Classic & Vintage - What is the oldest bike you have owned?

Hey...I was wondering what the oldest bike anyone using the forums have owned? I once had a 197? supercycle....but it sorta got chopped for the front of a messed up go-cart...it had a 3-piece crank, chrome fenders, and a set of awesome looking rims....but the backset was that it was a girls bike.....but hey, I got it for free!...So post away...what is your oldest bike?

Currently, I have several older bikes...

1983 or 1984(Trek 500)
1984 (?) Bianchi Squadra (squished by car, waiting for insurance $$$)
1988 Trek 400T
1970-1980's?? Fuji something...repainted before me, but being stripped and turned fixie.

PJ

presently I own a '83 Bianchi San Remo I also own an '89-90 Specialized Sequoia when I was a kid in the 60's I owned a '4? Schwinn ? that had been my dads when he was a teenager had it until I bought my first 10 speed in the early 70's

My oldest is my main riding bike. '73 World Voyager.

I have a Dawes frame of unknown vintage. It has centerpull brakes and horizontal dropouts.

If you are talking in our lifetime, how about a red 1950 Schwinn baloon tire bike I got for Christmas when I was 10 years old, replaced on Christmas day 1953 with a green Raleigh 3 speed "racing" bike. Both are long gone but I do have a 1971 Raleigh Super Course that I rescued from the GoodWill. It has been repainted & restored with a Brooks saddle, N.O.S. Shimano 600 components & Araya rims. With the copper metallic paint, white head tube & nervex lugs it is looks like a new bike & always gets lots of compliments.
Don

1936 Sterling ballon cruiser with skip link chain currently not installed. I couldn't keep it original & still ride it. But I have about 90% of the original parts in various stages of restoration. Maybe someday.

Don - where did you get the paint for the Super Course? I have one that needs some touching up.

I think Sheldon Brown has you all beat:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ranger.html

I own what's below, plus a two 80's treks, a Super Course circa '83 (all currently being stripped for parts and sold), but the oldest bike I've ever owned is my first, an ugly green Huffy Spyder bike I bought at K-mart in first grade. Long gone, alas. I rode to school daily on that beast. To buy it, I walked to school, and my dad gave me the money the school bus would have cost each day. I think it was fifteen cents each way, but the memory's a little hazy.

I forgot I have my Dad's old bike. We think it is an Elgin and it is from the early 1930's!

My oldest is my main riding bike. '73 World Voyager.
I too own and ride a World Voyageur...I bought it as a frame, ebayed the Dura-Ace components . I set it up as a fixie. It ride greats and is amazingly comfortable especially for long rides. I did some research and apparently Schwinn only made these bikes the one year (1973). Gives the bike a little cache. How do you like yours?

I love mine. This past July I rode an ms150 and it performed like a champ! I bought it brand new in 1974 and have kept it all original except the seat which I bought in '74 as a replacement because I didn't like the seat that came with it. Mine is orange. What color is yours?

Hi,
my first bike was a Columbia, and it was built some time in the Thirties. It was black, and had a shock absorbing hub. Wish I still had it.

Right here in my basement I have a 1957 Huffy CustomLiner that I got for my 9th birthday. Even though it is a girls bike I was too little to ride it. For a year or two I had to ride standing up. It used to have a basket on the handlebars and streamers on the grips. It's blue and white.

I had a 1981 Fuji Royale mixte frame. Wish I hadn't given that one away.

Kathi

If you really mean the oldest bike you ever owned, I am sure I can take the cake because of my age. My first bike in 1933 was a no name pre balloon tired tubeless tubular bought second hand for $1.00. It had a broken pedal which cost 50 cents to replace. It was later stolen. It was very unusual to have a bike stolen at that time. My next bike was acquired in return for a $2.00 debt for labor I had done in about 1934. It was completely disassembled by the son of its previous owner. It was a great hack bike and I enjoyed bicycle camping and many long trips on it. My next bike I acquired after I got out of the army in 1946. I was a Schwinn Continental. I ultimately restrung the wheels for sew up tubular and put on drop bars. I did a lot of touring on it in Ohio. My next bike was a Peugot. That was the worst bike I ever owned. My next two bikes were Centurians. They were very nice bikes and I had one fixed up with a homemade rechargeable lighting system for commuting to work and the other as sport bike to ride up into the mountains. I replaced them with a steel framed Nashbar bike after I lost a leg in an auto accident in 1981. I did a lot of modifying the drive train on that bike and I consider it one of the best bikes I ever owned. I replaced that with an aluminum framed Schwinn which had Shimano 105 components. It was heavier than my old Nashbar. I now ride a Trek 5200 T. I have put an 11X32 cassette on it so I can climb hills.

