One bike. One year. One memory…...
09-22-14, 10:30 AM
#51
Senior Member
In 1973, I spent countless hours staring at bike catalogs, convincing myself that I needed a quality racer. I don't know where that notion came from, as I didn't know any serious cyclists. In the end, I wound up ditching my Varsity for this Gran Sport, one of 2 bikes I have bought new (still have them both). It's at the top end of my size range, the result of my dad convincing me that, if I was going to spend that sort of crazy money on a bike (around $200 iirc) I should at least buy one I could grow into. Still waiting.
09-22-14, 11:10 AM
#52
Rides Majestic
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1983 Univega Gran Turismo. I was 13 years old that year and my dad bought me my first road bike. It was a Ross Grand Tour.
09-22-14, 11:20 AM
#53
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Great idea for a thread, @rootboy. 
I guess I have another bike from 72/73, and I could add another memory from that trip. But I'll have to clear that one with the Past Behavior Police first.
09-22-14, 11:38 AM
#54
Banned.
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1983 Peugeot PSV 10
Aug. 27, 1983 I stepped off the bus and onto the yellow footprints at MCRD San Diego.
Aug. 27, 1983 I stepped off the bus and onto the yellow footprints at MCRD San Diego.
Last edited by Roger M; 09-22-14 at 11:46 AM.
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09-22-14, 01:11 PM
#56
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1984 Trek 610 WIP - Year my oldest daughter was born:
[IMG]
108_PaTrek by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]
1991 Pinarello Montello - Year my youngest daughter was born:
[IMG]
P1020128 by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]
108_PaTrek by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]1991 Pinarello Montello - Year my youngest daughter was born:
[IMG]
P1020128 by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]
09-22-14, 01:50 PM
#57
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In 1964, I was in the 4th grade. I was really into bike riding because it got me out of the house, plus as a kid, I could go pretty much anywhere I wanted. There was an F-80 Shooting Star jet fighter on a stand across the street in the park. I remembered the way all the adults reacted when JFK was shot. It was bad. But, I was a great Cub Scout. WEBELO, *****es! 
Last edited by Shp4man; 09-22-14 at 01:56 PM.
09-22-14, 02:03 PM
#58
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In 1973, I spent countless hours staring at bike catalogs, convincing myself that I needed a quality racer. I don't know where that notion came from, as I didn't know any serious cyclists. In the end, I wound up ditching my Varsity for this Gran Sport, one of 2 bikes I have bought new (still have them both). It's at the top end of my size range, the result of my dad convincing me that, if I was going to spend that sort of crazy money on a bike (around $200 iirc) I should at least buy one I could grow into. Still waiting.
09-22-14, 02:31 PM
#59
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1987 Marinoni SLX Sports Tourer (oft-posted pic; I should take a more current one):
That's the year my son was born. Didn't have this bike then, but still have the '79 Miyata 912 that I bought new, and he has used that one extensively at times over the years.
That's the year my son was born. Didn't have this bike then, but still have the '79 Miyata 912 that I bought new, and he has used that one extensively at times over the years.
09-22-14, 02:40 PM
#60
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In 1973, I spent countless hours staring at bike catalogs, convincing myself that I needed a quality racer. I don't know where that notion came from, as I didn't know any serious cyclists. In the end, I wound up ditching my Varsity for this Gran Sport, one of 2 bikes I have bought new (still have them both). It's at the top end of my size range, the result of my dad convincing me that, if I was going to spend that sort of crazy money on a bike (around $200 iirc) I should at least buy one I could grow into. Still waiting.
Dad's are like that. I didn't grow into my first bike enough to even ride it until I was about 9 years old (got it for Christmas at 6yrs).
If your posts are occasionally read by the powers that be I'd save that one.
And I was thinking about your '70s touring while reading WNGs thread as well.
Last edited by Zinger; 09-22-14 at 02:48 PM.
09-22-14, 03:39 PM
#61
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
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1982-ish Ron Cooper. For purposes of this thread, I'm going with a firm 1982.
I graduated from college that year. I was in a highly monogamous relationship with the lady who I would marry three years later and who divorced me 21 years after that (we stayed on good terms until she died last year). 1982 was seven years after I graduated from high school, two years after my Bay Area-to-DC ride, and eight years before my son was born.
I found the frame and fork 7 or 8 years ago. The frame was white with blue graphics, the fork was chrome. It began look like some bad things were going on under the original paint and original chrome, so I had it repainted and rechromed the way it is pictured. The blue-and-white looks lot like the first Ron Cooper I ever saw and fell in love with in the mid-70s (it belonged to a friend's older brother). I love the way it looks and I love the way it rides.
And I love the invitation to think of some wonderful memories.
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"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
09-22-14, 04:52 PM
#62
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Yeah, Due Ruote. One of the best colors ever for a bike. Or car for that matter.
I love that mint green. Or would you call it sea foam?
I love that mint green. Or would you call it sea foam?
