Fifty Plus (50+) - Cheap guys and cheap bikes

Since this subject came up in another thread, how about telling us about your favorite "cheap" bike--cheap, of course is relative--where you got it, what you've done to it, and any special significance that it has for you. Pictures would of course, be great. I'll even start.

My favorite bike is a 1977 Schwinn LeTour, US built, that I bought at a garage sale for $2. So far it's been upgraded with a sealed bb, alloy rims, good hubs, 6 speed, leather saddle, clipless, and now weighs in just about 26 pounds. I like it because it's rugged as heck, smooth as butter, carries my weight without me worrying about it, but most importantly, it fits like it was made for me. I simply can't find a better fitting bike. Pictures would show a flaking, red bicycle, looking like it's worth $2 which is what I prefer. It doesn't look like it's worth stealing.

So, any other cheap bikers out there?

I dug up an old Centurion LeMans in my barn a couple of weeks ago. I have a friend who knows a bit about restoring bikes so I plan to brink it up to running condition even though I have been advised against it. I really just want to do it for the experience and satisfaction of making something work again!http://www.pacfit.com/centuriona.jpg

I bought my Marin MTB from a nephew, who needed money to go to chef school. He offered it for $300, I said $400, done deal (I hate to be too cheap)! Knowing what I know now, after riding it for two years, getting me started riding, and how much I enjoy riding, it was one heck of a deal!

How about this? I paid $0.00 for a 1965 Raleigh Sports three-speed a few weeks back (in classic British racing green.) I'd been hankering for one of these timeless beauties for quite a while. So, about a year ago, I went to the Classic and Vintage section of BF to ask where I could find one. A local guy who posts on BF told me he surfs the auctions and thrift stores and that he'd give me one when it came along--and it finally did. I now keep it in my office at work and use it as my town bike. I love it.

$0.00, that's the same price I spent for this Specialized Hard Rock.

http://www.pointhappy.com/gcf/LittleHardRock.jpg

My last decent thrift store find is a Nashbar Toure Alpha 5000. Triple butted Ishiwata cro-mo 4130 steel tri-lateral frame with great looking lugs and sweet blue paint, 53cm...just my size. All Sun Tour with a Sugino triple crank and Dia-Comp brakes. Tires were dry rotted on a very nice set of 27inch rims. Handlebar tape was showing no signs of use but was quite grotty, pedals were ho-hum with god-awful plastic toe clips. Price: $10.

I had a set of Mavic Open Pro 700c wheels with Shimano 7 speed cassette laying around so I popped 'em on, and dropped the brake shoes down to fit the 700c rims. I set the Sun Tour shifters in friction mode for use with the Shimano 7 speed cassette to keep the shifting gods happy, after a minor adjustment of the rear mech. she hummed like a hymn (Apologies to Bob Dylan). New set of Schwalbe 23c tires and things were looking good.

New purple/white bar tape, I also had on hand, and my old Dura Ace toe clip pedals with leather straps and I have a daily rider for the price of the tires plus $10 for the bike.

Cheap guy content, I promise!

Back in the early 90s, I had a Service Director who misbehaved to the extent that the Powers decided to bring in the Inspectors General to have a look-see. Anyway, after the subsequent [I]Fall of the Mighty the Powers determined that all us innocents [OH, the irony!] were due a pittance. . .mostly I suspect for not bringing up the fact that they should have canned his ass sooner. . .but I digress. The pittance amounted to about $350 Amerikanish and I hied me hither to some not-so-LBSs and finally saw a previous year TREK 930 with a REAL BAD paint scheme**. It fit like a glove; $300 took it away. Over the years it has served me through 'better' bikes, thefts, survived end-overs, fall-overs, and the worst spill I ever had [really shattered me halyards and stove me ribs]. Cheap and although not the 'best' rig I own[ed], still a hoot to ride and a joy to maintain. Moves the Earth under me like a Percheron plow horse.

True story.

** TREK had a paint scheme for a while that was a 'day-glo' blue with thin black strings gerschmattered. Hated the paint then. . .love it now. Wish I could find that blue in a rattle-can.

I have zero out-of-pocket cost in my fixed gear. Actually, that's not quite true. There's the cost of the paint and I spent $18.00 for some frame stick-ons. I stole the frame from my daughter. Most of the parts are from my parts bin and I traded mechanic work at a local bike shop for the new parts that I needed to buy.