Hey...I was wondering what the oldest bike anyone using the forums have owned? I once had a 197? supercycle....but it sorta got chopped for the front of a messed up go-cart...it had a 3-piece crank, chrome fenders, and a set of awesome looking rims....but the backset was that it was a girls bike.....but hey, I got it for free!...So post away...what is your oldest bike?

The bike I still have! A 1970 purple peugot. The only things I have ever done to it are: Added a second set of brake levers to the bar so that I could reach them while sitting upright, new shimano rear derailleur (515?) last year 'cause the old one had just about had it. The chain finally broke earlier this year. I put a lot of miles on that bike. Since I paid around $250 for it, it cost me less than $8 per year!

It has just become my beater bike. Here I purchased that thing in high school and I recently gave myself a new bike (Giant OCR2) for my 50th birthday! (gotta say, that alum frame is really nice!)

Sheldon

If you really mean the oldest bike you ever owned, I am sure I can take the cake because of my age. My first bike in 1933 was a no name pre balloon tired tubeless tubular bought second hand for $1.00. It had a broken pedal which cost 50 cents to replace. It was later stolen. It was very unusual to have a bike stolen at that time. My next bike was acquired in return for a $2.00 debt for labor I had done in about 1934. It was completely disassembled by the son of its previous owner. It was a great hack bike and I enjoyed bicycle camping and many long trips on it. My next bike I acquired after I got out of the army in 1946. I was a Schwinn Continental. I ultimately restrung the wheels for sew up tubular and put on drop bars. I did a lot of touring on it in Ohio. My next bike was a Peugot. That was the worst bike I ever owned. My next two bikes were Centurians. They were very nice bikes and I had one fixed up with a homemade rechargeable lighting system for commuting to work and the other as sport bike to ride up into the mountains. I replaced them with a steel framed Nashbar bike after I lost a leg in an auto accident in 1981. I did a lot of modifying the drive train on that bike and I consider it one of the best bikes I ever owned. I replaced that with an aluminum framed Schwinn which had Shimano 105 components. It was heavier than my old Nashbar. I now ride a Trek 5200 T. I have put an 11X32 cassette on it so I can climb hills.

wow - great personal bike history.

A 50s Rudge Clubman, 531 straight gauge, which someone converted into a fixed with a whole lotta newer stuff on. Retired until I can find more period-orrect stuff; last year's salt roads took too much of a toll.

The oldest bike i ever owned was a '60's AMF cruiser. The oldest I have now is a 1969 English 3 speed that i ride 10 miles each way to work.

I love mine. This past July I rode an ms150 and it performed like a champ! I bought it brand new in 1974 and have kept it all original except the seat which I bought in '74 as a replacement because I didn't like the seat that came with it. Mine is orange. What color is yours?


mine is also orange...I especially like the chrome work...someone told me if you strip the paint the entire bike is chromed, like the older Paramounts. I like the paint job though. That's great you have yours from day one, nothing ages like steel. Makes you onder what is going to happen with these carbon/titanium/high zootium bikes in 20 or 30 years.

My first bicycle was a mid-1950s Schwinn middleweight, with a 2-speed Bendix hub controlled by a handbrake-style shift lever.

The second-oldest bike I have ever owned is my gorgeous Reynolds 531 Capo, with its nearly-new CylcArt paint-and-decal job.

