Viscount Lambert Aeropostale rip off

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/bik/3936854405.html
Road Bicycle Viscount Lambert 60 CM [6' to 6'5"] - $195 (st.petersburg)

Viscount Lambert Aeropostale Road Bike 60 CM for 6' to 6'5" hand made in England Shift at Handle Bars with price to sell cheap.$195 

 

Another Viscount popping up.  To refresh, these were cheap bikes of odd design that Sheldon Brown points out are cursed with both tubing prone to cracking and the so called "fork of death," an aluminum steerer tube  tacked to a steel fork that was very prone to failure.  

And again, even without those safety issues, the bike comes in overpriced.  I think it must be the 'rarity' of these that makes people list them so high.  This is a perfect example as to how irrelevant rarity is.  You dont see them because they were dangerous to keep riding, and most of them probably wound up on a heap.  You might like to replace the fork as a project to get practice, but even then there isn't must to want to keep here.  This bike would have to be priced under $50 to be a buy.

Viscount Aerospace G.P. rip off

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/3861859732.html
Viscount Aerospace G.P. Bicycle - $375 (Pittsburgh)

 

 For sale is one clean and complete 1970's Viscount Aerospace G.P. road bicycle built by Trusty in England. Lightweight (for its time) steel frame with chromed forks. Brand new tires, saddle, brakes, and leather handlebar wraps purchased from Thick Bikes in the South Side. All other parts are original - Bike is parts complete and ready to ride. When purchased, the bike still had the original tires and brake pads, if that gives you any idea of how many miles it has on it.

Lugged steel frame construction, made in England.
Viscount was part of the Lambert Cycles conglomerate which also included Viking bicycles.
Unique to these bikes were the Lambert style crank as well as brand oriented quick release skewers and brake calipers.

Specifications:
57cm
SR Laprade Fluted Seatpost
Ritchey Force Stem (130mm)
Tange Headset
Dia-Compe Brake Levers
GB 77 Brake Calipers
Shimano Shifters
Shimano Thunderbird GTO Front Derailleur
Lambert Crankset
27x1 1/4
5 speed Freewheel

For starters, go read what Sheldon Brown has to say:  http://sheldonbrown.com/lambert.html

But basically these were inexpensive bikes that made some unique design choices, that more or less didn't work out.  The biggest issue being the alloy fork, which saved weight, was also prone to failing.  But Sheldon also brings up a tendency for the down tubes and bottom bracket to crack.  This seller doesn't know what he has, because you wouldn't talk up the originality if you knew about the issues with these bikes.  He also says the bike is lugged steel when clearly in the picture you can see it isn't.  Again, Sheldon tells us filet brazed.  Even without the safety issues of riding these bikes this bike is wildly overpriced based on the components.  Hopefully no one falls for it.