Classic & Vintage - If you could only keep one of your bikes, which would it be?

I was thinking about this yesterday, and I'm thinking that it would be my tandem, or my folder. I'm a utility cyclist as well as a recreational one, and the tandem does it all. It's got front and rear racks fitted, and it'll haul my trailer, and has a basket, so it's a great load lugger. It's actually quite a decent ride solo, not noticeable heavier on the road than my Raleigh 3 speed, for instance. Low maintenance, with it's SA 3 speed gears, comfortable to ride for hours, I can ride it in any clothes or shoes, wide tyres and fenders are good for all weathers, and, of course, I can carry a "passenger". Wonderful. Of course, it is rather big, and unsuitable for carry my briefcase, or taking on the train, unlike my wonderful Raleigh 20. Hard choice!


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P4160012.jpg
This bike has a front rack, a change of saddles, a frame bag, and water bottles fitted since this pic was taken.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P6040010.jpg

I was thinking about this yesterday, and I'm thinking that it would be my tandem, or my folder. I'm a utility cyclist as well as a recreational one, and the tandem does it all. It's got front and rear racks fitted, and it'll haul my trailer, and has a basket, so it's a great load lugger. It's actually quite a decent ride solo, not noticeable heavier on the road than my Raleigh 3 speed, for instance. Low maintenance, with it's SA 3 speed gears, comfortable to ride for hours, I can ride it in any clothes or shoes, wide tyres and fenders are good for all weathers, and, of course, I can carry a "passenger". Wonderful. Of course, it is rather big, and unsuitable for carry my briefcase, or taking on the train, unlike my wonderful Raleigh 20. Hard choice!


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P4160012.jpg
This bike has a front rack, a change of saddles, a frame bag, and water bottles fitted since this pic was taken.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P6040010.jpg

Both very nice. I'm sure it's hard to determine---but how much slower than a mid 80s steel racing bike (for example, a typical columbus sl /
campy record) is the folded model. I ask, as I live 13 miles outside of New York City and have been tempted to use one. (I suppose I could bring it up the elevator to my office)

I would guess that I tend to be 3-4 mph slower on the 20 than on my good 80's road race bike, on average. On descents, it would be more, due to lack of really high gearing, but on the hills, possibly less, since the lack of a really low gear makes you push it hard in what you've got! 13 miles on it is fine, as long as it fits well.

I would guess that I tend to be 3-4 mph slower on the 20 than on my good 80's road race bike, on average. On descents, it would be more, due to lack of really high gearing, but on the hills, possibly less, since the lack of a really low gear makes you push it hard in what you've got! 13 miles on it is fine, as long as it fits well.

Nice to know---thanks bro.

Probably my Torelli, one of the Titans or the Specialized Expedition Touring, thankfully I don't have to make such a choice as it would be difficult to narrow it down to a single bike.

If I could only keep one it would be my Trek 6700 mtn. bike. I have a set of Mavic/Conti road wheels for it. I can do anything with it and its very fast with the Mavic/Conti combination.

Don't make me choose:cry: :roflmao: Probably either my Raleigh Superbe or the club racer that I am building up on a Dawes Galaxy frameset, it has an FG hub so I get the extra gear and lights:p Definitely want internal gears.

Aaron:)

If I had to pick just one of the bikes I now own it would be the Fuji cross for versatility, but ideally It'd be a combination of the bikes I now own. I'd probably put the Fuji's components on a nice steel CX frame, add fenders and racks. Would it be cheating to have 2 wheelsets, one for speed and one for utility, plus an extra fixed rear wheel? I guess I could get away with just swapping tires on an open pro set, but I'm keeping a spare Open pro with a fixed hub! You can't make me give up that extra rear wheel! :mad:

Hmmm. That's a good question and tough to answer. Of all my bikes, I guess it would be the Specialized XC Comp. But if the answer is limited to older bikes, I would say the '83 Trek 560 (I think).
Can I decline to answer on the grounds that I'm afraid my other bikes won't ride well if they find out about my answer?

'61 Schwinn Paramount.

-Kurt

If it weren't for the utility aspect of my riding, the answer might well be different. I might just keep my track bike, maybe, or the tourer. Ah, who knows?

A question nightmares are made of...;o)

I guess my 96 GT Karakoram mountain bike. It's sturdy and I could tour with it...the frame is light enough that it's pretty fast with slicks on the street...easy to work on.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/top506/Triplecross2.jpg

Not the best picture in the world, but the best all-around bike I'll ever own.
Top

I think I would keep my Suzuki. Just kidding!! To be honest, I regret so much getting rid of some of my other bikes, that out of the one's I have, I just would not care which one I kept. I've had some pretty nice bikes, but none like the one's that built (frames) myself. I'm very grateful for all that I have now, I've worked hard for it...and I know how much it sucked to be so broke back then.

My red LeJeune that I have owned 35+ years.

