Commuting - Riding a 20 yr old clunker to work

Thank you for showing this particular bike. I have a Bianchi frame painted a similar gray, and I have been wondering what to do with it to make it look more attractive. Your tires and trim make that gray look classy.

Thanks! I'm very happy with the Vrerdestein tires. They're relatively inexpensive ($40 for the pair at Performance) and I haven't experienced any flats (yet). It helps that there was already some blue in the graphics on the frame; kinda ties it all together.

This is my bad weather (rain, snow) commuter bike. The frame is a Velosport Appalache circa 1980's. (slippers are not SPD compatible)

I'm so jealous of all you commuters with gleaming vintage rides. Mine's an old rust bucket-- but heck, it came that way. Even a new paint job wouldn't "take." Don't bother to lock it up any more, would probably have to pay someone to steal it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3587/3588426869_44af90b183_b.jpg
This 1975 Fuji was the only bike I rode for thirty years-- going to school, commuting, touring, schlepping, you name it. Then three years ago I bought a new Fuji Del Rey for getting around in the city and upgraded my old Special Road Racer for daily duty in the country with a triple crankset, megarange freewheel, thumb shifters, caliper brakes, Brooks saddle with Kalloy seat post and new wheels with Sun CR18 rims (it is getting real hard to find decent 27"s nowadays.) Only thing left original now is the frame and most of the headset. Wasn't really worth the investment but I have a sentimental attachment to this clunker. Hey, and since my LBS replaced the old broken BB with a new sealed cartridge, it doesn't even go "clunk" any more... except when I shift, of course. :o

You can see a slide show of my "commute" here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38426223@N05/sets/72157618224639477/show/). I'll be adding new pics as the season progresses. So if you enjoy watching, subscribe to my Hudson Valley page on Flickr, thanks!

WoW Andychrist great photos! I live in the city and need to get out on the road more. I am going on a camping trip by myself on the 13th and your pictures just got me AMPED! That is so cool you have had that bike for 30 years, Ron.

Andy, I suspect people outside our area don't know how gorgeous the Hudson Valley is. It's one of my favorite places. My father finds it to be the prettiest place in the whole country. Your pictures make it tempting to agree with him.

How long was your tour?

I went through it on bike briefly a long, long time ago. And my daughter went to summer camp for five years in Lakeville, CT, and the drive there was in the Hudson Valley. I love it.

Thanks for your interest guys.

Actually, that "tour" is a pretty regular commute for me, from my place in Germantown, NY. All those shots were taken within about a twelve mile radius, over the course of a couple of weeks, as daylight and weather permitted. Mapped them on Flicker: that area of the Mid Hudson lies between the Catskills and the Berkshires.

I agree, the Hudson Valley is certainly one of the most beautiful places in the country. Frederick Church built Olana here after traveling the world.

When I was growing up, my family used to come from the city to Candlewood Lake in Danbury, Ct. We would take the Taconic and it sure was scenic. Bicyclists riding along side the highway always kept me spellbound.

Anyone living in the NY metro area should know: you can take your bike along with you for free on Metro North (well, with a $5 lifetime permit) during off-peak, all the way to Poughkeepsie. From there, it's only about forty miles to Olana, just be prepared to climb a couple of nice hills.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3580297207_78c09405ac_b.jpg

Come visit, everybody!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3580297207_78c09405ac_b.jpg

Come visit, every body!

Sigh! I'm gonna need a clean drool towel here.:thumb:

I ride a 25+ year old Schwinn World Cruiser that I picked up at D.I. for $2. I cleaned off the weeds, but nothing else, stripped it down a little, and started riding it. The frame is a little big on me, but for 2 bucks...... Its only a 4 mile round trip commute, but I ride every day and love it. Please excuse the duct tape on the flat bars, I put them on late last night and figured out that I ran out of bar tape. :lol: It won't last more than a day.

I ride a 25+ year old Schwinn World Cruiser that I picked up at D.I. for $2. I cleaned off the weeds, but nothing else, stripped it down a little, and started riding it. The frame is a little big on me, but for 2 bucks...... Its only a 4 mile round trip commute, but I ride every day and love it. Please excuse the duct tape on the flat bars, I put them on late last night and figured out that I ran out of bar tape. :lol: It won't last more than a day.

D.I. ?? You must be from the Western US ;)

I have also bought a few DI bikes. My 20 year old clunker was actually from Salvation Army. I paid $40 and thought I was getting ripped off but it turned out to be a great spend for me.

