Classic & Vintage - "Grail"? Whatever.

It dawned on me a while ago, I don't really have a grail bike. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great bikes I'd love to own or take for a spin, but if I could pick any experience that is bike related, be it own/ride a Singer, ride in the TDF on a whatever, own 5 Herse bikes, I'd pick none of those.

If I had a choice between owning any of those bikes/doing any of those things, VS completing a cross country unsupported bike tour just once in my lifetime, I will ALWAYS pick the tour.

So my "grail" isnt a bike at all, but to finally bike tour across the US. Not a difficult goal really, though I'd really like to be able to do it both with my father and my son on the same ride. I don't know if i'll be able to make that part happen or not.

So that said, what is your "grail"?

That's ok if it's still just to ride or own a stupid Herse :)

I'm still searching for it.

edit: that's not true. WTF was I thinking? I found it. 20 years ago. And I married her.

A gaudy 61cm Zunow (chromed monostay plz) with first-gen Tricolor STI. NOS.

You have to have dreams you can't have.

But your idea of riding across country with your dad and kid's pretty admirable. Unless my (as of yet) unborn kid can do this when he's 12, it's probably not going to happen for me.

To live and bike in Europe.

I will ALWAYS pick the tour.

Ditto.

I'm of the same mind, I don't really have an "ultimate" bike. There are lots of them I'd like to own, and I also realize that there are probably plenty that would make me salivate which haven't even appeared on my radar yet...

What's a grail? Hell, I'm still trying to get my arse over the mountain without walking. I'm taking baby steps.... As far as a bike goes? My current project will (except for the lack of chrome) be exactly what I want, so I've sort of created my own grail bike.

Six day CCM track bike made by Doc Morten from the 30's. I had one in my hands but Gary Duke opted out of selling it to me with a promise of maybe later. 3 years later, this conflagration melted it back into the earth from whence it came. That and many other historical cycling artifacts.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinreis/sets/72157603952112067/

I grew up near the CCM factory in Weston and knew many people working there. It's personal.

Here's another Morten bike...http://www.bikespecialties.com/vintage/1932docmorten.html

Many of his bikes appear in the book Six Days of Madness. He built the frames and then tended to the wounded on the sixes circuit in the NorthEast.

Outstanding book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0969731701/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1308540091&sr=8-1&condition=new book.
)

Don't really have one. But if I had to choose right now, it would be any super cool Japanese or European touring bike (cantis preferred) and a Nice Reynolds framed English bike. In 55-57cm top tube lengths. ;)

Heck, I'd even take a nice frameset right now (matching my above description, of course).

One day I will build myself the "perfect" bike, but in the meantime I've been wondering what would be involved if I wanted to bring back a CCM on my next visit to Canada.

If shipping wasn't prohibitive, I'd have one of my friends in Japan send me a mamachari.

Oh, you're talking about bikes? I guess a 1970 Cinelli SC. There, I picked one. A Masi GC would work just as well. But, the ability to still ride them is more precious. Lemme tell ya.

I'm still searching for it.

edit: that's not true. WTF was I thinking? I found it. 20 years ago. And I married her.

Nice answer!

I want a very old custom racing bike to restore.

I do. It frequently pops up on the web in all kinds of bikepr0n blogs: the Pinarello in banesto edition, full record with shamals, like this one owned by a German guy.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5231964148_936d51a5d4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34779287@N03/5231964148/)
Pinarello Banesto (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34779287@N03/5231964148/) by no*dice (http://www.flickr.com/people/34779287@N03/), on Flickr

But like Holiday76, I think realizing a cool biking goal that brings you physically and mentally on a higher plane is worth more than a few bits of steel and aluminium.

I want a very old custom racing bike to restore.

+1

Not terribly picky about the pedigree, actually, but I'd love to have a project with suicide FD, vintage lightweight.

Hmm. Well, Holiday, I think you're confusing the concepts of 'Holy Grail' and 'pipe dream.' I would totally love to get my whole family out on bikes for a cross-country tour; or even just a good week-long tour somewhere interesting and scenic, like somewhere between the Pacific Ocean and Missouri River. I'll probably have to settle for doing this with my daughter, and that'll be good enough for me. I agree that this dream is more important to me than owning any particular bike; I guess the hunt for the perfect century machine is in many ways a substitute for touring because, frankly, it's much cheaper. Riding across the country, even at a 100-mile-a-day average, would cause me to lose way more days of work than I can afford.

I don't have a grail bike, as with my self imposed bike budget, I don't have the dollars to get one. My limit: no bike can cost more than a new entry level road bike at a LBS. With some careful shopping, I have been able to fit some pretty nice bikes within this limit.

+1 A grail trip or experience is of more interest than any grail "object".

