Classic & Vintage - Some days you just know you must be livin' right

Went to a yard sale this morning. They'd advertised "2 adult bikes." Ya just never know.

Turns out the men's bike went first thing, but I glommed on to a gorgeous ladies '74 Raleigh Caprice 3 speed (looks like a Sports, thimble fork) for (brace yourself) 10 bucks. The tires need replacing. I didn't need another bike, well, I was kind of looking for a beater or two to morph into a bad weather commuter. But this... Came with the pump (which works). A nifty lavender blue - not avacado or bronze. Four or 5 nicks in the paint. Some orange showing around 3 or 4 spokes. I won't be letting this sit in the rain.

It turns out I know the guy who was selling it. We chatted a bit. They'd bought the bikes from friends who'd moved to the States from Scotland. He'd had one when he was a young man; had ridden it 1100 miles around Ireland. ("On a 3 speed?" I asked. "Oh, yes, certainly" he replied).

Anyway, I rode back home with the "two hands/two bikes" technique.

And how do I know I'm living right?

My wife said "Oh, that's pretty" when I rode up the drive.

Life is good today. :-)

Are you in Columbus? I went to the sale you are talking about I believe! I passed on it though because I already have like 5 bikes for my wife. If it is the same bike, it was a beauty!

Geez I was in
Columbus today. Oh well....:)

Yes, Columbus :-) About 1 block from the mayor's house, if that helps.
We took turns riding it around the block near lunchtime, and I got some tires for it this afternoon. We should have it out and about a little tomorrow.

Sort of OT, but there are a couple of us talking about maybe doing a can-hub (no derailleurs allowed) ride sometime this summer. Maybe Hope & back with a stop at Simmons on the way back? I bet we could get 4-5 people to go along, maybe more. If nothing else, maybe try to get some classics or neo-classics together at the Hope Ride, and do either the 10 or 20 mile loop.

Geez I was in
Columbus today. Oh well....:)
Well, we're even. I was in Alexandria last weekend. There's a neat oddball bike shop in Anderson. Kind of out of the way, but fun to look in. "New" Regina 6 speed freewheels sitting in the display case kind of a place.

Hmm, I guess I should check those out. I only know of two bike shops in Anderson.

Yes, Columbus :-) About 1 block from the mayor's house, if that helps.

Sort of OT, but there are a couple of us talking about maybe doing a can-hub (no derailleurs allowed) ride sometime this summer. Maybe Hope & back with a stop at Simmons on the way back?

That is so cool. I didn't know there were any classic&vintage members in Columbus! I'm not sure where ol' mayorFred lives, so that's no help :)

Are you looking for any bikes in particular? I ask because I have about 50 or so bikes of varied pedigree at my place and am always willing to sell/trade a few. I scour the garage sales in the area to find most of them, but I also have good luck at the San Souci thrift store sometimes.

BTW, Saturday before last at a sale over in Broadmoor I seen a guy wheeling a nice looking road bike to his van and loading it up. Couldn't tell what it was but it was decent, red & white I think. Was that you? I ask because there seems to be little interest in the vintage bikes in Columbus, and I kinda figured the guy might be a list member. I would've stopped to chat, but I was in a hurry.

I would definantly be interested in hub-geared ride. I don't have much in the way of hub-geared bikes now, but I'm sure I could scrounge something up. I do have a nice Concord Aztec that I scored at San Souci and but some drop bars and a leather saddle on. It had a Shimano 3 speed hub laced to 27" rims, a rarity in my findings. I put the shifter right under the brake lever so it can be shifted from the hoods. Poor boys STI!

I'm so glad that you will be getting use out of that Raleigh and will be taking care of it. It kills me to see someone buy a bike and not use it or mistreat it.