Yeah, I'm out in Utah. I have found a couple of decent bikes for under $10, and passe them on to some friends. But as far as a commuter that I like, I think I scored with the Schwinn. And, I put on real handgrips yesterday :).

Last night I found a silver 1975 Schwinn Varsity in my neighbor's trash heap. I threw it in the back of my wife's car, took it home, aired up the tires, and rode it into work this morning. It definitely needs work - there's surface rust on the frame, the tires are dried out and cracking, the brakes are soft, the saddle is terrible, and it can only shift into four of the 12 gears. But, hey it was free.

I can't decide if I should polish the bike up and put it on Craiglist, or keep it for myself. The frame is a little big for me, but not so big that I can't ride it. It does have semi-horizontal dropouts, so maybe I'll do a fixie conversion. Ah possibilities.

Hey, Disco, long time no see. You're not spending the summer in Alaska again?

I still occasionally ride the bike my dad gave me from the late 70s or early 80s. An All-Pro 10-speed.

http://workshopwebs.com/steve/pictures/bicycle/20080521/newhottness.jpg



With all due respects to our friend tekknoshtev, I wonder when this bike will look cool again. For the time being, Not quite yet. The orange handlebar tape does have some appeal, of course.

You know, some stuff starts to look cool in the rear mirror of time. Still, when I see this I wonder what were were thinking back then. Like neon colors and mullets, you just have to wonder if these colors and styles ever will come back.

I still occasionally ride the bike my dad gave me from the late 70s or early 80s. An All-Pro 10-speed.

http://workshopwebs.com/steve/pictures/bicycle/20080521/newhottness.jpg

I swapped out the old hard plastic grips for some nice new foam handlebar tape, and adjusted it to fit me better. It rides pretty nicely, but I only take it out occasionally because my Giant Kronos is a much faster and smoother ride. This bike is fixing for a good overhaul of the bearings, new tires, and a better seat and it'll be smooth as day one.

Holy $#@%&! I think that's the same 10-speed bike that was my first road bike ever.

I remember saving $50 and my mom and dad pitching in another $50 so I could buy it at Woolworth's at the Cerritos Mall. I was the only kid in my neighborhood with a 10-speed, happy to trade in my BMX bike, and challenge everyone to speed contests around the block.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3618474385_d19b54a457.jpg

My Phoenix China bike. Rusty but tough as a tank.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/3618474385/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3619291814_f6d05d17d2.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/3619291814/

approx 1980, Puch Pathfinder I picked up at goodwill....added the brooks, the rack, a dynamo and a B&M headlight, cleaned it up, and use it 3 or 4 times/ week.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x273/ModoVincere/commuter.jpg

I love my old bike - why move up when this one works??

Here's the latest revision of my commuter, a 1986 Bridgestone 500. Bought it from the original owner in spring 2008, used it over 1000 miles last year. Just bought myself a fancy new Jamis so this one is headed to pure commuter duty. Its crit-friendly design makes the handling a bit darty and ride on the harsh side, but over 10 relatively flat miles, it's pretty easy to ride.

The bags are new - an Axiom handlebar bag (from eBay) and a Carradice SQR Slim (from jolly old Blighty).

Gave it an overhaul in May, which made it happier. [New cables & housing, bar tape, tires, chain, NOS 7-speed freewheel, lots 'o cleaning & lube, used handlebar, used 105 brake levers, stem & stem adapter from my garage].

Planet Bike Cascadia fenders are in its very near future.

http://trancelab.com/bike/IMG_0973.jpg
http://trancelab.com/bike/IMG_0974.jpg

How about 30 years old? Finally got around to getting the Schwinn built up as a better commuting bike. New trekking bars, Brooks saddle, added the rack from an old bike (the one I traded for the Schwinn), got new brake cables on the other day and a new speedometer today. I just need to add some fenders, get the front dynamo hub laced up and probably tweak the gearing a bit.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff195/ahulvey/407269651_1411408916_0.jpg

Better view of the bars:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff195/ahulvey/407274323_1411425709_0.jpg

Seeing as how I already ride 30-60 year old bikes anyway and I DON'T have a job, what would they look like if I actually DID?

Since Tempest is painted and coming back tonight, that's a good question!

I rode a 69 year old clunker in to the shop today.

I love my 20 year old "clunker"... :)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/compost_bin/IMG_2575.jpg

...and have ridden it since it was new. It was the cheapest model Fisher you could buy at the time, and was made in Taiwan... but it's a nice sturdy basic bicycle and has carried me thousands of happy miles.