I'm normally the sort who is good at finding old stuff at a bargain, and making it new again. Except for bikes.

For starters, I never was into cycling as a kid. I have no feelings of nostalgia (or appreciation) for older bikes. Secondly, even though I'm very mechanical, there's something about the risk of riding a bike (if and when something fails) that has lead me to trust my repair and tune up work to a shop. Thirdly, when I got into cycling 10 years ago, I promised myself I wouldn't let the equipment become an obsession...which is usually does in my other activities. Cycling would only be about riding, being safe, and having a bike that felt good to me to ride.

So, even though we are poor by any standard, I've had good bikes, purchased new, and I own and ride only one bike so that I can focus my limited budget on keeping it rolling in new or near new condition.

All that being said, I really understand and respect riders who can find good deals on bikes, build them up, and revel in the process.

I paid $50 for a large Gitane that was cursed. I would fix one thing, something else would snap. I got flats on each wheel two rides in a row. So, it sat outside in the winter weather for nearly a year before I got around to posting a craigslist ad requesting a trade. Fortunately some tall dude wanted the large frame, so in return for a rusty but working (yet cursed) Gitane (?) he gave me a good condition circa 1987 Quintana Roo triathalon bike, complete with drop bars. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I said over and over. I have no idea how much it costs but it's been my commuting bike for 1.5 years - net cost to me, $50.

she hummed like a hymn (Apologies to Bob Dylan).
Do I go around quoting Jack Kerouaq?

Me, on my bike, at the end of a ride through desolation row...

http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/crazy-b/?start=#imgAnch10http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/crazy-b/002.jpg
1981 Schwinn World Tourist. Changed to drop bars, $15.00 invested. Ride most every day to work.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/crazy-b/mr-peugeot-2.jpg
Four favorites together; 78 Paramount, not cheap but a good buy IMO at $500.00. 86 Schwinn Traveler, paid 20 bucks. The World Tourist, and a late 80's World that I've since sold to a co-worker.

If I'm limited to one favorite, it has to be my 1989 Nishiki Ariel. I paid $20 for it at a garage sale. After 4 months, I had upgraded the fork to a suspension unit, replaced the chain, added a new Bontrager seat, replaced the tires and I'm in the process of replacing the cables. The total investment is now about $150.
This is the bike that is responsible for my return to cycling. It was the first bike I took off road on a gravel path and the first on a mountain bike trail. After adding the suspension fork I rode it for about half a year on MTB trails. After I purchased a Rockhopper, my youngest, 225lb son rode the Nishiki on MTB trails. Lately I ride the Nishiki on gravel paths. There is nothing extraordinary about this bike other than it is just a lot of fun to ride. I have other garage sale bikes such as a under $30.00, 16 speed, Fuji Club and a $3.00 Trek 560. But my favorite garage sale bike remains the Nishiki Ariel.

roccobike...what crankset is that on the Fuji? I like that look.

You $10 guys have me beat...I usually pay about $200 (I got one for $100 once). That's because I'm buying used at a bike store, not a yard sale. I guess I've purchased about 8 bikes in that price range over 15 years...on one I trashed the bottom bracket socket of the frame due to newbian ignorance, there were three I used for one or more years and then donated to charity, one was stolen and three are still in the fold. I also bought a new bike in that period that was stolen almost immediately.

Cheap is beautiful. Free is lovely. Maintaining and restoring is simply heavenly. :D
'79 Schwinn Traveler, bought new for $160 ($6.15 per year). '71 Schwinn Varsity, free at the dump. '66 Schwinn Collegiate, free at church yard sale and rescued from going to the dump.

Cheap is beautiful. Free is lovely. Maintaining and restoring is simply heavenly. :D

Amen, pastor, amen.

I prefer sermons which are sweet, short, and to the point!

I prefer sermons which are sweet, short, and to the point!

Can I give you my pastor's phone number?

Since this subject came up in another thread, how about telling us about your favorite "cheap" bike--cheap, of course is relative--where you got it, what you've done to it, and any special significance that it has for you.
I bought a 1969 Raleigh Sports (or maybe it was a Sprite) with the S5 S-A internal hub and everything in perfect shape including the Brooks B-72 Saddle for $40 at the Hare Krishna Thrift Shop in West Philadelphia in 1973. No pictures available but it was green and looked just like any other Raleigh 3 speed Sports with a 23" frame. It was just my size.

