Mystery machine - West Sussex

[Johnboy]

This maybe? Here's the link -

https://www.sterba-bike.cz/item/favorit-1966-sportovni-kolo/category/sports-bicycles-archive?lang=EN

 

[sjcprojects]

Impressive @Johnboy - that's definitely it, which means this is a 1968 model. Funnily enough I wasn't thinking about something from Czechoslovakia when thinking about makers. Perhaps that explains why it looked older to me – I imagine behind the Iron Curtain bikes for most people (as opposed to Olympic competitors) bike design was a bit behind those in the West, to say the least. Unless that's just me post-rationalising.

Anyway, there can't be too many of those on these shores - that's a real oddity. Pretty interesting. Apparently Favorit are still going - interesting bit of info on the history here

 

[Johnboy]

Impressive @Johnboy

Well yes I am a very knowledgeable person you know. Or alternatively I know nothing about road bikes and just struck lucky with a reverse image search .

 

[bozasaurus]

Bravo @Johnboy , bravo!

 

[sjcprojects]

I'm curious to know how the frame is, weight-wise. Is it is the Soviet version of 531?

 

[bozasaurus]

I'm curious to know how the frame is, weight-wise. Is it is the Soviet version of 531?

My scales are currently broken (not because of this Soviet Steed!) but it’s got some fair heft to it. I’ve been tinkering with a magnesium kili flyer beforehand which probably doesn’t do the Favorit any favours by comparing the two!

 

[sjcprojects]

My scales are currently broken (not because of this Soviet Steed!) but it’s got some fair heft to it. I’ve been tinkering with a magnesium kili flyer beforehand which probably doesn’t do the Favorit any favours by comparing the two!

It seems safe to say the frame is a fairly basic job - though I noticed Favorit did produce some nice proper road bikes, I suspect this was not one of those (they were also producing a touring bike with the old style non-cable operated FD in 1967, so not exactly keeping up with the times).

 

[bozasaurus]

It seems safe to say the frame is a fairly basic job - though I noticed Favorit did produce some nice proper road bikes, I suspect this was not one of those (they were also producing a touring bike with the old style non-cable operated FD in 1967, so not exactly keeping up with the times).

Indeed - not sure they would have got any olympic medals riding this version. Nonetheless, seems a shame to not get it back up and running. I'm sure their vision in '68 was to transport a middle-aged brit to the local pub half a century later, so I will honour that .

 

[sjcprojects]

Indeed - not sure they would have got any olympic medals riding this version. Nonetheless, seems a shame to not get it back up and running. I'm sure their vision in '68 was to transport a middle-aged brit to the local pub half a century later, so I will honour that .

Given the Czechs are famed for their lager, that seems entirely appropriate!