Greg

There was a neighborhood garage sale yesterday and I picked up this older 6 speed...for lack of a better word "hybrid" urban city style bike for $30. It's a Leader LE 60700 and the sticker says "Made in Canada". It came already outfitted with steel fenders and rear rack. It's got 26" tires with steel rims and a Shimano gearing system. All it it needed was air in the tires as the lady who owned it said it had been tuned up last year and then just sat in her basement all winter. The funny part is that while walking the bike to the closest garage to fill up the tires I saw an old bicycle pump at another yard sale for $5. I bought that, pumped up the tires and rode the 2 blocks home. I adjusted the seat and it works perfectly. It has the old style friction shifter on the right hand side that works great getting to all 6 gears. The brakes also work nicely as the cables where all pretty new and well adjusted. Sure...it's heavy with old steel frame and rims but...it's sooo comfortable to ride with a more upright riding postion. Before I got this I had been riding an old Norco Bush Pilot MTB and it has a more aggressive sitting position.

Looks like it's my new commuter!

Sorry for the crappy picture but my camera's sensor is dying. :(
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/3/1139314/Garage%20Sale%20Bike.JPG

I just had my 25 to 30 year old frame rebuilt and went with a IGH.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3665885392_e928c7e6dc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3665887350_4119e504fe_b.jpg

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv88/Jnehls8/IMG_0682.jpg
http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv88/Jnehls8/IMG_0688.jpg

I think this thing is 30 years old. My uncle got it for a wedding present and it has been hanging in his garage for the last 20 years. I have become attached to it.

Just discovered this thread and love it!

Let's see... My bike was produced in 1983, so that makes it a 26 year old :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/TigerPrawn/DSC03305.jpg

I still ride my '76 Superior. It's gets lots of attention from some folks.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/cutacroshorty/Bicycles/PB010013a1.jpg

As recovered from a dumpster...
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/oldbike01.jpg

after a little effort...
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/ssaftr.jpg

Rode it like this (but with SPD's) for a couple of years but it has been recently replaced.

A new version of my 1973 Schwinn Varsity. It is now a Toursit-style bike.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/09Varsity/th_0630090737-01.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/09Varsity/0630090737-01.jpg)

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv88/Jnehls8/IMG_0688.jpg

I think this thing is 30 years old. My uncle got it for a wedding present and it has been hanging in his garage for the last 20 years. I have become attached to it.

I know I'm looking at a Topeak bag, but I've never seen one with the expandable panniers that are that long. I like. :). What model bag is it?

I'll be passing a bike store, shortly. They stock a lot of Topeak bags. I will definitely check to see if they have that one.

A 1971 Raleigh Sports is my backup commuter.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/3712312442_4b37cd09bb_b.jpg

This is my 1988 Kuwahara Shasta fg / ss...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/shastass1.jpg

Supramax it is a quick track MTX bag and it is great. Each side is big and hardy enough to carry two of my biggest science text books with room to spare.

Supramax it is a quick track MTX bag and it is great. Each side is big and hardy enough to carry two of my biggest science text books with room to spare.

I've never seen one with panniers that (almost) come down to the axle. Topeak bags were the first I checked out.
Although the rack bags themselves, are beautiful pieces of work, I thought the panniers only coming down about halfway
to the axle, looked ugly. I don't think that about your bag. I would have figured out how to use it with my RhodeGear rack.

http://queenmargot.com/velovelo/MarianneJuly2.jpg

1981 Motobecane Mirage (http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2009/07/marianne-and-her-lover.html). Not a thing wrong with any of the components after 28 years; the tires are the only replacement of original parts.

That IS a lovely bicycle.

1981 Motobecane Mirage (http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2009/07/marianne-and-her-lover.html). Not a thing wrong with any of the components after 28 years; the tires are the only replacement of original parts.

It's lovely, but are you sure you don't want to mention replacement of the saddle or handlebar tape? ;)

http://queenmargot.com/velovelo/MarianneJuly2.jpg

1981 Motobecane Mirage (http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2009/07/marianne-and-her-lover.html). Not a thing wrong with any of the components after 28 years; the tires are the only replacement of original parts.


It's lovely, but are you sure you don't want to mention replacement of the saddle or handlebar tape? ;)

Why are you nit picking? It's a nice bike and if the owner "forgets" a minor detail of two what the hell is it to you?:notamused:

I think the medium here got in the way. I'm just ribbing, and if I sound like I'm criticizing, it's because my tone of voice doesn't come through here.

