Oh the memories, I raced a team (Competition Development) version of this bike (basically had red decals) and red rims etc..  I'm sure someone could correct me but if memory serves me right the top tube was a thinner gauge tube the Helium was designed to compensate (hold the strength) for it.

Last edited by gwokster (2008-07-24 3:45am)

even if the helium does nothing ,its still an awesom looking bike, those things must have been expensive to build...bitd

gwokster wrote:

Oh the memories, I raced a team (Competition Development) version of this bike (basically had red decals) and red rims etc..  I'm sure someone could correct me but if memory serves me right the top tube was a thinner gauge tube the Helium was designed to compensate (hold the strength) for it.

The Quicksilver 'Team Helium' replaced the previous factory race model, the 'Team', in September or October 1981. It differed in that the matchbox behind the bottom bracket shell was deleted & the chainstays were extended to cover the gap in the Helium.
The Team's tubular brake bridge was replaced with one of flat material in the Helium.
Both the Team & the Team Helium were available in chrome finish only.

The Helium's frame tubing was a Japanese supplied CrMo that had a wall section of 0.049", however the top & down tube was an American sourced aircraft CrMo that was of a higher spec & was only 0.037" thick.
These two tubes were pressurised to restore the rigidity that was lost with the thinner tube, & Helium was used because it is dry & inert. [no oxygen or moisture]

The definitive blue stickers were not available for the 'Helium' when it went into production, so the previous [Team] model's red stickers continued to be used untill about January or February 1982.

According to an ex-factory source, it would seem that the red stickers were used up to a frame numbered in the mid 60's or so, however just a few frames numbered in the mid 50's were equiped with a blue sticker that was subsequently rejected as being too complex/fussy/ornate [pick one] & red stickers continued to be used untill the definitive design of blue sticker was approved & supplied.
Apparently one of these earlier [rejected] blue stickers still exist on a surviving bike.

Are you able to provide a serial number & perhaps a clear & reasonably large picture?

The number of known survivors has pretty much doubled in the last year or so & it's always good to find that another of these iconic frames have survived

bump...
still one of the best