The only replacement I ever made was getting rid of the original two lever stick shifter and replacing with a pair of SA 3 speed trigger shifters. No additional costs, as I had scads of Raleigh 3 speed stuff back then (people threw out 3 speeds and one speed bikes every week during the ten speed racer craze of the 70's).

I unfortunatly backed over this bike in Spring 1997. But that's OK as I got rid of all the other 26" bikes I owned and went with German bikes and their bigger wheels/tires in 1998. It was a nice bike though. Never needed a repair (other than flats and tires) in 24 years of use. A drop of oil in the hub every year, whether it needed it or not was the only maintenance given.

I'm sorry, but I'm going to be a stickler for the mis-use of words here. I have had several bikes that were "inexpensive", but never a "cheap" one. :)

Can I give you my pastor's phone number?

Dnvr,

You know what they say about teaching old dogs...? Spending 14 years as an assoiciate primarily listening to other pastors preach, taught me the importance of brevity. I just finished Sunday's sermon and while I've not timed it yet, it won't be over 12-13 minutes. Plus, by keeping it short, I can find more ride time on Sunday afternoon!:D


I'm sorry, but I'm going to be a stickler for the mis-use of words here. I have had several bikes that were "inexpensive", but never a "cheap" one.

Point very well taken! I've seen plenty of cheap bikes at the dump that I've left there. But the two Schwinns I pictured above I consider to be rescues of bikes which did not cost me a dime. As you put it however, they are not "cheap." If they were "cheap" they certainly wouldn't look so good for 35 and 40 year old bikes!

My bike is the definition of the word "cheap". It was a $9.99 thrift store find that came home with me as a 10-speed. About two hours later, my garge door opened and out rolled my current ride. It's a 1980 something Schwinn Caliente; basically one step above a department store bike, but look at the Sugino Super Maxy crankset I threw on there. Niiiiiiiiiiice. Note the heavy chrome steel rims...fun in wet weather! Oh...the Ace of Spades in the rear wheel? I'm not trying to be a poser, but my inlaws so generously gave me deck of cards for Christmas and since I don't play cards, I found a good use for one of the 52 in the deck.

I'm picking up a 70's MilanoSport this weekend. If it is the SS candidate I am hoping for, I'm going to polish up the Schwinn and send her to Craigslist or eBay. Maybe I'll make enough to buy a proper track rear wheel for the Milano...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c218/acampagnolo/my_pos.jpg

SSD,

A good use of an inexpensive bike to make into a "fixie." But not my Paramount! The card is certainly a very classy touch that I'm certain Gary Diego will appreciate. In fact he probably has a story about poker night with the Rat Pack.

Well, it WAS cheap ($20 yard sale find, $5 Brooks Pro*, $35 eBay crankset, $10 yard sale rear derailleur, wheelset from my Bianchi) until I got it repainted. :)

___
* One of my best bicycling investments, bought 1 week old from my boss at Bikecology, who removed it from his brand-new Peugeot PX-10. I have put almost 50k miles / 80k km (and counting!) on that saddle.

Am I suposed to be swayed by all of this? bk

There's NOTHING like a cheap guy on a cheap bike for a cheap thrill. Mmmmmm!

Am I suposed to be swayed by all of this? bk

No. This thread isn't about you.

Topics posted here on BF tend to spin off at times and once they reach a point, accepted practice is to start a new thread. Since there are a number of serious, dedicated, bicyclists that enjoy finding, fixing, and riding "cheap" bicycles AND they enjoy talking about them, I thought that a new thread was in order. Other than the original topic spawning this new thread, there is no connection to the other thread.

One of the things I really enjoy in a forum like this is the exchange of ideas and opinions, even those which I do not agree with. I have learned that listening to differing opinions has often caused me to modify my own, or at least confirm mine and embrace them more tightly. I occasionally find a good exchange of opposite opinion to be stimulating.

Besides the stimulation however, I really enjoy the respect that the members show one another even when posts and comments hold different views and opinions to their own. It denotes a high level of maturity that shows a respectable acceptance of other's differences, likes and dislikes or even foilbles.

No sir, this thread isn't about you.

No. This thread isn't about you.

Topics posted here on BF tend to spin off at times and once they reach a point, accepted practice is to start a new thread. Since there are a number of serious, dedicated, bicyclists that enjoy finding, fixing, and riding "cheap" bicycles AND they enjoy talking about them, I thought that a new thread was in order. Other than the original topic spawning this new thread, there is no connection to the other thread.

