Classic & Vintage - Yeah but do you RIDE it?

I posted this over at CR, and got some
interesting answers.
At what point, do you NOT ride your classic,collectable
vintage bike?
Do you ride a Confente (only 135 made)?
A mint 1967 Masi?
A fully restored museum quality P10 Paramount?

I'm really curious here. Of course we can add
"historic" bikes (Fausto's 1952 TdF winning Bianchi)
and really muddy the waters.

Ok, whats your thought?

Marty

Bear in mind that I don't own a "classic".

I think I would ride mine, but I have no interest in museum pieces. For me the kick comes from riding, not owning.

I have noticed that both backpackers and cyclists tend travel in a "gear bubble" and imho pay too much attention to having the "right" bike or the "right" gear.

I would much rather have an *.mart knockoff MTB that I could ride instead of a "classic" that I could only look at.

All that being said, I have hopes of rehabilitating an old balloon tired cruiser and using it for a winter commuter this year. It will be a rehabilitation as opposed to a restoration because I plan to ride the thing. If I can't find an old one at a flea market or thrift shop, then I will buy a modern copy, but I would prefer the older one because the idea of reusing old "junk" appeals to me in an eccentric way.

Dan

I still ride my bianchi!

There is something about the ride of an older classic. I ride my 30 yr old Gios or my 25 yr old Pinarello and prefer them way over the hi-tech toys. Yeah, not as fast or nimble as the latest rice rocket, but it's kinda like floating along in your dad's (or grandad's--depending on your age) Buick. You can drain your account on a new ride, but I like the "paid for in the 70s" concept much better. Not knocking the new bikes, but the older I (and my two classics) get, the better we get.

Any retro heads out there in Southeast Texas?

Ya, man, you darned right I ride my classics.

That is a big part of the fun of collecting bikes. You can actually ride them!

The most extravagant ride I will take to work is '70's vintage road bikes because they don't look that odd.

However, if I am out for a ride with the kids or going to the ice cream shop, I hop on one of my fat tire cruisers with gas tank, lights, and all the trimmings.

I ride my "classics" as they are what Ive got , cant afford a "good" new one So I ride good old ones .I enjoy tinkering with them too.:D :D

I don't know if my bike is a vintage or classic bike or not. I ride everyday on a 84 Trek 660 with Suntour Superbe components. I was told the components are considered classics, but not sure about the frame. Maybe someone can help me figure that out.

Froze,

Yeah, I'd say its a classic. So would the guy who
runs the Vintage Trek site.
and the CR folks will in a year (they have a 20 year
limit on their discussions etc.).

Marty

I ride all of my bikes. If it was too nice to ride, I wouldnt buy it.

Of course, it would have to be extreeeeemly rare, and NIB to keep me from buying and riding it... A brand new Hetchins that was hiding in someones attic for ages for instance. I'd still have to take it out for a 'test ride' :D

To quote Carroll Shelby, "I didn't build it to sit in some f**kin' museum!!"

One great quote, Roadie! My 26 year old Paramount still gets me from home to work and back in pretty good shape, so sure I ride it! Just like my shootin' irons, never had one that just hung on the wall, and doubt that I'll have a bike that does either! (Speaking of hanging one on the wall....when I need a little extra floor space in my room, the Paramount I'm not using does get hung on the wall! I got a couple metal household closet rod holders and mounted them high on the wall......works like a charm!)

If I own it I ride it. And when not in use my wonderful '87 Paramount is suspended off the edge of the library over the staircase. Have a set of pulleys with hooks mounted on an oak board attached to the ceiling and simply pull the bike up when not in use. Nice and dry and out of the way up there. And is a great piece of Americana art work looking from the library out the staircase window.

Thanks Lotec for that Trek site and your info. Sorry could not figure out who CR is, could you explain that and/or what is the web site address? Thanks

I think he's referring to Classic Rendezvous here (www.classicrendezvous.com)

I took out my Horizon Sentenial Sunday. I guess I got it 30 years ago.
Joe
:beer:

I did about half of my 4500 miles last year on my 63 Flying Scot. It's picked up a few scratches but hey that's what happens.