I have a 1962 Schwinn Paramount. The oldest bike I've ever owned was a Schwinn balloon tire bike when I was a kid circa 1950's (wish I still had it)

My oldest bike I bought in 1993 and is a Scott. Had always liked its steel frame ride.. That is the bike I had a pretty bad accident on late April..Hurt my shoulder pretty bad..Still not fully recovered...
My point about my oldest bike..? I keep it on my trainer....Have not riden it since the accident! I look at it, I feel just sort of reluctant to use it.
Can't see anything wrong with it.. Just reluctant to use it..Have since riden on my newer Road bike, a Klein.. The Scott is also a road bike.. Have always appreciated its ride and used it to put on airplanes on far away bike trips.
Will I ever get over this silly attitude about it being at fault.? Yet, can't come about to selling it..Realizing I am being redicilious. Have riden it many times on the trainer. Thinking that will get me over this feeling?
Maybe I should invite a priest to come into the house and bless it and cast out the demons! SIlly ... Would like to get over these feelings and again use it for the bike to put on airplanes- for bike trips in far away places..
If An airline beat up my Klein, I would be livid..

We've been here before:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=19868&highlight=oldest

I beleive Sheldons Ranger took the prize if I recall correctly.
As I said in the earlier thread, I still ride my mid-50's JC Higgins 3-speed. Very cool bike :)

Currently riding a late 1960's Raleigh Twenty that has had a few mods to it.

Here's the whole thing

Forgot to upload. . .

One more try

I have a lot of "old" bikes but they're not for collecting but riding: a 1969 Holdsworth Italia Line Chronometro with 40,000 miles; a 1974 Holdsworth Cyclone with 105,000 miles, a 1954 Claud Butler with 50,000 miles, etc etc. My run-around bike is a Schwinn LeTour I rescued from the trash that I've ridden over 20,000 miles. Altogether, I've ridden 420,000 miles and have written a book about it. Thomas Upton

I have several oldish bicycles in my collection but I am unable to give the details at this moment as I live in France but am presently in UK. Certainly there are some from the 1920s and possibly earlier. I will tell you more when I return David le Breton

The oldest is a
'36 Western Flyer Balloon tire bike, then:
'5? Firestone Balloon tire cruiser
'54 Schwinn Traveler 3 spd.
'61 Schwinn Traveler 3 spd.
'63 Rollfast 26" AirFlight (26" LW coaster brake)
'65 Schwinn Racer 3 spd.
'66 Robin Hood 3 spd.
'68 Columbia Tourist 3 spd.
'69 Raleigh Sprite 27 (10 spd.)
'73 Schwinn Varsity
'77 Nishiki Sport (converted to straight bar hybrid)
'77 Raleigh Super Course
'78 Raleigh Super Course
'78 Raleigh Super Grand Prix
'78 Trek 412
'79 Schwinn Town & Country Trike (restored for swap meet use)
'80 Mikado Custom Sport
'80 Ross Gran Tour
'82 Schwinn Mesa Runner (old school mtb)
'83 Panasonic DX-4000 (converted to upright bar hybrid)
'01 Worksman Mover Trike (swap meet hauler)
Plus several others (and a few of the above awaiting repair/restoration work.

I have a 1950 Schwinn Panther that I am hoping to clean up. Needs the seat, handlebar and headset. Everything else is original and working.

Here's a picture of the oldest bike I have at this time: REstored 71 SuperCourse

OOps! Here it is again.

I'm still riding my 1978 $200 Peuguot UO-10. Lugged steel, heavy but still strong. It will become my "ride with the kids bike". I've been a long way with it and it'll still be with me till I fall off the final time. I was taken out by an over-exuberant rottweiler in October, the rear rack brace now has a strange angle, but it took the shot and got me home.

Hello all. The oldest bike? Well I cannot be exactly sure but I guess I have two or three which date to the turn of the Centuy -- that is 1800 to 1900. These are roadsters (otherwise known as "Sit Up and Begs") whilst I have several lightweights - "racers" fromthe 1920/30. Two belonged to Star riders in the Cycling Club of which I am a Life Member and Past President and were left to me when they died. They were both built in the Nineteen Twenties - one rider was the Club Champion and the other the Holder of the 24 hours Time Trial record. This record still stands. Regards David

I've just inherited a 1898 Lonsdale with the original receipt and matchbox for the carbide lamp.

I have a bike from like 1977- it's a 10 speed Ross bike. My father's. It's good stuff. I can't ride it because it's way too big for me, but it's all good anyway.