One of the things I really enjoy in a forum like this is the exchange of ideas and opinions, even those which I do not agree with. I have learned that listening to differing opinions has often caused me to modify my own, or at least confirm mine and embrace them more tightly. I occasionally find a good exchange of opposite opinion to be stimulating.

Besides the stimulation however, I really enjoy the respect that the members show one another even when posts and comments hold different views and opinions to their own. It denotes a high level of maturity that shows a respectable acceptance of other's differences, likes and dislikes or even foilbles.

No sir, this thread isn't about you.

:beer:

Went garage saleing today. Picked up an early 70's Columbia adult mens bike with all the normal stuff, fenders, upright handlebars, kickstand, chainguard S-A 3 speed (dtd 71), rear rack. In good shape though it might need new tubesand/or tires. $5. I might leave this at arelative's house for another spare. I left a $15 Schwinn World Tourist in Philadelphia early this month at my sister's house for use when I fly in to visit.

Am I suposed to be swayed by all of this? bk
No dude; you're a Rock!

One of the problems around here is that folks are too bicycle aware.

I can never find a decently priced used bike at a thrift store because folks tend to know their value and they are priced accordingly. Decent bikes at garage sales are at market prices, and even Huffy's are about $25+ used.

Every now and then, but extremely rarely.

One of the problems around here is that folks are too bicycle aware.

I can never find a decently priced used bike at a thrift store because folks tend to know their value and they are priced accordingly. Decent bikes at garage sales are at market prices, and even Huffy's are about $25+ used.

Every now and then, but extremely rarely.

I occasionally look at our Free ads Paper and am surprised at what is for sale. Bikes advertised as Racers- with a sturmey archer 3 speed gears. No offers at $100. Then there is all the rubbish that I would not touch. Then Tonight a couple of Kona's, One a Cona Stuff (sic) (£800 over here) For sale at half price of £400- know the seller and the bike and it is not worth £200. He has sold it to the first idiot that came round. The other is a 2004 Kona Cowan. For sale at the same price you can buy a new one.

Perhaps the reason people are asking high prices is that they can get the idiots to buy them. From my point of view- I keep getting bikes given to me. Most are rubbish and are checked for any usefull bits that are stripped off- and then scrapped but occasionally a good one comes up- These are rebuilt and replace the neighbours bikes that are rubbish. Then I get given their old bike to give to someone else (Or take straight down the Tip as that is the easiest way of Getting rid of them)

What I am waiting for is the person that spent a fortune on a bike- in order to get fit- got bored and put it in the shed for 6 months. Now they want the room and sell it cheap. One of my mates bought one last year. $3,000 bike up for sale at $1500. Mate went round there, rubbished the bike, wrong model- wrong size- Look at the rust coming on the stainless steel spokes ( work that one out). Was offered it at $1000, but did not buy- A week later the owner phoned him up and asked my mate to find someone that wanted the bike $500. Funny how the bike that was completely wrong a week before is still the best bike my friend owns.

Since this subject came up in another thread, how about telling us about your favorite "cheap" bike--cheap, of course is relative--where you got it, what you've done to it, and any special significance that it has for you. Pictures would of course, be great. I'll even start.

My favorite bike is a 1977 Schwinn LeTour, US built, that I bought at a garage sale for $2. So far it's been upgraded with a sealed bb, alloy rims, good hubs, 6 speed, leather saddle, clipless, and now weighs in just about 26 pounds. I like it because it's rugged as heck, smooth as butter, carries my weight without me worrying about it, but most importantly, it fits like it was made for me. I simply can't find a better fitting bike. Pictures would show a flaking, red bicycle, looking like it's worth $2 which is what I prefer. It doesn't look like it's worth stealing.

So, any other cheap bikers out there?
I hope you guys don't mind me posting as I am only 31, but Le Tours are one of cycling's undiscovered gems. These bikes can be had cheap, usually come with good components, and if you wanted to buy the same thing brand new (ie Rivendell) it would cost $2000+ What's not to love?

I paid $100(but you can find plenty of them for $20 at Goodwill if you look.) for my '87 Le Tour, have worn out most of the components except for the headset and excellent Sugino crank, and replaced with mostly 105 stuff. This bike is currently stripped down to the frame and fork awaiting an orange powdercoat. This bike has been so good to me it has a singular place of honor among all my bikes, and I can't ever see putting the cash into a brand new aluminum road bike when I could spend a 1/4 on my Le Tour and make it totally pimp (Phil Wood anyone?) You guys get the picture.

