treebound 

So I was running some errands in the car with my wife on Saturday and as we're driving through Port Washington I see a cyclist waiting to cross the street. A hassle crossing there at times so I stop to let him go on his way. And I started to pick up details about his bike and riding gear and said to my wife "I'll bet that's someone on the C&V Bikeforums.

Looked like a vintage bike in nice condition, possibly a VeloOrange rear rack, there was some sort of canvas duck bag hanging from his handlebars, he had barend shifters on the bike. The rider was wearing a yellowish neat vintage looking jersey. We went past him as he was stopped in front of Beanies mexican restaurant sort of looking like he was trying to figure out where the Interurban trail went. All I could make out about the bike brand was maybe the name started with a P .

So, a couple of things:
1. Was that someone on the site here?

2. Nice looking bike.

3. I want to get a vintage looking jersey.

4. I need to get some wool riding shorts.

5. I should have gone for a bike ride on Saturday.

6. I need to ride more.

How often do some of you run across someone out riding around and wonder if they are someone on the site here or elsewhere?

auchencrow

Not very often. What I see is -

~90%: Wallmart-esque bikes on fair weather days.
~4% : Roadies on a group ride
~3% : A lone rider on a newer geared bike
~2% : A hard-core commuter
< 1%: A kid (walking) with his fixie
< 1%: A real C&V bike

gomango

Yesterday.

We rode out to Chanhassen yesterday, a 73 mile ride.

Along the way we ran into an older gentleman, probably mid-60s, with a beautiful blue 1974 Masi Gran Criterium.

His two partners were riding equally interesting bikes.

An older Bruce Gordon road bike, not a tourer, and his wife was riding a sweet Chris Kvale.

.....and yes, I did get their phone numbers for future reference and riding opportunities.

wahoonc

I don't even see that many bikes...Grocery store run yesterday...4 bikes total. Mine, Johnny's (old guy that lives down the road from me and doesn't drive) a kid pushing a BMX and a pink Huffy "MTB" sitting outside the local stop and rob (convenience store). FWIW Johnny rides a couple of different bikes, yesterday he was on his Schwinn Cruiser with the baskets and a 5 speed drive train. He also has a nondescript hybrid that has baskets on it, but he doesn't like it as well as the Schwinn. I try and give him a hand keeping up on parts and maintenance. He is retired and on disability.



Aaron

marley mission

what i find generally is that most cyclists arent friendly on the road - i always make eye contact and wave with a shhhh eating "arent we lucky to be out riding" grin - but oh well - and yeah most folks are riding some shiny carbon speed demon (not that there is anything wrong with that)

i was excited the other day when i saw my first "mixte in the wild" - i was driving my car though but i NEVER see mixtes

vonfilm 

In Austin I see lots and lots of CV bicycles, especially near the UT campus, downtown and near Zilker park.

that_guy_zach

I never run into anyone on a classic bike. In my park of town its all rodies zipping by and people driving to the park. I dont really know anyone other than myself that rides a C+V bike.

jbchybridrider 

I find most roadies on modern bikes are snobs but people on C and V's or older gents look for a wave and I happily return.

rivas7200

I rarely see C&V bikes out when I am riding the roads. I do see some at the coffee shop downtown. I did discover someone who rides a nice mid-80's super record equipped Paganini on the roads daily. He is a second owner and bought the bike from an Italian racer who rode it for a year.
A few weeks back when I was taking a water break by the bike path, another gent who was really tall rode by on an equally really tall late-70's Gitane. He looked at me and my bike as if he never sees other riders on C&V's and I checked out his Gitane as well.

jollysnowman

I'm with vonfilm; we have a lot of C&V bikes in Austin, especially in the last 1 or 2 years after the cheap fixie trend wore off. It's actually really cool riding with ppl on the commute to school and seeing Centurions and old Bianchis (whyyyyy does everyone have an old Bianchi but me...)

KonAaron Snake 

It depends on what you mean by c and v. You see a lot of old bikes, but very few classics. There are tons of college kids out on their oh so cute and adorable Schwinn Suburbans/Varsitys/etc., often with a basket, but you rarely see a classic.

I'd break it down like -

30% BSO, newer
25% BSO, vintage (townies, 3sp, etc.)
25% fixed/track - more and more of these are cheaper newer ones...SE, Origin 8, BD, etc.
10% newer mid-range
5% low/mid-range Japanese, classic
2% high end - new
1% high end - classic
2% weird (recumbent, tandem, electric)

.Cricket

Usually, the only other cyclists I see are old men and women on their 20+ year old bicycles. Lots of 3 speeds and single speeds. In nicer weather, I see lots of cheap mountain bikes usually ridden by college students.

I would say I see other cyclists once a week or less, but that is changing now that the weather is nicer (and gas is up!). I saw at least 4 other people on my 45 minute ride this morning.

nlerner

This place is crawling with C&V riders. Makes me want to ride CF.

