Classic & Vintage - Who rides the oldest bike?

I have a 1985 Ross road bike, which is my regular ride (50-100 miles a week). Does anybody have a regular ride that's older (and why are you so cheap?) :D

1985?! You gotta be kidding. I know guys who's NEWEST bike is older than 1985. Heck, even ET's bike was before 1985 :rolleyes:

Around here, road salt eats bikes alive, so nobody rides new bikes in the winter. I often commute on a 1976 Continental (among others). When I feel sporty, sometimes I take out the 1964 Spaceliner.

A guy in my neighborhood has been bicycle commuting every day for 26 years on a 1973 Schwinn Varsity. I went to his place to help him do some bike repairs and he had six bikes - all pre-1979. You can laugh, but that guy puts on more bicycle miles than most people who consider themselves avid cyclists.

That is the beauty of bicycles. With just a little maintanance, they can remain as rideable as ever even forty or fifty years after they were built.

My favourite ride is built from a Trek frame made in june, 1978. I also have a fixed-gear Panasonic, probably made in the early 80's, and an old Raleigh "Dutch" roadster, made in 1971. I know people who still ride frames made in the 50's, too.

We have a 1920-something Simpson bike for sale at my store.

I'm riding a 1985 Trek, but I'm looking at a 1970's
Lambert (complete with death fork!). I really want a
late 60's Gios, De Rosa or Masi. . .

marty

You guys should know better than to compete with an American-born son of Scotland on an issue such as this.

transportation/commuting bikes:
. 1959 Capo "Modell Campagnolo"
. . original shifters and brake calipers
. . most other components from early 1970s
. 1980 Peugeot "PKN-10 Competition"
cyclecross bike:
. 1971 Peugeot "UO-8" w/ 27x1-3/8 knobbies & SunTour barcons
club bike:
. 1982 Bianchi "Campione d'Italia"
mountain bike:
. 1988 Schwinn "Project KOM-10"

1988 (I think) Schwinn sierra comp (chrome and baby blue)
The only things original though are the frame, seat post, crankarms, and front der.
Doug

My Concorde frame is from 1990 but the components on it are from 1986.

Most of my riding is done on a new Bacchetta SWB - My first rode frame was/is a 70/71 white Peugot PX 10 - love the old Reynolds 531 stickers on the fork blades.

My mom has some kind of schwin road bike (don't know what kind) she got in the seventies, but she doesn't ride anymore, so it doesn't really count (holy run-on sentence batman!)

My mom has a blue old old bike. I think its called a Grand Prix or something. Its got a dually kickstand (two support arms instead of one)

Although it is not rideable at present, I have a 1970-ish Italian Romani Columbus SL frameset hanging up in my garage. Originally it was set up with 10-speed Campy Nuovo Record components. I had gradually swapped components on the bike and transformed it into a 27-speed rig but I kept all of the old stuff that was still in working condition. After getting a Ti frame earlier this year, I stripped it down and hung it up.

My plan is to put the Nuovo Record stuff back on and use it as my retro bike. All I really need is a Campy headset in working condition. A new seatpost and tubular rims would be nice.

I have a 1972 Gitane Tour de France, a 1952? Schwinn "Double Bar" Cruiser, and a 1966? Schwinn Speedster. I ride them all occasionally.

Ride Retro
Pat

I didn't think that I would even be able to be competitive in this competition for bragging rights, but I see that I come in just under a few folks.

My bike is a 1983 Trek 760 (a racer), Reynolds 531 Steel, decked out with the original Suntour Superbe Pro components (aside from a few things like Speedplay pedals). It is my only road bike, so I ride it regularly. Yesterday: 76 km--we got cut a bit short by snow.

Cheers,
Jamie

I used to ride a Triumph All-Steel 3 speed. I think it was 1950s/60s.
We played this game in the Cyclists Touring Club magazine, but excluded Sunday-best bikes. The winner was a 1930s club/sports bike which has been in daily use since new.

My main commutor is a Peugeot UE-8 (Same as the UO-8 but setup for touring) It's starting to show it's age now though, some of the components are getting a bit worn. Guess 30+ years is a decent age for a bicycle.
My "Sunday Bicycle" is a Giant 2002 OCR -1 (the 105 group).

Beater bike: Late eighties Raliegh citilite
First bike: 1980 Peugeot PF10, now warped beyond recognition, with many parts replaced... still in service, although I'm currently building a new wheelset.
Favorite ride: 1980 Peugoet PKN10E, all original except for period simplex teardrop shifters. And I have a campy record/mavic wheelset I built for clinchers; the original normandy/mavic wheelset is for tubulars, and I'm not masochistic or period enough to constantly sew up tires...
Current project: 1973 Peugeot PX10, currently being turned into a fixed gear... very slowly.
Thinking of buying a 1978/9? Peugeot "Course" at the thrift store in town as another beater, as well... and they've got a UO-8 from the early 70's in my frame size; if it gets below ten bucks I might pick that up, too. Just to monkey with.
Not terribly old, but I note that in two years all but one of my bikes would qualify for "antique" plates if they were cars...