Let everyone bust their butts trying to collect Paramounts, while some of us pay next to nothing for the under-appreciated ride of a Le Tour! :beer:

http://www.bicyclinglife.com/images/gcf_fixbike_sm.jpghttp://www.bicyclinglife.com/images/gcf_ridebike_sm.jpg

My commuter till I moved to Little Rock was an American Eagle/Nishiki 10 speed, pictured above. Originally, it belonged to a friend. I had borrowed it for long times on occasion.

In 1978, I took off on what was supposed to be a bicycle/train trip around Europe. It was cool, when I arrived in Calais from the east, my bicycle was no longer in the baggage compartment. I ended up spending a week in Calais waiting for it, and finally they just couldn't locate it. I think it was because it was a Peugeot, and I had converted the running gear to a Shimano Grupo. My girlfriend at the same time had gone off to Hawaii. I had fixed up my older Peugeot for her to take there. Supposedly we would get back together afterwords.

I got back, got a job as an optical technician and my friend and I became roommates. So I started using the Nishiki again. But my girlfriend did not return. The Scientologists had taken her in, and apparently because of them, she was then dancing at a club in Honolulu.

My job was pretty bad. I worked with an alcoholic who burst into temper fits ever 15 minutes or so. My girlfriend and I decided that it was time for me to go to Hawaii and join her. So I started building a box to ship everything including my motorcycle.

I gave notice at my job and bought a plane ticket. And then we had that phone call. Three days before my birthday, I had no girlfriend, I had no job.

Well, sometimes God smiles. I was sitting at work the next day, reading the job ads. A co-worker sees me, asks me what's happening and by noon I have 3 job offers. One was as a technical illustrator. I had been drooling at that spot for a while and took it immediately. What made that special was that the company made electronic pre-press equipment. Desktop publishing when it required a roomfull of computers to do it. Two weeks after I signed on, the President declared that we had to do our work on company built equipment, so I had a mandate to use all of our state of the art equipment. That also gave me access to the company darkroom, and put me in contact with the people in the company's 3D animation department. Those people later went on to make the movie "Tron".

Back to the bike. My friend also had a friend in the Scientologists. This fellow was also an avid motoricyclist. One night he was stopped at a light on Prarie, a little south of the Inglewood Forum. He heard a siren and looked in his mirror to see a cop chasing a perp coming up behind him. Nothing he could do but remain motionless. The perp passed him on the righthand side, so close that it sheared his ankle off. He and the motorcycle just fell over. Well after a while of therapy and getting a prothesis, this fellow decided that what he should do is move into Scientology headquarters in Hollywood. He had observed many absolutely lovely women there and he was truly a horndog. So he sold his house to my friend. My friend moved out. I still needed a bicycle and with the new house, he needed the wood. So he swapped the wood I had bought to make the shipping box for the move to Hawaii.

Uh, guys, bikes have come a long way since this stuff came out. bk

The perp passed him on the righthand side, so close that it sheared his ankle off.
Apparently sometimes God frowns, too.

Uh, guys, bikes have come a long way since this stuff came out. bk

I hate feeding trolls, but here I go...

But good stuff is still good stuff. Nothing wrong with going for the new technology if that's what you're into. Some of the changes are improvements, while others are mostly marketing hype. New bikes may be a bit more capable of being ridden to a win in a race, but there are a lot of people who enjoy fast rides but aren't racing. Bicycles from 20 years ago were very evolved. In many ways there is nothing better about today's bikes than the best of the older stuff. And even if the newer bikes are better, the old ones are still good. If someone can find a great bike for a fraction of the cost of a new one and get good use from it, that's a great thing.

I hate feeding trolls, but here I go...



This guy has trolldom down to a science. And, even worse (if that is possible), he is a frequent "rebel rouser" in P&R II.

I vote a "Banishment."

DON'T FEED THE TROLL!

OK, cheap is relative, so here's mine:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7245400622&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

...Let everyone bust their butts trying to collect Paramounts, while some of us pay next to nothing for the under-appreciated ride of a Le Tour! :beer:

+1

Hey! I like my 1966 Paramount--- even if it isn't together and can't be ridden yet! :o But I also like the free bikes I have that haven't cost me a dime.

That's a pretty bike, Bob. When are you going to build it up and get it on the road?