It's like a guy I knew who's dad had an Aston Martin DB6. It had something like 800 miles on it since he bought it new. What was the point?

The only reason I haven't been riding my 80s vintage Basso (Campy SR and sew-ups) is that I gave into my "Campyphilism" and bought a pair of the old SGR clipless pedals awhile back NOS. It hurts to say it but they're not very good. 2 distinct movements to clip out and they're sort of ugly to boot. As soon as I find another set of Looks for the right $ it'll be sharing miles with my "semi-modern" Colnago MasterLite, (aka Master Olympic or Gilco Master amongst other names I've heard for the Master series before the contemporary MasterXL)

To address your question more directly Marty, there are some bikes I'd love to find and if I did would ride on rare occasions at best. For example I've kept an eye open for a true "English Racer" like the Raleigh Lenton on another thread. That bike or even better an older "Clubman" with a Sturmey Archer gear would make my year. I would ride it, but probably not much. Hang it on the wall (as if the wife would ever let THAT happen) and admire it while drinking a pint of Bass.

If I ever find a early 70s Cinelli or Masi? Yeah I'd ride those, alot.

Hey I rode a 20 year old Religh 3 speed this weekend. It was different.

Joe
:beer:

I use each of my bicycles regularly, because each has different characteristics which I value. I do not know whether having the Capo repainted will make me want to ride it more frequently, to show it off, or less frequently, to preserve it.

I have a 20 year old Univega 12 speed that I ride daily. My girlfriend has a 20 year old Schwinn 10 speed that she rides daily. She also has a 1960 Royce Union 3 speed that I recently acquired, and she'll ride that when I've finished restoring it.

It's like a guy I knew who's dad had an Aston Martin DB6. It had something like 800 miles on it since he bought it new. What was the point?

DB6 or DB3? I thought the DB6 was my uncles fram tractor! Yes double over head cams and all!

Joe

My boss has a restored highwheeler,fiftysix inch wheel, that he still rides in parades. He recently did a Wright brothers celebration with it, but that was held indoors and he just walked around with it, in period costume. He also has a 30 plus year old Raleigh(I think Criterium) Full Campy, bought it brand new in the box. We pulled all the parts off and stored them. Then built up the frame with full Record. He rides that from time to time. He has a bunch, he can only ride any of them from time to time.

I'm of the mind that I wouldn't want a collector that I
couldn't ride. Of course i'm not talking a Merckx ridden
Molteni or a bike with serious historical importance.
I don't know that I'd ever ride a highwheeler, old
or not :D

marty

I guess there will always be better preserved or restored examples of all my bikes out there, so the pleasure has to be in the riding and the memories, rather than in the ownership. If I had a really valuable bike in the stable, I'd start worrying about theft, insurance, depreciation....and generally start mothballing the thing. Not what I want to do. I run a '74 Flying Scot around town and a '76 Bob Jackson fixed wheel winter trainer. Each has curvy forks and slack angles, ideal for the purposes have in mind. Once I start seeing these bikes as investments, rather than pleasure vehicles, I think I should give them to someone who will enjoy lavishing care and attention on them as much as I have enjoyed using them. My buddy hangs a Hetchins on a wall in his house. It looks fine- and is a work of art by any definition- but when I look at it, I see a bike in need of wheels and a destination!

You know, I didn't even think about it, but I ride my fixed all the time and it si one of the hand lugged Treks, so I guess it is vintage.
I just restored a butchers bike for a guy, it is at least 40 years old and he plans on riding it around. I am not sure of the manufacturer, no labeling on it, but it has rod brakes and is English as is the owner.

