Eurasia had appeared in 1976. It was announced as an inferior model of Diamond which was a high class model of Bridgestone. The front triangle of the frame was made of Cr-Mo, and the front fork was made of high-tension steel.
There were a lot of optional parts such as carrier (front and rear), flashlight, bag, bottle, brake lever pads, toe clips and straps. Eurasia was sold as "System-sports bicycle". Since then, Eurasia went through a number of model changes or added new model in lineup.
Eurasia had made a great epoch of sports bicycle with other mass-production bicycle in same class, and had fascinated young people who were interesting in sports bicycle. I often met a Eurasia bicycle on the road or at youth hostel when I went cycling in those days.

At here, I introduce the first model of Eurasia in 1976.
It had first appeared on an advertisement in the back cover of New cycling magazine of the February 1976 issue.
With the catchphrase "2 types * 2 sizes of the system sports bicycle", Randonneur model EA-1/ EA-2 and Sportif model EA-3/ EA-4 were announced. Frame sizes were 520 mm/ 550 mm, 530 mm/ 560 mm for each. Frame was made of Cr-Mo for the front triangle and front fork was made of high-tension steel. It also had Italian-cut lugs and straight-drop frame ends.

Catalog was offered by Mr.Y.U

This is the front cover. I think that the scene must be the Silk-road which goes across the Eurasian continent. Here is large image.

This is the back cover. The company name was still "Bridgestone Industry Corp". It was changed to "Bridgestone Cycle Corp" in this year. Here is large image.

There's an explanation about the three characters of Eurasia such as Cr-Mo frame, straight drop end and high graded aluminum parts. Those were keyword about high grade bicycle for those who had interest in sports bicycle in those days.
As for the straight-drop frame end of Eurasia, the design of Rene Else had to be used as a motif. The stickers of Italian cut lugs and Cr-Mo look proudly. Here is large image.

EA-1/ EA-2 were the Randonneur "type" model for Rinko (the word "type" had disappeared from the catalog in next year and describe Randonneur). The frame sizes were 520 mm (EA-1), 550 mm (EA-2) and two frame colors were prepared for each.
The models had 26*1-3/8 rims and 1-1/2 open side (650*38A) which was over size, because there were a lots of unpaved road in Japan in those days yet.
From the total image, I can say that those were typical models of Japanese-taste-randonneur in those days. The chain-wheel was Sugino five arm Super-maxy which was one of the early model of the present compact-drive (PCD 110 mm). The gear ratio was 48*34 for front and 15-24 for rear.
As for the trait of early model of Randonneur, I can say things below .

1. The dynamo wire didn�ft run inner side of frame tubes.
2. There�fs no bottle plinth on the tube.
3. Quick release lever was used only for a rear hub. Front hub was fixed by lock-nuts yet.
4. The screw of the rear fender stay was a type which fixed by nuts from outside.
5. It had quick seat pin.
6. Dynamo was 6V/6.5w.
Here is large image.

EA-3/ EA-4 were Sportif model which had 27 inch wheels. Back in those days, 27inch wheel was ordinary rather than 700c for a lightweight touring bicycle. There were two frame sizes; 530 mm for EA-3 and 560 mm for EA-4. The sizes were bigger than Randonneur. The chain-wheel was Sugino Maxy 5 arms as well as Randonneur. The gear was close ratio which combined F 50*42 and R 15-24. The brakes were Yoshigai center-pull which had been a long time seller model for Sportif. However, the plinth for the brake was not attached directly on the frame yet. Here is large image.

This was the line-up for "system" parts. There were still few kinds of bag. The bag which had white stripe on blue base was designed by Mr. Shinichi Toriyama, to compete with a lightweight nylon bag which began to be imported from USA in those days.
Front and rear carriers for pannier bags were also prepared so that you could change your bicycle as a camping bicycle such as a model in the left-upper side photo. Here is large image.

As I wrote in Part 49, the appearance of Eurasia was one of the nostalgic recollections for me who had worked at a bicycle shop in Tokyo as a part-time worker in those days. When high school students and university students who scheduled for long trip during spring or summer vacation visited the shop to buy Eurasia, I was delight as if they were my own customers, and composed Eurasia with my best skill. I rolled bar tape carefully, though the owner of the shop said "Hurry up, we have to compose 4 of Rene 20, 2 of Monte Carlo, 1 of Road man today!".