didn't. After taking a knife to it I then noticed the head and seat tubes were actually blue underneath. Well off script.
I had it pegged as a 30/01 as the spec matched but this defienitely didn't. So after a bit of research I realised may actually have a Mirage. Not the same as the '75 linked but from the look of the '76 catalogue I think it's a year younger. The '76 has fixed cable guides like mine as well as the cable stop bridge, comes in cerise and has the same components as the illustration and spec sheet down to the screw clamp pump mounts. The Galaxy, on the other hand, had fixed mounts so rules it out further. Duo levers were an optional upgrade.
I found 75-6 stamped onto the Moxy cranks which I assume means they were made in June of 75, about right for the next model year. It also has rather nice lugwork around the headtube which seems to correspond to the higher models.
Finally, it may or may not be of use but the frame is stamped with J2504 5 on the LHS dropout and J P 11 on the bottom bracket. I suspect the latter has been done later as the stamping seems to have bashed the cup slightly.
I've not had a look at the forks to see if they correspond to the frame number yet but they have the same pink underneath. I've not weighed it either, I don't want to go getting my hopes up.
Full spec appears to be:
Weinnman 799 brakes and duo levers.
Suntour band on shifters, front Compe V mech, rear V Luxe mech (both stamped with 4532) and "Perfect" BB
Milremo saddle and pedals
Birmalux seatpost and aluminium rims mounted on Pelissier hubs.
GB bars and anodised black stem (now a funky off green colour)
So, '76 Mirage, yay or nay? I must admit I know nothing about them but if it is one I'd like to restore it as it's rather nice looking and actually seems to fit me.