I hope to soon have time to get around to making something out of my cheap old Fuji. It's going to be a jewel disguised as a beater.

The bike pictures look good. Thanks. I'll see if my sister's digital camera is working this weekend ;) .

I almost hate to say it but I already miss my little St. Etienne that lost its bearings (FYI, St. E's were french imports in the 70's and seem to be average or a bit worse in quality). I've got to take it apart and see if I can fix it. Remember, ALWAYS do a ... ummm... preflight inspection on you bike.

Buuuut, a half hour and $25 got me a Huffy with a lightweight frame and a Sears (?) with "upright" bars and fenders- no more wet strip down the back for me! The Huffy was :eek: $15 but even though it has 27" tires it looks brand new. The saddle doesn't even look sat on and the tires are still hard! The frame is aluminum or something else odd- seems too light for even fancy steel tubing.

The other is also 10 speed and looks like a good ride for rainy days or going to the store with a :eek: basket or something. The tires look good but are flat.

I figure the cheapest you can get a tire and tube for is a bit over $10. So if I get even one usable tire and tube I come out ahead. Don't forget to check out the Roubaix thread. Just think, in 30 years some lucky stiff will be riding one of those he purchased for $10- if they hold together that long :D !

Bob


EDIT: Correction the Huffy has a steel frame (says so in tiny letters on some decals)... and so does the St. E!! It was so light I never checked it! 7/1/06 1245

That's a pretty bike, Bob. When are you going to build it up and get it on the road?
BluesDawg,

Thanks for the compliment. The short answer is "I hope, real soon," but--- I need not repeat my most recent travails here. Jump to Classic and Vintage and see this thread I started earlier in the week. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=206944)

It's not been easy, but issues seem to be working themselves out.

I bought wife's '88 Schwinn Traveller at an estate sale for $2. I changed it over to flat bars and put a big gel seat on it for her. Also a rack with a Vetta clamshell box on it.
I have a Huffy 3 speed that I got free that only needed some cleaning and lubing. I put on a smaller chainwheel (from a $3 parts bike) to get a better gear range and bought new tires. It's no racer but it is nice for cruising the neighborhood.
My daughter's Raleigh Record was another yard sale find. It was marked $5, but before I could say anything, the owner said he'd take $3. I put flat bars and a rack on it and changed the freewheel to 6 speed. I also got Shimano twist grip shifters to index a Suntour derailer.
I have really enjoyed taking bikes that someone else is discarding and making them into nice riders. And with three growing kids, I have saved a lot of money versus buying new bikes every couple years.

Uh, guys, bikes have come a long way since this stuff came out. bk

So you are a flack for the bicycle industry! No one would argue that cars are more advanced too, that doesn't diminish the appeal of a deuce coupe. I'd kill to ride a Wright Van Cleve and it's over 100 years old.

Bikes are pretty simple, unless you are racing, weight is not all that important. I have to take the pounds off my belly before I spend the money on the bike, and I like my belly. A modern aluminum frame will never last as long as my steel frame. And buying a bike new will never give you a cool story as I related above.

Don't be so narrowminded.

...a half hour and $25 got me a Huffy with a lightweight frame

Bob, do some research on the Huffy, especially since it seems to be a lightweight. Huffy "rebadged" some Carltons and imported them. They are rare and while not as collectable as some bikes, they are quite unique and are really nice bikes. Take a look at http://www.classicrendezvous.com//British/Carlton/CarltonHuffy.htm

I ran into a Huffy Catalina at a thrift store which got my heart racing, but closer inspection showed it to be a real bottom of the line gaspipe. Obviously they kept the name after they quit importing the Carlton. I probably should have bought it to add to the collection but just barely almost couldn't/didn't in the end.

But do a little digging on the one you found. You might have stumbled onto something.

I saw a moving sale ad in the local buy and sell paper, so I called and the lady said they were moving and had a racing bike for sale. I went to look at it and it was a Raleigh Technium Pre in good shape with Profile TT bars on it. We settled on a price of $36, then the lady told me that a roller trainer and five wheels and a couple of tires went with it. The tires were Continentals and the wheels were Mavic and Weinmann with Dura Ace hubs along with a 7 speed Shimano freewheel. I later sold the trainer for $40 and ended up with the bike, wheels and $4 profit. I still can't believe it, I usually buy high and sell low. I guess you get lucky once in a while.

It sure looks and sounds cheap alright. bk