Baycrest......CCM ???

The Hudson's Bay Company did source bicycles from CCM but sources could vary from year to year. Basically, the buyers for the retail department store chains were looking for the best pricing and that could vary from year to year depending on factors like exchange rates, shipping rates, import duties, etc., none of which were fixed. Even if you know that a particular source was used for a specific year, it wasn't necessarily the same source for all the models.

Vintage bicycles are often a mix of OEM and non-OEM parts. While that Shimano RS derailleur could be original to the bicycle, there's just as good a probability that it isn't. For instance, that moustache handlebar is almost certainly a replacement. 

The bottom line is that we'll need photos to ascertain the source of the bicycle. Don't forget to include the serial number which should be on the lower, non-drive side of the seat tube, a few inches above the bottom bracket shell, assuming it is CCM manufacture. With a set of good photos and the serial number, forum members should be able to tell you if it is CCM manufacture and, if so, the year and what CCM model was the basis.

Thank you, T-Mar, for the info. I finally found more info including 2 numbers on the rear dropouts. On the left dropout the numbers are obviously stamped by hand and are AH2494 as shown in pic #4. On the right dropout, the other number is very neatly done in a totally different font and is LM-42928 as shown in pic #3. Another clue is the rims are Rigidas and the date code is 1980. As well, the front der is a Shimano FE. The crank set is Sugino steel with made-in-Germany Union pedals.Hopefully with the 5 pics and this additional info this bike can at least be semi-identified.

Oooops.....I forgot to mention there are no numbers anywhere on the seat tube or the BB bracket.

It’s not CCM manufacture. The serial number format and location is incorrect. It also doesn’t look like any CCM manufactured frame that I’ve seen.

It also not a product of Raleigh Canada, who was another known source for Baycrest bicycles. Again, the serial number location and format is wrong.

The front end does resemble the lower end Sekine Canada models, particularly the fork crown and bulge formed head tube. However, that’s where the frame similarity stops. Also, Sekine typically put their serial number on the bottom bracket shell.

It’s definitely an entry level model. The date codes for the rims do match the era for the Shimano RS and FE derailleurs, so they’re probably OEM and would make the bicycle circa 1980-1981. I didn’t see the Made In Canada label that’s typically found on Canadian assembled or manufactured bicycles of the era, unless it’s part of that sticker at the bottom of the seat tube.

T-Mar: OK thanks for that update. Now I know what it isn't......and the search continues.

The location on the left rear dropout and font type/size of the characters seems to be remeniscent of Giants of the early and mid 80's Schwinns that have passed through my hands. Yes ?? No ?? 

The sticker on the lower seat tube is a CSA approval sticker and it was issued by manufacturer or importer #153, whoever that was. I wonder if the CSA records go back that far ?? What are the odds that they'd even care about such ancient history ?? LOL

No, it's defitely not a Giant.

After my previous post, I was mulling things over and realized I'd neglected Procycle. They've been around since the early 1970s and started manufacturing entry level Peugeot under license for the 1979 model year, which could expain the presence of the Rigida rims and Union pedals. A quick look at some of their entry level Vélo Sport models from the very early 1980s showed several frame similaities including the fork crown, bulge formed head tube, stay caps and rear dropouts. I'm attaching a link to an advertisement with a frame that looks almost identical, except for the presence of  brazed-on cable stops for the rear brake cable and rear derailleur. These could have been omitted on the Baycrest as a cost concession.

https://www.usedvictoria.com/road-bikes/36323447/photos?i=1

Thanks for that, T-Mar. As always, you are a fount of info on arcane bikes in general and Canadian ones in particular.

Who was/is Procycle ? Were they a Quebec-based company ??

OK, T-Mar, I found out who Procycle was and who they are now......Rocky Mountain as of July 2018. A quite informative article is found here:

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2018/07/02/rocky-mountains...

Again, many thanks for pointing me in the right direction !!!

Procycle actually manufactured CCM bicycles from 1983 to 2009. When CCM went bankrupt, a holding company associated with Procycle acquired the CCM brand and assets.  They immediately sold off the hockey business to Sports Maska. In 2009 they sold the bicycle side of the business to Sports Maska. The last time that I checked, Sports Maska still owns the CCM brand, though they were never directly invloved with production, at least on the bicycle side. They license out the CCM name to retailers. For a long time that licensee was CTC (Canadian Tire Corp.). However, I haven't seen any CCM bicycles at CTC recently, except for old stock, so there may be a new bicycle licensee. CTC still carries the hockey line. With all the corporate acquisitions and divestures that happen, it can be difficult to keep track of things. What might be an accurate statement to-day, could be wrong to-morrow. 

T-Mar: So I guess when the plant in Weston was shut down all the manufacturing went to Procycle ?? Or have I got my timing wrong somewhere ??

CCM was acquired primarliy to increase sales via a brand with high Canadian  visibilty. However, CCM's reputation had eroded in the previous decade, to the point where its appeal extended primarily to middle aged adults who had grown up on CCM bicycles and were buying bicycles for their children. Consequently, the prime market was entry level. That fit nicely with Procycle's manufacturing capability at the time. As a result, Procycle built the vast majority of CCM bicycles when they owned the brand. However there were exceptions. In the mid-1980s, the top CCM model was the Tour Du Monde, though it just edged into the lower, mid-range segment of the market. The frames for this model were built in France by Peugeot. Also, during this era, Procycle contracted Miki in Japan to manufacture the frames for some of the mid-range and higher Vélo Sport models, so I wouldn't be suprized if some Miki manufactured CCM turned up. Finally, it's possible that Procycle may have run into some capacity issues at some point and had to resort to a contractor. This is something that I was considering with your bicycle. If those actually are two sets of serial numbers, one could belong to a contractor, with the other being from Procycle. 

T-Mar: again, many thanks for your thorough explanation of the history of Procycle and the multitude of brands that they manufactured over the years. What a "checkered" production history they've had and still have. Amazing !!!

Ooops....I forgot to mention that I've seen that LM prefixed type of number on the right dropout elsewhere in the past 10 uears or so. Now I just have to try to remember where or when I saw it.