I was riding my '71 Raleigh International on my way home from work last week when a guy on a Rivendell pulled up to say hello. I told him my bike was a proto-Riv.

Neal

RobbieTunes

I don't ask if they're on BF C&V any more, but I often chat up C&V riders and tell them about the forum.

By accident, I've met 2 or 3 folks from here.
On purpose, probably 20 or more, with NAHBS being a big boost.

All are memorable. All are fun.

khatfull

I sometimes pass other riders on steel, not often though. Usually it's while turning different directions at an intersection so the chance to chat usually doesn't happen often.

But yesterday was the weirdest experience I've had on a bike. I was out on the Touring Series V, 12 miles out into a ~60 so ride and I have a mechanical...the NDS crank arm loosened?! Not having a wrench I had to call for the SAG wagon. While I was waiting, on the shoulder of the road, helmet off, a total of three cars stopped to see if I was ok. Wow! But, in that same 20 minutes a total of FOUR cyclists passed me without saying a single word or even slowing down, a pair and two singles!!! I was flabbergasted.

AZORCH

So this is my normal experience too. However, today the first bike I passed was a nice yellow Centurion (we waved at each other.) Then a silver Paramount (we waved.) A bit later on, I'm happy to see another Peugeot - maybe not a PX-10 to match mine, but enough alike that the wave is genuinely enthusiastic. A blue bike with black bands (I think a Raleigh, maybe, but definitely another wave.) Then a dude in super slick, bright green kit astride a CF monster. (No wave, no acknowledgement at all. Hmpf.) Pretty nice outing all the same.

Chris_in_Miami

I spotted a couple of college age guys with vintage road bikes on Friday, one was a fixiefied Centurion Ironman with the pink & yellow paint scheme. Couldn't identify the other, but it was still in geared trim. I wouldn't be surprised if they're on the SS&FG subforum.

I have seen a few C&V bikes chained to the racks at the nearby college this semester...

Rabid Koala

I was on a ride one day and a guy asked me if I posted here - he recognized the Paramount.

WNG

Only two incidents in recent weeks. Otherwise rare if ever. If I do see bikes it's either junk commuter, or high dollar contemporary aluminum or CF.

A few weeks ago while I was out picking up groceries at a local Fresh & Easy Supermarket, a 70 y.o. gentleman road up to their bike rack on an old 70s touring bike, but I couldn't make out the brand. I approached him and complimented him on his vintage bike. We quickly chatted over the equipment, Phil Wood hubs, Sugino Mighty crank and Crane RD. This bike was obviously ridden many miles over decades. He was in splendid health. Even at his age he weighed changing over to cassettes for his next wheels! Very pleasant exchange.

Yesterday, while awaiting for a light to change with my wife in the car. I spot a ragged looking chap on a 10 speed with stereotypical road bars turned upward. I then noticed he was astride a mixte, and it was a big mixte. I remarked to my wife that upturned bars like his was a sign of a DWI conviction, and his mixte bike may be worth big bucks to a collector. We headed in the same direction as the rider. After pulling in to do some shopping, I spotted the bike chained to a Walmart. I was curious as to what make the mixte was. As it came into view, it was at least a 58cm equivalent size. Scratched up and outfitted as if it was someone's only means of transport. He removed the saddle to discourage theft. It has gone through a hard life, but the hardware was all quality C&V stuff. The bike was a Benotto! Never would've expected that in a million years.

Dean7

Well, I see a lot of C&V but in my city C&V is kind of the name of the game.

MetinUz

Here in the SF Bay area, hardly a day passes when I don't see a classic. Just the other day my wife and I rode to the nearby coffee shop, on a '84 Masi GC and a '70 Raleigh Pro. In front were a nice red/white Richard Sachs and a '70s Paramount.

pastorbobnlnh 

When I was riding with DrRobWave on the Blue Ridge Parkway the end April, we came across a few riders on the first day and a significant number on the second day. All were on modern rides (mostly CF), except one guy who was riding a Richard Sachs. Since I was accelerating down hill while he was crawling up, we didn't have a chance to talk. I was curious about the vintage.

When we reached the high spot on the Parkway, Rob on his bike, me in Rob's car, a nice fellow stopped to talk to us. He was on his CF Specialized S-Works, was wearing a fancy matching kit. He had done a good bit of riding on the BRP, so we pumped him for as much information as possible.

The nice thing however, was, he noticed my '82 Raleigh Superbe with its gold lacquered all chrome finish. He was the only rider who we talked to who commented on it and admired this unique bike. That was nice, especially after the he!! we went through to climb those dang mountains!

toytech

I passed a grumpy looking guy riding a purple DeRosa going the other direction Sunday, does that count?

ftwelder

I might see one other rider when I am out on a ride. They are all on carbon. They usually get a get a big smile when they see my sweet old bike!

pastorbobnlnh 

Wait until they see you doing your century on the 1898 Nashua. That will make all of us smile!