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
You know, I didn't even think about it, but I ride my fixed all the time and it si one of the hand lugged Treks, so I guess it is vintage.
I just restored a butchers bike for a guy, it is at least 40 years old and he plans on riding it around. I am not sure of the manufacturer, no labeling on it, but it has rod brakes and is English as is the owner.
Lets hope he's not a serial-killer , he'd be known as " The Bike Butcher of Raleigh":beer:

Originally posted by Flaneur
I guess there will always be better preserved or restored examples of all my bikes out there, so the pleasure has to be in the riding and the memories, rather than in the ownership. If I had a really valuable bike in the stable, I'd start worrying about theft, insurance, depreciation....and generally start mothballing the thing. Not what I want to do. I run a '74 Flying Scot around town and a '76 Bob Jackson fixed wheel winter trainer. Each has curvy forks and slack angles, ideal for the purposes have in mind. Once I start seeing these bikes as investments, rather than pleasure vehicles, I think I should give them to someone who will enjoy lavishing care and attention on them as much as I have enjoyed using them. My buddy hangs a Hetchins on a wall in his house. It looks fine- and is a work of art by any definition- but when I look at it, I see a bike in need of wheels and a destination!

Great, another Flying Scot owner. I've been trying to convert these guys for ages :)

Mine's a '63, and I commute probably 2000 miles a year on it in summer, using my Sandy Gilchrist bike for touring and winter. I'm like you, a bike is something that has to take you somewhere. All of the enjoyment comes from using them.

Have you been onto Bob Reid's site?. Think he's based in Stonehaven.

Chewa,

I see Bob Reids posts on Classic Rendezvous, very
interesting fellow.
I'd be willing to try a Flying Scott but can't seem to
find any here. Would you be willing to send me one? :D


Marty

I just purchased a bridgestone 300 for a rain bike/ bike to put on my trainer to keep my lemond from getting abused. Its not a very special bike by no means but, bridgestones are no longer being produced. The bad thing is the bike still looks like new!

Bob Reid's site....it's lovely, unlike the paintwork on my Flying Scot!!!! Guess I'd better spray it before sending in any pictures:)

eric

hell yeah i ride it! that's the first thing i love about bikes. the 2nd is that some are really cool looking and beautifully made. i'm working on building up my early 70's masi as a commuter!

matt

I have a 12 speed Univega road bike that I bought new in Pacific Beach, CA in 1978. I paid $200 for it, and at the time, I thought that was a fortune. It has been on the hooks in my garage for the past 10 years. Still in good shape, and a great bike, but the tires have dry rotted. I need to get some new tires and tubes and hit the road with it.

its a good question. quick answert is "no", i wouldnt regularly ride a confente if i had one, but yes most other things... and yes, i would HAVE to ride the confente at least once... to say i had.
anything that would take me more than a lifetime to find again, i'd do my best to keep safe, and if that means only riding it on "speacial occassions" then so be it. Paramounts seem to be everywhere, so I'd prbably be happy to ride one around as a main bike... If i prang it badly, I know that I can grab another in my size within 2 or 3 months if i have the cash. If, on the other hand, I had a Barra, I wouldnt ride it in the city much... but I'd get on it along country roads for sure. So i guess toughness also plays a part. I'd be happier to ride a barra daily than a herse or something similar. mmmm... the more i think, the more i ramble. Oh, I'd swap out wheels on any nice vintage bike that i was going to ride everyday.
i dont think theres anything wrong with having a bike to admire on a wall.

hello 2003 :lol:

How far back do the archives go?

If I owned this:
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff80/monogodo/goldcolnago.jpg
I'd ride it.

To address your question more directly Marty, there are some bikes I'd love to find and if I did would ride on rare occasions at best. For example I've kept an eye open for a true "English Racer" like the Raleigh Lenton on another thread. That bike or even better an older "Clubman" with a Sturmey Archer gear would make my year. I would ride it, but probably not much. Hang it on the wall (as if the wife would ever let THAT happen) and admire it while drinking a pint of Bass.