I still occasionally ride the bike my dad gave me from the late 70s or early 80s. An All-Pro 10-speed.

http://workshopwebs.com/steve/pictures/bicycle/20080521/newhottness.jpg

I swapped out the old hard plastic grips for some nice new foam handlebar tape, and adjusted it to fit me better. It rides pretty nicely, but I only take it out occasionally because my Giant Kronos is a much faster and smoother ride. This bike is fixing for a good overhaul of the bearings, new tires, and a better seat and it'll be smooth as day one.

Nice. I'm a big fan of All Pro. They might require slightly more frequent TLC than higher end bikes even of the same age, but overall hardy and reliable.

Those are the weirdest fenders I think I have ever seen.

I believe they are called "race blades", I have a pair on mine as well...

I believe they are called "race blades", I have a pair on mine as well...

Fancy that. Joeybike has something called "race blades" on his bike. Why am I not surprised?

Here is my commuter. 1980-something Cierra Road bike. Paid too much for it from a non-profit shop but at least its a green shop and all.

Only been a few months and I already want something better- this one weighs 40 pounds with all the accessories in the pic.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs199.snc1/6734_937063759603_5256076_53475528_310768_n.jpg

This is my new project. It was getting thrown out in the trash. Will be backup commuter and bike for my girlfriend for some rides. Planing on my first complete rebuild with this bike.
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs179.snc1/6734_937066189733_5256076_53475697_3518828_n.jpg

I average once a week on my Schwinn '62 Jaguar IV. It's my rain bike 'cause it has fenders. The only thing I had to do to it was have it re-spoked and new tires. Got it Christmas of '62. One speed and a Bendix brake. Really gives me a workout!

Got this Schwinn Le Tour Tourist (set up like a Le Tour) at Good Will for 5 bucks:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/DRMS_7888/LeTourTourist.jpg

Stripped it down the frame and cleaned everything, put it back together like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/DRMS_7888/FILE0006.jpg

Except, I put the platforms back on it recently.

Here's a larger picture if you want to see it up close:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/DRMS_7888/letourist82.jpg

What sort of rack should I get for it? It doesn't have eyelets on the seat stays, so I'll have to p-clamp it. I'd like something study enough for a light tour (a couple of medium panniers and tent on the back).

That Motobecane's a beaut, Veloria.

I've acquired yet another 20+ yr old clunker, and I think it's my new favorite all around ride. '87 Schwinn Traveler a buddy of mine found at Goodwill for $12.50. Lucky for me, it was too big for him. Got some 700c wheels to make room for fenders, nitto noodle bars n' technomic stem, and stole the Brooks from my other old Schwinn to bring it to life in style.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/Elderberrypictures/Misfit102.jpg

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/Elderberrypictures/Misfit104.jpg\
Rewrapped the noodles with the bike's original tape, which is still in pretty good shape.

This is my little about town commuter/grocery getter, a 1971 Schwinn Varsity. Picked up the frame for $10 on Craigslist. Put 700c wheels, flip/flop hub on the rear, cartridge bottom bracket...rides soooo smooth! My friends call it my 'Napoleon Dynamite' bike, but what do they know? :love:

Until last week I rode a 1946 Husqvarna to work--five kilometers along the sea in Tallinn, Estonia. The Husqvarna was made for the Swedish military and has a pistol case on the back end. I got tired of the green so I painted it red and gray (two colors I had).

It's a great bike but it weighs around 70 pounds (I actually don't know how much it weighs, but it's heavy enough the Swedes thoughtfully provided a carrying handle) and is tough when you have to change speeds frequently.

It will still get use, because due to the economic crisis, bike thefts have skyrocketed. I can only ride my new commuter (Schwinn Coffee) when I know I have secure parking.

Here it is: 115246 (You may need to turn your head 90 degrees to the right.)

I still ride my '76 Superior. It's gets lots of attention from some folks.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/cutacroshorty/Bicycles/PB010013a1.jpg

Is that an Ideale saddle? Looks pretty cool and works very well on that bike.

I have posted this bike before in different incarnations. 1972 Schwinn Paramount P-15. I recently switched the Campy Triple to a Nervar / w46/30 rings. I am also digging the Rivendell Sackville large bag. It holds everthing and then some!

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/bylar13/027.jpg

For reference:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/bylar13/030.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/bylar13/028.jpg

Nice bike fender1 - where did you get your bottle cages? or are they just hose clamped on? either way very nice set up