Originally posted by Poguemahone

First bike: 1980 Peugeot PF10...
Favorite ride: 1980 Peugoet PKN10E...
Current project: 1973 Peugeot PX10... very slowly.
Thinking of buying a 1978/9? Peugeot "Course" ...

Sheldon Brown would be proud of you!

I test-rode my project bike (1971 UO-8 with a shorter-rake fork, knobbies, and barcons) over the weekend, and was very favorably impressed with the ride and handling. My previous UO-8, with the original long-rake fork, was a notoriously slow steerer, but at least it did not have CPSC-disapproved toe-tyre overlap, which in practice is a nonissue.

I agree with your assessment of the 1980 PKN-10, which is perhaps the best all-around compromise (comfortable, responsive, practical, lightweight) road bike I have ever owned.

post some pictures, guys (and gals)!!! we want to see!

Hello,

I rode a beautiful Basso Gap from 1987 until recently. Bought it back then for over a grand, sold it on ebay and recouped about $600. Felt good at the time and I did buy a sweet Colnago, but it seems like I lost a friend...

I wish I still had my very first bike, a 1947 J.C. Higgins from Sears. Had front shocks and a horn. I lived on that bike for about 10 years.

My commuter is a mid-70s Ross Eurosport, complete with one-piece crank and front-freewheel setup. New fork, seatpost, alloy wheels, stem, fenders, handlebar, and seat, but the drivechain and brakes are mostly original equipment.

1988 Trek 520 used as a 2nd bike.

My wife is riding a 1976 Eisentraut (not all the time).

Marty

My current project is a 1964 Hercules 3 speed which I will use for my 10 mile one way commute in Spring. I also have a 1971 3 speed Hercules in excellent condition I use for pleasure riding. 1980 Ross Mt. Bike, 1973 Fuji Finest, 1974 Fuji Ace, 1975 Schwinn Paramount Track Bike, 1975 Orero, 1985 Schwinn 3 speed and about 5 or 6-3 speeds waiting for repair.

I own a few bikes older than, say, the Kennedy presidency. A 1958 Helyett racer which now has a US-made fork and Japanese drive train is my lock-it-up bike (ugly as **** and protected by the ghost of Jacques Anquetil,) a 1960 Ideor is my fixed gear with about 1/2 vintage and 1/2 modern "customer castoff" components, and a 1948 Amerio with the Campy Cambio Corsa system is still under reconstruction.

A 1963 Raleigh Sports 3-speed for city riding.
There's nothing like having fenders, a saddlebag, an upright riding position and being able to shift while stopped.

Have lots of bikes older and newer, but none as good as a mid-range Brit 3-speed.

Vin - Menotomy Vintage Bicycles, Inc.
http://OldRoads.com

Menotomy Vintage Bicycles, Inc. at OldRoads.com (http://oldroads.com)

1986 Bianchi....not the oldest, but still old considering I'm only 2 years older than it.

I use my 1963 Flying Scot Continental for commuting in the summer.

Its not real old,about 10 year old GT but my dad put almost 16000 miles on it.

did fred flintstone or barney ride bikes at all in their cartoons ?

Sorry.. but for a few, I dont know the specific years on some of my bikes.

early 50's JC Higgins 3 speed (all original, unrestored condition. One of the few that came standard with sturmey-archer hubs.)
early 60's Astra (cheap Motobecane)
Mid 60's Sears Spaceliner (ladies frame, but I love the whitewalls..)
65' Schwinn Super Sport (basically a Paramont with an ugly purple paintjob)
72' Gitane Super Corsa (531=smooth!)
Early 70's Raleigh Grand Prix (big, big bike... I'd guess 62cm)
mid-70's Varsity (still awaiting its grocery bag baskets)
Mid 70's Pugeuot U-08 (not sure why its still here, but here it is)
early 80's Kurahara touring bike (so many braze ons, so little zip ties..)
Late 80's Daccordi (pretty italian paint. too Small to ride.)
89 specialized stumpjumper frame (singlespeed)
Late 80's Concorde (mass-produced asian hi-ten steel. Strangely, it rides quie well.)
93ish Giant iguana (slicks. cruiser city bike thingie.)
2001 GT I-drive (well, its not realy mine, but its been left in my garage for about 2 years and I do ride it... ;) )
2002 Specialized Rockhopper with 7-year old 7-speed drivetrain, and a mishmash of other components. I love my bike.

*** this space reserved for next purchase / find ***

1976 or 5 Motobecane Super Mirage... there is something cool about riding a bike older then you are :)

I think I got yez all beat with my 1916 Mead Ranger (http://sheldonbrown.org/ranger.html).

It's got fairly modern wheels, and rides as nicely as any bike I own,
though it's a bit heavier than a newer bike would be.

http://sheldonbrown.org/images/ranger-duck.jpeg

Sheldon "Steel Is Real" Brown
Newtonville, Massachusets

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| Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, |
| somewhere, may be happy. --H.L. Mencken |
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Sheldon: Isn't that a pretty radical angle on the seat tube? Nice bike, and well preserved. You must know a good bike mechanic. :D

You must know a good bike mechanic.