My limit: no bike can cost more than a new entry level road bike at a LBS.

Oh, sure, now we just need to define "entry level."

Perhaps, in the end, we discover the "Grail" was more a thrill of the chase than it was the capture and the true prize was in our hands the entire time?

Hmm. Well, Holiday, I think you're confusing the concepts of 'Holy Grail' and 'pipe dream.'

no, i completely understand the difference. I guess I'm just saying in the end the "dream" will always trump the "grail".

Can't you do the dream ride on your grail bike? Have it all, I say!

Neal

I'd like to have a custom bike built.

this was one of my dumber threads.

this was one of my dumber threads.

You're just a dreamer.

To me my Grail bikes are far from everybody's want list but I have wanted a original Schwinn Lemon Krate since I was a kid and you could buy them new. Second would have to be a original 20" Yamaha MX dual suspension model from the 70's, I used to jump 55gal drums standing up with a short plank on a friends Yamaha back in the day and always wanted one of my own. Third would be a bike I had stolen from me back in the early 80's a original Swing Bike as seen on the Donny & Marie show, Jimmy Osmond was a spokesperson for them. These are bikes that I have always wanted since I was young enough to enjoy them and ride them the way they were meant to be ridden without fear of killing myself.

Glenn

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/IMG_5211-thumb.jpg

Eddy's Hour record Bike. I'm working on a replica of this one.

the true prize was in our hands the entire time?

The handlebars?!! I knew it was the handlebars!!

Dream or Grail? I tried to combine the two to get a Gream but all I got was a Drail.

I wouldn't mind having custom-built bike but I'm not sure it would be any better than the bikes I have now. For it to be a grail bike it would need some other property not so easily defined.

Don't really have one. But if I had to choose right now, it would be any super cool Japanese or European touring bike (cantis preferred) and a Nice Reynolds framed English bike. In 55-57cm top tube lengths. ;)

Heck, I'd even take a nice frameset right now (matching my above description, of course).

I have these... :)

Really don't have a grail anymore although some bikes have attained grail status after acquisition, if that is possible.

I was seeking a Raleigh Lenton and my '55 fell into my lap when I was not actively looking for one... this reminds me that Reg has not been getting enough love of late and I have been flirting with the Italian girl too much.

Wanted a Twenty for a very long time and picked up three in a short span of time... I am good there.

For me, being able to tour is also really important and will be doing a trans Canada ride with my daughter in 4 years and if there is a bike I want it is something I want to build with my own hands.

Actually, someone (who's already posted on this thread) once remarked a nice pipe dream: fly to England, buy the perfect old English bike there, ride it around for a few weeks, then bring it home.

Mind you... if anyone has a 1983 Nishiki Competition in a 55 cm frame size I'd be interested... and it has to be blue.

:)

This was my first real road bike and the only bike I have ever had stolen... think that it's theft put me off owning a blue bike for decades and now I have 4 blue bikes.

I have these... :)

Really don't have a grail anymore although some bikes have attained grail status after acquisition, if that is possible.

I was seeking a Raleigh Lenton and my '55 fell into my lap when I was not actively looking for one... this reminds me that Reg has not been getting enough love of late and I have been flirting with the Italian girl too much.

Wanted a Twenty for a very long time and picked up three in a short span of time... I am good there.

For me, being able to tour is also really important and will be doing a trans Canada ride with my daughter in 4 years and if there is a bike I want it is something I want to build with my own hands.

I know. :(

I know. :(

Nice to know that if you ever decide to stop by that there are a bunch of bikes here that will fit you... :)

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/IMG_5211-thumb.jpg

Eddy's Hour record Bike. I'm working on a replica of this one.

That will be a daunting task... that bike weighs all of 14 pounds and has a custom made bottom bracket that is said to be one of the smoothest ever built.

A number of these were built as there was a real worry that Merckx would snap the bike in half during his initial acceleration but the design held up... would be surprised if THE hour bike has some stress fractures in it.

I have plans to build a replica of a 1930's Raleigh Path racer that was filet brazed and not lugged... sourcing appropriate parts for this will be much easier.

Nice to know that if you ever decide to stop by that there are a bunch of bikes here that will fit you... :)

No worries. I get up to Canada often. :rolleyes:

I want a truss framed Iver Johnson or similar built up with a 3 speed. It's not really a drool inducing bike.
It is a bike that is somewhat hard to acquire and highly impractical where I live. Maybe that's why I want it.

My grail in the theme of this thread. I want to race something above Cat 5. First I would have to race Cat 5.

Sometimes the best part of a "grail bike" is simply the dreaming, the wanting, the searching.

