General Cycling Discussion - Never judge a bike by its cover

A month ago or so the Diamondback bike that me and my dad were sharing got stolen. My sister, aware that I am in love with cycling, graciously lended me her Univega. Now, I looked at that bike, no name handle bar, quill stem insted of standard, STX-RC rear der(outdated). And to be frank, I thought," Great, now I get to ride a dorky bike, its gonna be a rough time until I get a new one". I am dissapointed in myself, I shouldn't have judged that bike so harshly. In riding it now for a month or so, I have grown to love my sister's Univega, and I am dreading the day she needs it back. As a word of wisdom, never judge a bike before you've ridden it. And also, before you critisize someone, walk a mile in their shoes, that way when you do, you are a mile away and they don't have any shoes!!!

The pure bicycle lover will ride anything with two wheels. Sure, some are better than others, but all bikes have their own personalities. The more you meet, the better your bicycling world gets.

Originally posted by mike
The pure bicycle lover will ride anything with two wheels. Sure, some are better than others, but all bikes have their own personalities. The more you meet, the better your bicycling world gets.

I have learned a valuable lesson mike. And I will appreciate all bikes more.

Oh, this thread makes me wish AGAIN I had a cheap beater bike I could ride to movies and not worry about it being on the street while I'm not.

The trouble is, if I bought a $20 bike, I'd probably end up fixing it up slowly but surely so that it would end up like my Nishiki, too much invested in it to feel comfortable leaving it unattended.

Is there a solution for this, or am I doomed to always go to movies on the bus? (BTW, some movies are not even on the bus line!)
:confused:

I just found this cool Peugeot Chrono at ebay for 305 bucks. Wish I had the money to get it. Oh-well, there will be more deals later. But just in case someone else was looking for a used road bike...

Mike,
Hope you will not be offended, Can I ask you a question, In your new avatar, who's that guy/gal beside you, I am sorry coz' I am trying to figure that out if she is a he or a she, or is he your twin, remember buddy I am just asking no malicious intent, okay

Sure, Rasco, I have actually had a couple of people ask "who is the other guy in the avatar photo?".

That photo was taken in France when I was bicycling through Europe last year.

The guy with the helmet is me. The guy with the other funny hat is a French bicycling postal deliverer.

When I travel, I like to take photos of bicycle mail carriers.

Unfortunately, you can't see his bike in this photo, but it was a neat machine.

I will be changing avatars soon again, so keep your eyes open for more photos from my "Atlas of Worldly Bicycle Journeys".

Servus!

Jon, I know what you mean about "fixing up the $20 bike" syndrome. I just got my new ride, and now I'm scouring the catalogs and LBS's to find oddball roadie parts I can stick on my ancient TREK 7000 to turn it into a city bike. RangerGirl thinks I'm nuts and of course, she's right. In fact, I put a massive, chromed CroMo rigid fork on hold so I can get more sprint out of the tired old aluminum frame.

Fubar, of yourse you have fallen in love with the Univega, as they are made in Germany by a division of Bavarian Motor Werk. Each bicycle has it's own character and it speaks to you in ways your old D-back didn't. No worries, as when you replace your stolen ride it will learn to speak to you in ways you like. Trust me on this one.

Wow, I need more coffee....

You said it, Ranger, the older European bikes "speak to you" with personality. It just seems to me they were made by people who loved bicycles and cared about their craft. I feel a great kinship with the makers of 30+years ago when I rebuild an old bike and find the original assembler's fingerprints in in the grease on an axle. There it is, preserved like the muddy footprint of an ancient dinosuar.

Anyway, if you guys are buying new parts to fix up old bikes, you took a left turn when you should have taken a right turn.

The idea is to keep your eyes open for more vintage bikes that you can canabalize for parts. You can get whole vintage machines for $20.00, whereas it is almost impossible to find any new part for less than $20.00

I heard a girl in a bike shop half-apologizing for what a crummy bike she needed to have repaired. The shop owner told her that every bike is a worthy bike. He's right.

That was an awesome response by the owner. That would be a shop that I'd frequent. Way too many bike shops have "attitude". If your bike isn't worth at least $2,000 they look down at you and the bike.

Originally posted by mike
You said it, Ranger, the older European bikes "speak to you" with personality. It just seems to me they were made by people who loved bicycles and cared about their craft. I feel a great kinship with the makers of 30+years ago when I rebuild an old bike and find the original assembler's fingerprints in in the grease on an axle. There it is, preserved like the muddy footprint of an ancient dinosuar.


I wish that Gitane I bought about 1970 hadn't been stolen, or at least not so quickly (within a year). It was only maybe next-to-the-bottom of their line, which was all I could afford, but it was amazing, like a living being. It made me want to laugh with pleasure when I rode it.

I think it cost about $270. Such a bike now, if one was even made, would no doubt cost at least $800-$900. $igh. :(

Originally posted by fubar5
I have learned a valuable lesson mike. And I will appreciate all bikes more.
Unless you or Mike has already seen this, the following site will test your above stated intention:

http://itaca.ulysse.it/matera_wood_bikes/man.html

Hahaha.... whew....That is the coolest bike!!!! Mike if you haven't already seen it definetly go look!!!