09-22-14, 05:18 PM
#63
Senior Member
1984 Masi Gran Criterium
I graduated from HS and was working for and racing for Europa Cycles, Cedar Falls IA. No way I could afford this bike back then, I was racing on a Trek 560.
I graduated from HS and was working for and racing for Europa Cycles, Cedar Falls IA. No way I could afford this bike back then, I was racing on a Trek 560.
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I'm happy to say that I own more Steel then Carbon. My Stable! ---> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVZBep7
I'm happy to say that I own more Steel then Carbon. My Stable! ---> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVZBep7
09-22-14, 05:23 PM
#64
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1985 made in France Free Spirit. 4 years before I was born, but most of my favorite music was released that year (King's College Choir- O Quam Gloriosum (Victori) & Tu Es Petrus (Palestrina) masses and motets, Cromags-Age of Quarrel, Unity-You Are One, COC-Eye for An Eye, Token Entry first 7", Gauze- First LP, Descendents- I Don't Want To Grow Up,Black Flag-Damaged & Lose Nut, among many, many others)
09-22-14, 07:21 PM
#65
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- So you can just thank goodness that I can still have these pangs of conscience - even after all these years of rockin' moral turpitude.
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09-22-14, 07:44 PM
#67
Wherever I may roam....
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Rob - Just letting you know that I had packed it securely and I made it all the way to the post office today to send it off to you, but then I realized that I wouldn't want YOU too to burn in Hell.
- So you can just thank goodness that I can still have these pangs of conscience - even after all these years of rockin' moral turpitude.
- So you can just thank goodness that I can still have these pangs of conscience - even after all these years of rockin' moral turpitude.
09-22-14, 08:01 PM
#68
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09-22-14, 09:00 PM
#69
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My 1979 Ross Aristocrat:
1979: Moved to Delaware from Detroit to Launch Iacocca's K-cars at the (now defunct) Newark Assembly plant.
1979: Moved to Delaware from Detroit to Launch Iacocca's K-cars at the (now defunct) Newark Assembly plant.
- Enough automotive war stories for two lifetimes.
- Factory argot that would curl hair on a billiard ball.
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09-23-14, 04:46 AM
#70
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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You'd have to grow it first. But I guess anything strong enough to curl it would find growing it no big deal.
Nice bike, BTW. You ride that one much?
Nice bike, BTW. You ride that one much?
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Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
09-23-14, 05:00 AM
#71
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1974 Fuji "The Ace"
I spent three months of that year living with my grandparents in Lindau, Germany, on the Lake of Constance. Learning German.
I spent three months of that year living with my grandparents in Lindau, Germany, on the Lake of Constance. Learning German.
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09-23-14, 11:11 AM
#73
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Have you tried the approach to Ricketts Glen yet?
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Michael Shiffer
EuroMeccanicany.com
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09-23-14, 12:30 PM
#74
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1973 Speedwell Titanium
I was born a twin in summer of '73--just before Luis Ocana won the Tour de France using a Speedwell Ti in the mountains, and a few months before this Speedwell frame above was built. My twin brother did a better job of making himself comfortable in the womb, and I came into the world a little worse for wear then he did. As a toddler, I had metal braces on my legs and a patch on one eye. I don't remember it, but I've seen pictures of my feeble, pirate-like, infant self--a comical sight indeed!
I was born a twin in summer of '73--just before Luis Ocana won the Tour de France using a Speedwell Ti in the mountains, and a few months before this Speedwell frame above was built. My twin brother did a better job of making himself comfortable in the womb, and I came into the world a little worse for wear then he did. As a toddler, I had metal braces on my legs and a patch on one eye. I don't remember it, but I've seen pictures of my feeble, pirate-like, infant self--a comical sight indeed!
09-23-14, 12:57 PM
#75
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1986 Look Bernard Hinault (753) / 1986 LOOK KG
As a teenager, I remember being enthralled by the epic '86 Tour featuring the Greg Lemond/Bernard Hinault rivalry. I would coming home from my weekend club rides to sit in front of the tv so I could watch and record the Tour on VHS. Tv coverage of cycling events was really poor back then, at least compared to today. Often times, cycling events would be shown in formats like Wide World of Sports, where a 3-hour broadcast might include an hour of boxing, and hour of cycling, and an hour of horse racing (or some other random sport). The worst part was you had to sit through all the segments since the broadcast went back & forth between the various events to keep all three audiences tuned in. These are the two models of bikes used by the La Vie Claire team during that '86 Tour.
As a teenager, I remember being enthralled by the epic '86 Tour featuring the Greg Lemond/Bernard Hinault rivalry. I would coming home from my weekend club rides to sit in front of the tv so I could watch and record the Tour on VHS. Tv coverage of cycling events was really poor back then, at least compared to today. Often times, cycling events would be shown in formats like Wide World of Sports, where a 3-hour broadcast might include an hour of boxing, and hour of cycling, and an hour of horse racing (or some other random sport). The worst part was you had to sit through all the segments since the broadcast went back & forth between the various events to keep all three audiences tuned in. These are the two models of bikes used by the La Vie Claire team during that '86 Tour.