Vitus
1930's - THE VITUS NAME IS BORN
The Vitus name first sprung to life as a premium steel tube set manufactured by renowned French steel manufacturer Ateliers de la Rive based in St Etienne, France. Along with the 'Rubis' and 'Durifort' tube sets, quality frame builders began to use the 'Vitus', a lighter double-butted set, for their better frames, alongside Reynolds 531DB. The company became a direct rival to Britain's Reynolds and Italy's Columbus.
1970's - PIONEERS IN LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINIUM TUBING
Vitus is now established as the premium supplier of steel tube sets in terms of lightness and strength with the introduction of the 'Super Vitus 971' tube set and not resting on their laurels Vitus push head with new construction techniques resulting in the development of the bonded lugged frames that would prove to make Vitus famous.
In 1978 French bike manufacturer Bador acquire Vitus coinciding with Vitus being awarded the patent for a new method of dry heat activated epoxy bonding 5086 aluminium-magnesium alloy tubing to slip-fit cast alloy lugs, drop-outs, bottom bracket and brake bridge. This would give a much stiffer and more durable frame than the earlier "screwed and glued" construction of the pioneering Italian Alan dural frames.
1980's - THE GOLDEN YEARS & SEAN KELLY ERA
The 1980s was an iconic era for bike racing as technology rapidly evolved and some of the all-time greats hit their prime. Debuting in 1979 the Vitus 979 frame became one of the most successful racing bikes ever built. Raced by many including Australia's Phil Anderson and Allan Peiper, Ireland's Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche, Britain's Graham Jones, Colombia's Luis Herrera and America's Marianne Mart.
It was of course Sean 'King' Kelly that became synonymous with the Vitus brand given his domination of the classics and Grand Tour win at the Vuelta Espania on board the 979, becoming the world's No.1 ranked cyclist of the era. Sean's uncompromising gritty style, all-round ability and powerful sprint earned him the reputation as the hard man of cycling, with many of his wins on board Vitus now an integral part of cycling's folklore.
Vitus were now the world's largest manufacturer of aluminium bicycles and at the fore-font of technology with most rival brands still using steel. During this period Vitus pushed the boundaries of frame construction further by introducing carbon tubing to the bonded 979 frame with the introduction of the Carbon 3, Carbon 7, and finally the Carbone 9 in 1986.
1990's - THE VITUS ZX-1 WAS BORN
In the early 90s Vitus introduced the ZX-1. This futuristic looking one-piece monocoque construction frame, featuring an aerodynamic shape and internal cable routing was ridden to success most notably by French cycling legend Laurent Fignon in the Tour de France.
Vitus again was at the forefront of bicycle design. The ZX-1 was one of the first carbon frames to be manufactured using this technology, paving the way for modern carbon bicycle construction methods.
The Vitus name first sprung to life as a premium steel tube set manufactured by renowned French steel manufacturer Ateliers de la Rive based in St Etienne, France. Along with the 'Rubis' and 'Durifort' tube sets, quality frame builders began to use the 'Vitus', a lighter double-butted set, for their better frames, alongside Reynolds 531DB. The company became a direct rival to Britain's Reynolds and Italy's Columbus.
1970's - PIONEERS IN LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINIUM TUBING
Vitus is now established as the premium supplier of steel tube sets in terms of lightness and strength with the introduction of the 'Super Vitus 971' tube set and not resting on their laurels Vitus push head with new construction techniques resulting in the development of the bonded lugged frames that would prove to make Vitus famous.
In 1978 French bike manufacturer Bador acquire Vitus coinciding with Vitus being awarded the patent for a new method of dry heat activated epoxy bonding 5086 aluminium-magnesium alloy tubing to slip-fit cast alloy lugs, drop-outs, bottom bracket and brake bridge. This would give a much stiffer and more durable frame than the earlier "screwed and glued" construction of the pioneering Italian Alan dural frames.
1980's - THE GOLDEN YEARS & SEAN KELLY ERA
The 1980s was an iconic era for bike racing as technology rapidly evolved and some of the all-time greats hit their prime. Debuting in 1979 the Vitus 979 frame became one of the most successful racing bikes ever built. Raced by many including Australia's Phil Anderson and Allan Peiper, Ireland's Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche, Britain's Graham Jones, Colombia's Luis Herrera and America's Marianne Mart.
It was of course Sean 'King' Kelly that became synonymous with the Vitus brand given his domination of the classics and Grand Tour win at the Vuelta Espania on board the 979, becoming the world's No.1 ranked cyclist of the era. Sean's uncompromising gritty style, all-round ability and powerful sprint earned him the reputation as the hard man of cycling, with many of his wins on board Vitus now an integral part of cycling's folklore.
Vitus were now the world's largest manufacturer of aluminium bicycles and at the fore-font of technology with most rival brands still using steel. During this period Vitus pushed the boundaries of frame construction further by introducing carbon tubing to the bonded 979 frame with the introduction of the Carbon 3, Carbon 7, and finally the Carbone 9 in 1986.
1990's - THE VITUS ZX-1 WAS BORN
In the early 90s Vitus introduced the ZX-1. This futuristic looking one-piece monocoque construction frame, featuring an aerodynamic shape and internal cable routing was ridden to success most notably by French cycling legend Laurent Fignon in the Tour de France.
Vitus again was at the forefront of bicycle design. The ZX-1 was one of the first carbon frames to be manufactured using this technology, paving the way for modern carbon bicycle construction methods.
There are currently no products from Vitus in our site.
Please Contact Us for details of this range of products.
Please Contact Us for details of this range of products.
If you can't find the items you are looking for within our main site, you should be able to view the complete range from Vitus by visiting their own website: (although please be aware that not all products may be available within the UK)
VISIT Vitus Website
VISIT Vitus Website