As Mike said, a bike lover will enjoy his/her time on anything with 2 wheels and pedals. A couple of years ago I pulled a 3-speed out of a dumpster and with a can of chrome polish and a few small purchases, the bike was as good as new. Since then I have had a great time on the bike. As you all know, sometimes you just need to slow things down and enjoy the scenery. So, if you see an old cruiser hanging out of a dumpster, I would highly recommend that you take the time to pull it out and give it a little TLC.

JonR -

My next project bike is a Gitane Tour de France from the early 70's. Reynolds 531 tubing, Simplex Juy Derailleurs, and vintage Dura Ace brakes (look like Weinmann.) The original brakes were probably Mafac.

Once it's all together, I ride the first few miles for you. What was the color?

Hey Fubar, does this mean that the search for a new bike is over or are you still looking?

Whoa, Pete, where do you find this stuff? A wooden bike made in Italy.

I'm not sure if it is for real or what. My English friend told me not to trust Italians. He said that if an Italian tells you it's pasta, you better look under the sauce to be sure. Must be some cultural thing.

Anyway, I can tell you that around 1900 there was a USA company that actually did manufacture bikes from wood. Sadly, I do not know the name of the company, but they were for real.

Apparently, they weren't very strong and the company collapsed.

They did have two wheels, though, and "Yes", I would ride one.

Originally posted by Oscar
JonR -

My next project bike is a Gitane Tour de France from the early 70's. Reynolds 531 tubing, Simplex Juy Derailleurs, and vintage Dura Ace brakes (look like Weinmann.) The original brakes were probably Mafac.

Once it's all together, I ride the first few miles for you. What was the color?

Answer: White. The Gitane Tour de France was white.

Does that mean you will ride the first few miles for me?

Can you believe I actually gave one of these away? What was I thinking?

Originally posted by mike
Whoa, Pete, where do you find this stuff? A wooden bike made in Italy.

I'm not sure if it is for real or what.

For over 3 grand, it better ride good.

Originally posted by Joe Pozer
Hey Fubar, does this mean that the search for a new bike is over or are you still looking?

Ummmm, still looking. 3 thousand is just a tad out of my price range.
Actually I have narrowed my search to three bikes.
Gary Fisher Marlin
Specialized A1 FS
Giant Yukon
Unless of course, something else comes up and I have to lower my price range again. MY main concern is the frame, and I am thinking that the Gary Fisher would have the best frame.

Originally posted by Oscar
JonR -

Once it's all together, I ride the first few miles for you. What was the color?
My dear stolen Gitane was a deep almost electric strawberry red. Sniff, sob! It had bottom-of-the-line Campy components--really not very good stuff. But the frame was great. Thanks for the memorial miles! I appreciate the gesture. :thumbup:

Originally posted by JonR

My dear stolen Gitane was a deep almost electric strawberry red. Sniff, sob! It had bottom-of-the-line Campy components--really not very good stuff. But the frame was great. . :thumbup:

JonR, was yours a "Tour de France" Gitane?

Originally posted by mike


JonR, was yours a "Tour de France" Gitane?
I don't remember, Mike--I guess it had a model name, but unless I wrote it in my journal back then, I don't have a clue. I'll try to find out. I'll have to dig in my old longhand journals a bit...

I just remember it was something like the second cheapest Gitane they made.

Fubar,

A friend of mine just bought the Specialized A1 FS. He picks it up this upcoming weekend...so I can't tell you much about it other than he liked it when he test rode it. I will update you on it after this weekend. If I am lucky he will let me take a spin on it.

Remind me if I forget to get back to you.

Thanks alot Steele-Bike, I sure appreciate info from anybody who has ridden one of the bikes I mentioned.I will definetly keep you honest on you promise!

Originally posted by mike
I'm not sure if it is for real or what. My English friend told me not to trust Italians. He said that if an Italian tells you it's pasta, you better look under the sauce to be sure. Must be some cultural thing.

woooaaaah wait a minute there.... you might not trust the Italians with anything but you MUST trust them with food!! Ever went into a restaurant in Italy and ordered cheese for a pasta plate which is not meant to have cheese on ?? The owner would probably come out from the kitchen and 1. Politely escort you out of the restaurant or 2. Look at you with this compassionate look and try to explain to you that it is a 'sin' to put cheese on that particular plate.

Italy is now thinking of copyrighting Italian food as well.

claude

Originally posted by claude

Italy is now thinking of copyrighting Italian food as well.


Oh, no! You mean I will be cooking pasta(Reg. TM) now, or might have to get permission from the EU to prepare spaghetti(Reg. TM) sauce(Reg. TM)?!

What next?

On european news they said they want to start from Pizza!


no kidding!

claude

:D

I do like a good bowl of pasta!!! :D

In fact..I wonder if pasta goes with Spam...

Hmmmmmm

Originally posted by Rich
I do like a good bowl of pasta!!! :D

In fact..I wonder if pasta goes with Spam...

Hmmmmmm
Everything(Reg. TM) goes with Spam(Reg. TM)!:D

Originally posted by Rich
I do like a good bowl of pasta!!! :D

In fact..I wonder if pasta goes with Spam...

Hmmmmmm

Oh No!!!! Rich has started another SPAM thread!!!!

http://www.spam.com/assets/hp/GoodGone3_animation.gif

I know how to celebrate Steele-Bike's 100th post: I'll make a
SPAM PIZZA!!!