If I ever find a early 70s Cinelli or Masi? Yeah I'd ride those, alot.

I just recently found and bought(last week) a 1946 Raleigh Lenton Sports with 531 tubing(I believe this was the 1st year it was used) and original Sturmey Archer AW 3 speed wide ratio gearing in beautiful condition(see my thread here on C&V). Up until now I've been riding my Raleigh 20-30 3 speeds(Sports, Superbes) from the 60s and 70s, all of which(maybe not 'classics) are in immaculate condition. As for the Lenton - I've ridden it everyday since getting it because it feels so good, like nothing else I own.
Just because you like to ride an old beautiful classic doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the original aesthetics/beauty - I put as much attention into taking care of my bikes as I do riding them, and find great pleasure in doing both.

-Specter

Hi Marty,

Pleasure to meet you. I'm fairly new here and would like to say thanks. I think this is a great subject for this forum.... I'm really enjoying it.

Specter

Pleased to meet you too.
I'd sort of forgotten about this thread ( it is 5 years old). so maybe an update?
I have a Pogliaghi Pista now, with provenance, I ride it.
I've come to realise that any bike, with few exceptions ( the above mentioned Fausto's '52 Giro winning
Bianchi) should be ridden, even if only once a year on a sunday with absolute perfect weather.

Marty

At what point, do you NOT ride your classic,collectable
vintage bike?

When I am dead.

-Kurt

Nice reminder. I have one bicycle that I haven't ridden yet this year.

The way I avoid the problem is not buying any bicycles that would cause me the mental conflict. It's not like I can afford them anyways.

Generally, no. I have a couple of 1980's bikes that I like to ride, but the older, more obscure bikes, never. If a bike I own has never been ridden, it will stay that way. If I've invested a lot of time and money into sourcing NOS parts, the curator in me derives more pleasure from viewing it than from actually riding it. For me, it really depends on the rarity of the bike and the likelihood that I can find appropriate replacement parts.

Yes... it would be wrong not to.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/edithnewbars2.jpg
1957 Peugeot PLX8

But I do worry a little more that if I was to crash her there are parts I could not afford to replace.

I own oly riders or potential riders.

If I were to run across something of significance, either in age, rarity or historical importance, I would consider displaying it... But if I had a bike of that stature, I would probably seek out a museum or other public venue for display rather than displaying it myself. I think there is a public interest to be served by any bike too valuable to be ridden... otherwise, it needs to be ridden. ;)

I have not been on my 1970 P13 Paramount (honeydew green) for years now. After the resto, I rode it at least 4 times a week for about a year.

I pulled the pedals to go with another resto, and slapped on some worn out Campy quills for display puposes.

I might ride it again, but maybe not. I have plenty of others to ride, and I still remember what it rides like.

So, in a nutshell, there are some bikes that I no longer ride.

I probably have close to 40 classic bikes, so I can't ride them all, but I have ridden each at some point though its usually only 2 or 3 I use all the time.

My 60th Anniversary Hetchins has never been riden though, and my Paramount track, well, no place to ride it.

It doesn't bother me to see them just hanging... kinda like art.

I posted this over at CR, and got some
interesting answers.
At what point, do you NOT ride your classic,collectable
vintage bike?
Do you ride a Confente (only 135 made)?
A mint 1967 Masi?
A fully restored museum quality P10 Paramount?

Marty

Confente, no problem. Masi?, No problem. Why restore the Paramount in the first place?

On Coppi's TdF winning bike... first locate the Correct one. Fortunately its too big.

Confente, no problem. Masi?, No problem. Why restore the Paramount in the first place?

On Coppi's TdF winning bike... first locate the Correct one. Fortunately its too big.

Ferrari? No problem. -- Eddie Griffin

;)

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0ctP6Ei3X8g3J/610x.jpg

I recently passed on an '86 Merckx that was too nice. At over $600 it wasn't cheap either, but it was beautiful and perfect. Can't explain why I feel that way.