Umm.....follow his links. He is a good mechanic-probably one of the best in the U.S., actually.

If memory serves, my Mead Ranger has 72 degree parallel angles. Also a 22 inch top tube, which is the most important dimension to me.

Must be an optical illusion if you think the angles are "radical."

I found this bike at a bicycle flea market, no wheels, no saddle, bent fork...but it had the original 1" pitch chain, so I figgered I couldn't go wrong for $25.

I straightened the fork and tossed on a pair of 27" fixed gear wheels I had around. I also drilled the fork crown so I could put in a front brake.

This bike was originally built for a coaster brake (yuck!) and 28 inch wood rims with singletube tires.

Actually, since I took the photos, I've built her a really weird front wheel--half radial, half cross 3--but the split isn't left/right, but along the "equator" of the wheel.

There's no technical reason for this, it's just a hack.

Sheldon "Never Claimed To Be Sane" Brown
Newtonville, Massachusetts
+----------------------------------------------+
| Music expresses that which cannot be said |
| and on which it is impossible to be silent. |
| --Victor Hugo |
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Umm.....follow his links. He is a good mechanic-probably one of the best in the U.S., actually.

Now Alex... i know <em>you</em> of all people know sarcasm when you see it :D :D :D


*points and jumps up and down, making tourist-spotted-famous-person noises*

"OOh! OOh! SheldonBrown!!"

Nice to meetcha, sir! Nice bike, too!

I recently "commuted" between Boulder and Lafayette, CO on my 1983 Raleigh Technium. I thought the bike was fast until I was nearly blown off the (dangerous) road by a group of Tour de France wannabes. The bike is in pristine condition since it has mostly been in storage because I never really fancied road bikes. Now it is a splendid, eccentric hybrid of sorts. The "upgrades" include a high stem, straight bar with Cane Creek bar ends, Ritchie brake levers, grip shifters, Topeak beam rack, Conti touring tires, and Brooks Professional saddle. Oh, did I mention it "sports" Big Masher pedals from Nashbar? Of course, I'm no longer riding a 20 lb, elegant Triathlon bike, but it's functional and fun. I tour serenely and sometimes on trails have surreal encounters with the Old North Bridge Hounds in traditional Concord ;-)

:roflmao:

I don't have anything terribly old or even ice age stuff like Sheldons. But I do ride nearly everyday on a 84 Trek 660 with Reynolds 531cs tubing; but the unusual thing about this bike is that the entire component group is Suntour Superbe which has got to be the most reliable group ever made. I have over 70k miles on this stuff with never a failure.

How nice to see Sheldon posting here! When I first started riding, I spent hours reading his site, and when I donated my '79 Fuji Roubaix to my son, I also sent along the link to his pages so he could learn as well.

My favorite ride is my '89 Schwinn Paramount, which I affectionatly call ol' Blue. You can see a pic of her at http://home.atcjet.net/~whitlow/paramt.jpg (kind of a large pic, so I won't post it here!) My other bike is a '76 Paramount, that I refer to as Liberty. Nice relaxed geometry, bar end shifters, Brooks saddle, paniers, a really great ol' commuter!! I loves my Paramounts!! :-)

Nebill: Is there a Beaver Crossing Nebraska? How long did it take him? :D

Yes, indeed there is a Beaver Crossing, Nebraska! He's not in any hurry to leave this great State.....in Furnas County, he established his own little town..Beaver City! :)

The thrift shop here (south Australia) just threw out two 1950s Malvern Star single speeds with coaster brakes, still with the original Dunlop 'Australiana' tyres.

Good deal John!! A month ago, a local thrift store could not even sell an old road bike they had, so finally set it out on the street with a FREE sign on the saddle! After two days, I picked it up.......if nothing else, a nice old steel frame, side pull brakes and some other parts that might come in handy!!

I have a 1969 Schwinn Breeze that is gonna be my summer project along with a Volvo 240, a unidentified BMX bike and i'm sure i'll pick up a couple other things.

i worked at Via Bicycles in philadelphia, and the owner has a late 1800s bicycle restored beautifully....ill see if i can get a photo!

Originally posted by Sheldon Brown
I think I got yez all beat with my 1916 Mead Ranger.
...
Sheldon "Steel Is Real" Brown

Damn! The one guy who can best beat me at this vintage bikes game has joined our forum. Welcome aboard, Sheldon!

'74 Flying Scot

'76 Bob Jackson fixed

'82 Saracen Tourer

'83 Rockhopper

'85 Impala (UK Custom) race bike

'86 Raleigh Randonneur

'00 Rockhopper

Apart from the mountain bikes, there's an awful lot of Reynolds tube in there.......if I like a bike, I tend to go on liking it. :)

How about a 1963 Schwinn Tandem?