That said, Scottryder picked up one of mine for me Saturday :)

Actually, someone (who's already posted on this thread) once remarked a nice pipe dream: fly to England, buy the perfect old English bike there, ride it around for a few weeks, then bring it home.


Its a pipe dream of mine in every sense of the term. :lol:

That will be a daunting task... that bike weighs all of 14 pounds and has a custom made bottom bracket that is said to be one of the smoothest ever built.

A number of these were built as there was a real worry that Merckx would snap the bike in half during his initial acceleration but the design held up... would be surprised if THE hour bike has some stress fractures in it.

I have plans to build a replica of a 1930's Raleigh Path racer that was filet brazed and not lugged... sourcing appropriate parts for this will be much easier.

You are correct 65er. My version will only resemble the bike (moltini orange, radial front wheel, and any other design specs I can mimic). It will be about as close to the true "hour" bike as I am to the true Eddy.

I have it...my 1972 Raleigh DL170 International. I lusted for one of these back in 1974, even thought the one I wanted had lugging so poor you could put a knife blade between the top tube and the lug. I found mine in April and have been having a blast! BTW, the assembly is beautiful!

Perhaps, in the end, we discover the "Grail" was more a thrill of the chase than it was the capture and the true prize was in our hands the entire time?

Ooh, that's deep!

Holiday, this was NOT one of your dumber threads. It gives me a chance to think. I've wanted to ride across the continent, too, ever since I saw such a trip listed in the AYH brochure when I was a teenager. I took a few teen trips with them and fell in love with bike touring. I haven't taken a loaded, unsupported tour since I was 23, and I'm 50 now, and I still yearn to do it again.

Riding across the continent may not be practical. I met a couple who started it in Seattle and quit when they got to Minneapolis. It was too excruciatingly boring for them, because of the route they took. If I ever do it, I'll take the southern route. They said Wyoming was endless.

I'd like to take at least a weekend trip with my wife to see if she likes bike touring. The sound of it scares her, yet she likes camping.

I'm still searching for it.

edit: that's not true. WTF was I thinking? I found it. 20 years ago. And I married her.

+1.....Finding my wife 18 years ago. Now I've just got to convince her that the time I wish to spend away from her for a cross country tour would be a worthwhile 2nd best thing.

Pipe dreamers! The lot of ya.

Not the worst thread, Holiday. Needs more sweet mountain shots, though.

My 'grail' would be buying a rene herse (in Europe) and going on a several month long tour. I could go on a tour here but, well, it would just be lame compared to Europe.

I might have found my grail by accident. After riding my Somec for a week, I just can't imagine a better ride.

1: Live long and ride till the end.

2: Same for my family and, heck, all you BF'ers!!

3: Then, sometime along the way, ride a couple dozen passes in the Alps.

4: Do 1 and 3 of the above on a modern CF bike ;)

I do. It frequently pops up on the web in all kinds of bikepr0n blogs: the Pinarello in banesto edition, full record with shamals, like this one owned by a German guy.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5231964148_936d51a5d4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34779287@N03/5231964148/)
Pinarello Banesto (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34779287@N03/5231964148/) by no*dice (http://www.flickr.com/people/34779287@N03/), on Flickr

But like Holiday76, I think realizing a cool biking goal that brings you physically and mentally on a higher plane is worth more than a few bits of steel and aluminium.

that benesto is pretty nice, i wouldn't mind one of those either.

I want a Pinarello Montello slx frame in these colors:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3229573534_99c569d0ef.jpg

OR

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7_91IQIF4-c/SMXN48bheLI/AAAAAAAAALI/sEhpT3MWMb0/s400/87montelloside.jpg

I love the chrome rear seat and chain stays!

Reprecharge was supposed to email me a picture of one, i emailed him a buncha times and have not gotten a reply, anyone know if he's still alive?!

SOMEONE FIND ME THIS FRAME!!!!

i bought wheels of Stevenc and they're just waiting for this bike.

My 'grail' would be buying a rene herse (in Europe) and going on a several month long tour. I could go on a tour here but, well, it would just be lame compared to Europe.

Yeah, you think "WA state" is lame, you should come to New Jersey, try a tour around these parts!

It dawned on me a while ago, I don't really have a grail bike. Me neither....

If I had a choice between owning any of those bikes VS completing a cross country unsupported bike tour just once in my lifetime, I will ALWAYS pick the tour.

So that said, what is your "grail"?

Never really had a grail bike. Lusted after several.

Yep, the trip. Credit card trip across the US, on a bike.
Forrest Gump on wheels. Maybe it's the mere idea of freedom, I dunno.
It gets cold, you buy a jacket. Pick bike shops along the way or order by smartphone from Performance or nashbar....

However, the real grail?
Track down the planners of the Oct 23 1983 Beirut embassy bombing, introduce them to my little friends.