nlerner

I picked up several frame sets in 2015, and most are definite keepers. In terms of miles, my favorite is my 1997 Lemond Buenos Aires, which I built with 650b x 38mm wheels and a Shimergo drivetrain. It ended up getting the majority of my miles this past summer, including an overnight 150-mile ride (I fitted it with a front wheel with generator hub and B&M headlamp for that ride). As far as parts, best find was a fairly nondescript eBay listing for a Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub. Ended up it's a 1937 K series hub, complete with two-piece indicator (which are very hard to find). Plus, the seller through in this neat lamp bracket for a head-clip style stem:

gomango

Good point.

I've passed on some very interesting frame sets lately, as I don't have the gumption/$$$ to chase the parts.

Just gonna ride 'em this year.

MZilliox

You dirty dog, awesome score on a gorgeous frame.... sheesh, really nice work there... if you need a home for it... i have a bunch of stuff to hang on it... hahah

MZilliox

This bike is perfect in every way, what are the wheels?

the_freewheeler

Thanks! My setup so far is also a frankensteined Campy setup from the era, so I'll continue along that path for the conversion.

fender1

Nice find. I don't know that much about Herse bikes but what are the factors that make you identify it as a Herse? I have not ever seen one in person but in the books I have, the drop outs look very different from the ones I have seen.

dweenk

My favorite find of 2015.

clubman 

I finally closed the deal for this Cinelli B. Obviously that's my purchase of the year. I have to make another payment in the New Year so I won't get it until the dead of winter. Look forward to a teardown then. (keep your eyes open for Nisi rims for me guys) Frankly, it was an N+3 year which is a ridiculously low number for me. This is mostly due to my poor recovery from knee replacement but I'll save that for another thread.

It's great to find and restore these wonderful bikes but there's many different approaches we can choose to take. Let's keep things light in 2016 and I don't (just) mean Ti-seatposts.

toavii

Woah.

Really like the green Cinelli. Haven't seen that color too often. Looking forward to what becomes of that!

dddd

It's good to see that so many here are still finding the good and older bikes.

I found a 1952 Sieber on Craigslist which I bought yesterday, 100 miles out of town and for only $200, which surprised me.

The bike even came with the original owner's receipt, purchased new! His daughter put everything together in a bag, even the parts like the old hand-shifted front derailer, she explained that her father rode this bike daily for 30+ years. She was about 80 years old herself.

I will have to get the original parts on board as it is now a singlespeed with 27" clinchers, but I only need to do a bit of wheel work on the original tubulars and search for a Simplex TDF rear derailer of roughly the correct vintage.

clubman 

'52? In that condition?

Wow.

nlerner

+1 Wow!

Sir_Name 

The Klein is certainly the favorite of the year.



I did ~finish building another bike early-in (650b Windsor), but the frame had been sitting around for a few years, same with a few parts. It dished out the most miles this year to date and is a close second (those are the only two finds/builds for the year).

I think I'd like for 2016 to bring an Elephant NFE...

sloar 

Looks like a lot of people had a great year.

Fahrenheit531 

De-registering seems rather drastic after a single back-and-forth with a single member. But if you must, the easiest way to "de-register" is just stop posting and get on with other things. You'll be missing out on an awesome forum though.

Now, about that "best find of the year" thing:



...just realized I have basically no pics of the Paramount in its current configuration. Just this one.
?!!

Steamer

Just got this one going a few weeks ago.

dddd

The story is that the Sieber's previous owner had the guys from his window manufacturing business apply their "30 year" coating to the frame. It then got rebuilt with a new headset and decals.

I do wish that there was a photo of the original paintwork, as there are so few examples of this brand to be found. It'll have to do for now, at least the paint looks perfectly unridden.

I measured the angles, and the frame could be for road or track. 74.8-degree seat tube and 74.6-degree head tube, almost as steep as the 1952 E.Christophe that I was given five years ago.

I think there may have been a fad in frame geometry around that time, at least judging by these Swiss and French examples that I happened to come by.

Glad to see that the good American-made bikes like the Paramount and the Klein are turning up. You just never know what you will find with bikes!

And no worries about the Volare's paint falling off, the frame looks to have been fully chromed.

bikemig 

I picked up two Treks, a 1992 Trek 950 and a 1984 Trek 610, this year. The paint job on the 950 is pretty pristine and it has become my favorite kicking around town bike. The 610 needed some work but it came out nicely and it is a real mile eater. I bought the 610 as a frame and built it up from my parts bin:

Steve Whitlatch 

Build that awesome frame up with anything you want and ride. You will never please everyone. Is your call to de-register sarcasm or drama?

Duke7777

Neither. I honestly just want out. I prefer a more closely monitored forum where participants identify themselves and are more respectful. There's too much pooping in the sandbox here.

dddd

We moderate ourselves for the most part here. Rarely will a mod "have to" step in and close a thread to any new postings. There is the CR list for those who might like more formal introductions by their proper name.

Whether it's a perceived insult, biting sarcasm or whatever, there is no reason not to let it go and to let others see any jabs or trolling for what they appear to be in writing.
Often, if you let it pass, others might even step up and say what you were thinking about a negative post. Sarcasm may make for a good-spirited verbal joust, or it may not, such is communication with strangers online. This forum seems to be generally one of the most-civilized, more so than among racers for example.

eschlwc

nice photo

verktyg 

David, Nice find!

The French were big into Hill Climbs, Technical Trials and Time Trials. Most towns of any size had at least one "constructeur" like a Rene Herse or Alex Singer that custom built ultra light weight bikes for those kinds of events. Steep angles like on your Sieber would be more appropriate for that type of amateur competition than for road racing or long distance endurance riding like randonneuring and brevets.

How heavy is the Sieber? There's a C & V fan in Santa Rosa who's familiar with Sieber bikes.

verktyg

Chas.

Michael Angelo 

No bike for me this year, lots of repairs and rebuilds. Plenty of riding, I did get a set of Campagnolo Pedals, I've been looking for these for a long time. Paid $60.00 for them.

gioscinelli 

IMO, the Record C pista and Croce pedals are unique and beautiful. Nice Croce d'Aune pedals, they look nearly new! I have a set of Croce d'Aune on my Gios.