Koffee

I have a bike from like 1977- it's a 10 speed Ross bike. My father's. It's good stuff. I can't ride it because it's way too big for me, but it's all good anyway.

Koffee

I'm sure it's very special because it belonged to your dad. Don't let it get away! I wear my dad's watch from time to time and it seems to bring him closer to me though he's been gone for 9 years now. I hestitate to mention that today's his birthday. Don't mean to bring anyone down. He had a great life and I have satisfaction in that.

I still have the mid 70s Motobecane my dad and mom bought me.

Ollo Ollo:

That is the sweetest use of a Brooks saddle I've ever seen. Beautiful bike!

-that would be the '30's B.S.A. my aunt donated when I first started riding at age 9. I needed the step through frame as it was a good six months before I could sit on the seat and pedal at the same time. I still have short legs, just not as short..........

It must have weighed 45 pounds, with Endrick rims, rod brakes and a steering lock, big steel mudguards and chaincase, Sturmey 3 speed dynohub and rubber handgrips that were starting to perish, leaving my hands sticky every time I rode the thing.

Loved the woman, loved the bike........

If you really mean the oldest bike you ever owned, I am sure I can take the cake because of my age. My first bike in 1933 was a no name pre balloon tired tubeless tubular bought second hand for $1.00. It had a broken pedal which cost 50 cents to replace. It was later stolen. It was very unusual to have a bike stolen at that time. My next bike was acquired in return for a $2.00 debt for labor I had done in about 1934. It was completely disassembled by the son of its previous owner. It was a great hack bike and I enjoyed bicycle camping and many long trips on it. My next bike I acquired after I got out of the army in 1946. I was a Schwinn Continental. I ultimately restrung the wheels for sew up tubular and put on drop bars. I did a lot of touring on it in Ohio. My next bike was a Peugot. That was the worst bike I ever owned. My next two bikes were Centurians. They were very nice bikes and I had one fixed up with a homemade rechargeable lighting system for commuting to work and the other as sport bike to ride up into the mountains. I replaced them with a steel framed Nashbar bike after I lost a leg in an auto accident in 1981. I did a lot of modifying the drive train on that bike and I consider it one of the best bikes I ever owned. I replaced that with an aluminum framed Schwinn which had Shimano 105 components. It was heavier than my old Nashbar. I now ride a Trek 5200 T. I have put an 11X32 cassette on it so I can climb hills.

I hope I'm that cool and have a long "cycling legacy" when I'm your age! My parents keep telling me I will "grow out of bikes" as soon as I have a family and everything but I just can't see that happening... sure hope it doesn't.

i ride an old chicago schwin varsity right now. anyone want to buy it? it's too small and it's a girls bike.

1962 olmo

Hey...I was wondering what the oldest bike anyone using the forums have owned? I once had a 197? supercycle....but it sorta got chopped for the front of a messed up go-cart...it had a 3-piece crank, chrome fenders, and a set of awesome looking rims....but the backset was that it was a girls bike.....but hey, I got it for free!...So post away...what is your oldest bike?

check this out...

a 1950's schwinn. My grand dad used to ride this to work. Now it just sits, like furniture, to be admired.

My current bike is a 1984 Trek 660 so it's 20 years old. Just 6 months ago I threw out my 81 Schwinn Traveller because I was moving and it needed a lot of work. The oldest bike I owned was a 63? Mattel Varoom Stingray bike with a banana seat.

My current bike is a 1984 Trek 660 so it's 20 years old. Just 6 months ago I threw out my 81 Schwinn Traveller because I was moving and it needed a lot of work. The oldest bike I owned was a 63? Mattel Varoom Stingray bike with a banana seat.

That would be a Schwinn Stingray with a mattel varoom on it

Aside from coasters & three speeds had a 1967 Schwinn Continental. Still have a 1972 Nishiki Road Compe, 1980 Austo-Damiler Super Light, and a 1982 or 83 Gios Torino Super Record. All sweet rides!

Howard L. Snell

I'm still riding my '74 Atala and '75 Schwinn Super Le Tour. When I was a kid, I had a ~'59 Black Knight with fins like a 59 Chevy on what was built like a rear rack over the fender. Not sure who the manufacturer was.

I have a yellow '73 Schwinn World Traveler. It's not much, but it's comfortable.