Bite your tongue Sammyboy. Nobody's taking any of my precious bicycles away from me. :p :D

ok - this may sound weird, but if I were to keep just one bike, it would have to be the most versatile one - the Miyata 210. I find some irony in that it is one of the first bikes I'd consider turning loose if I had to reduce the fleet by a couple members. Perhaps if I had a tourer that fit me better, and was a bit lighter, that wouldn't be the case.

Which bike do I enjoy riding the most? For now, it's the Bob Jackson, but I'm hoping that will change when I get my frames back from Dr. Deltron and build them up.

What a terrible thread, SammyBoy!

It's like asking which one of my 4 children I would "keep"!

Sorry, I can't fathom such a notion. :p

I've spent years oiling their chains, feeding them tyres, wiping yucky off their finishes, beating them into shape when they get out-of-line. Whadaya mean, get rid of them?!?
I wouldn't do THAT, to my own flesh & blood! ;)

My next one!

Oh you would have to ask such a vexing question, wouldn't you? Probably I'd keep the '66 Paramount, but I would be hard pressed to lose my '79 Traveler which I pushed out of the show room some 27 years ago.

I wonder, would Scooper keep his '72 Chrome Paramount or his '07 Stainless Waterford? I can't wait to see what he says.

'61 Schwinn Paramount.

-Kurt

I'm confused on this. I thought you did not care for the ride of the Paramount? I thought you had posted previously that you were no that impressed by it? Did you have a change of heart? I thought you also said the construction was sloppy?

When I first came across this question on a forum a year or so ago, I was surprised with my own answer. But, I agree with Sammyboy that versatility is key and since I like to ride both on and off road, my 1989 Marin Pine Mountain would have to be the choice.

I’ve ridden a 3 speed pretty comfortably on “rail trails” but when it comes to technical, single tracks, I’d spend a lot of time walking. On the other hand, swapping the knobbies to slicks on the Marin make for a tolerable ride on the road.

I certainly hope I never have to make this choice.

Regards,
Alan

It would probably be the Miyata 1000 that I'm building now. It should be a solid all around bike.

They are all so different that it's difficult for me to choose.
Pogliaghi track bike. . . not good for the road but oh my what a ride
RIH a real road bike for the cobbles.
de Reus criterium geometry not a good long distance bike as set up
Serotta probably my best all rounder, modern in that it wears campy ergo 8 speed.
Zieleman similiar to the RIH but I haven't ridden it yet (still out for paint)
Remy no idea what it's going to ride like.
Trek 770 just a frame at the moment, probably the first to go.

sigh. what a horrible thread.

marty

Definitely a tough call, but probably this one - most versatile and durable of the group! Very comfortable ride (now has a Brooks Flyer saddle, Planet Bike Freddy Fenders, and a Trek adjustable rear rack), Nexus7 hub provides plenty of gear range for my purposes, and people can see me when I ride it!!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d194/ebuckle/Rex2.jpg

Good Lord, how tall are you? 6'6+?

That's gotta be one of the most expensive townies you'll ever see.


Casati Gold Line with Super Record for me.

That's easy.

In order of preference:
1. 7-Eleven Eddy Merckx
2. Colnago
3. Catamount
4. Vitus Futural

My head started hurting as soon as I tried to decide which one to keep. In mortal fear of giving myself a migraine, I gave up.

East Hill

Good Lord, how tall are you? 6'6+?

Almost! 6'5" with a 36" inseam... Had a heck of a time finding anything that felt comfortable, so I bit the bullet and went custom. Spendy, but zero regrets!


That's gotta be one of the most expensive townies you'll ever see.

Quite likely! In retrospect, I probably could have self-imported something like a Koga-Miyata, Villiger, VFS Fahrradmanufaktur or Batavus for much less, but after a friend of mine showed me his 3 (including one very nice tandem) Rex bikes, I was hooked.

Not the Bobet! It gets tougher after that.

Very nice!

I just got measured and put in the queue for a custom Steve Rex frame and fork as well.

Richard


Definitely a tough call, but probably this one - most versatile and durable of the group! Very comfortable ride (now has a Brooks Flyer saddle, Planet Bike Freddy Fenders, and a Trek adjustable rear rack), Nexus7 hub provides plenty of gear range for my purposes, and people can see me when I ride it!!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d194/ebuckle/Rex2.jpg

Almost! 6'5" with a 36" inseam... Had a heck of a time finding anything that felt comfortable, so I bit the bullet and went custom. Spendy, but zero regrets!



Quite likely! In retrospect, I probably could have self-imported something like a Koga-Miyata, Villiger, VFS Fahrradmanufaktur or Batavus for much less, but after a friend of mine showed me his 3 (including one very nice tandem) Rex bikes, I was hooked.


I don't know how I'd feel about riding a Steve King. :p

Very nice!

I just got measured and put in the queue for a custom Steve Rex frame and fork as well.

Richard

Excellent - you will love it! What type of bike is he building for you?

My Nishiki, no question.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/lamplightsg/Nishiki/IMG_9458small.jpg