What is your grail bike and why?
03-15-15, 07:10 PM
#51
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03-15-15, 08:23 PM
#52
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I found one shot of a newer Ritchey. Is that the one? It's a pleasure looking thru your photos because you have so many nice bikes.
03-15-15, 09:37 PM
#53
I'm a Classic Man.
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I decided when I started collecting and building vintage roadbikes that "Grail" bikes would be my focus. By hunting for specific models and groups, I have accumulated a collection that I am quite proud of. Truthfully figuring out exactly what I want ahead of time has really helped guide my bike hunting. I have a 71 paramount, a chrome 72 paramount p13/9, a black and silver 1974 raleigh pro mkiv which was extremely hard to find, a74 raleigh international, a california masi gran crit, a merckx corsa extra team Telekom, a colnago super, an apple krate, an orange krate, a chrome mongoose atb, an auburn cr20rx.....and about a half dozen others that are no longer my grail bikes. C&V is a bad habbit, but I like it.
03-15-15, 09:41 PM
#54
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I'll find it in the morning and send you the link.
I'll also pm the new owner and see if there is anything left of the bike after two cross and gravel seasons.
He might have some pics as well.
Thanks for the compliment. Not all of those are still here!!!
03-15-15, 10:23 PM
#55
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If I told you I might have to kill you. the less people who might know and want to buy it the better...
03-15-15, 11:01 PM
#56
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...Every time I see an awesome bike photo here on C&V I stare and appreciate it but then say things like:
I really like the Mk IV fork rake and angle better
I really like the length of the chrome socks on my forks or my stays better.
...
But I'm lucky enough to get, then grow into the Mk IV. It just really suits me.
I really like the Mk IV fork rake and angle better
I really like the length of the chrome socks on my forks or my stays better.
...
But I'm lucky enough to get, then grow into the Mk IV. It just really suits me.
For vintage stuff I have to agree with @rando_couche - a Rene Herse or Alex Singer would be very nice. There is a guy in my general area who has a Herse he considered selling but then reconsidered. Of course there are used cars that would cost less - I'd probably be happy just to test ride it.
The mystique of a modern custom steel or titanium bike has a strong pull to it...
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03-15-15, 11:17 PM
#57
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As I study all the really great bikes here on BF forums, lots of beautiful, rare bikes with great workmanship, I'm reminded what a lucky sot I am. I already have my grail bike: 1976 Raleigh Professional, blue/silver/chrome, all 531 pipes and lotsa Campagnolo bling. I didn't even know when I got it 18 months ago that it was a "grail". The CL ad just said '4 vintage bikes' and the blurred photo sure looked like a Mk IV. It was and I took 3 of the 4 home.
I've come to love it and have ridden over a 1000 miles on it. It's no collectors bike/garage queen. Too many flaws but still a great ride. Every time I see an awesome bike photo here on C&V I stare and appreciate it but then say things like:
I really like the Mk IV fork rake and angle better
I really like the length of the chrome socks on my forks or my stays better.
I really like having chrome on all 4 stays
I really like how Worksop finished the joint between the DOs and the stays. Nice work.
I really like the parallel head and ST angles and the long point lugs
and on and on and on......
Not judgmental. They're all great looking and riding bikes. But I'm lucky enough to get, then grow into the Mk IV. It just really suits me.
I've come to love it and have ridden over a 1000 miles on it. It's no collectors bike/garage queen. Too many flaws but still a great ride. Every time I see an awesome bike photo here on C&V I stare and appreciate it but then say things like:
I really like the Mk IV fork rake and angle better
I really like the length of the chrome socks on my forks or my stays better.
I really like having chrome on all 4 stays
I really like how Worksop finished the joint between the DOs and the stays. Nice work.
I really like the parallel head and ST angles and the long point lugs
and on and on and on......
Not judgmental. They're all great looking and riding bikes. But I'm lucky enough to get, then grow into the Mk IV. It just really suits me.
03-15-15, 11:19 PM
#58
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I would have to be able to ride my grail bike all the time... I am not one for wall hangers.
As it is, I have a number of bicycles that I have no plans to part with.
As it is, I have a number of bicycles that I have no plans to part with.
03-16-15, 05:37 AM
#59
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03-16-15, 06:59 AM
#60
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
03-16-15, 07:26 AM
#61
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No grail bike here. I have the bikes I have, and enjoy them a lot. If I find a great deal on a nicer bike, I will get it and choose one or two of my not as nice bikes to sell off (thereby appeasing the wife). I've been riding my '89 Schwinn Prelude a lot lately, and am really starting to enjoy the Suntour Ovaltech chain rings, the smoothness of Columbus Tenax tubing, and pretty much everything about that bike. I haven't even gotten on my carbon bike this year. I enjoy Schwinns. Even my electroforged gaspipe Suburban has a nice ride to it. I would like to find a green Raleigh 3 speed.
03-16-15, 08:00 AM
#62
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I'd say maybe a 70s Pogliaghi to know Sante built it with his own hands. Maybe a fillet brazed Ritchey road bike.
03-16-15, 09:20 AM
#63
Keener splendor
03-16-15, 09:56 AM
#65
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I'm all stocked up on grail bikes. Now it's time to get to work on their grail engine.
Last edited by calamarichris; 03-16-15 at 10:00 AM.
03-16-15, 10:41 AM
#67
Senior Member
While I really enjoy the bikes I have in my current stable, and I am not actively looking for a grail bike - I do have that certain bike from my past that I always keep an eye out for.
In the early 90's in high school I rode a Panasonic DX4000.. to the tune of about 300 miles per week in the summer months. Red with a silver headtube... In college I played racquetball and played some semi-pro ball - so cycling took a back seat and the Panasonic was sold.
It does not matter what color - but a DX4000 or DX5000 in my size would be a lot of fun to build up and ride.
Was fun reading this thread!
In the early 90's in high school I rode a Panasonic DX4000.. to the tune of about 300 miles per week in the summer months. Red with a silver headtube... In college I played racquetball and played some semi-pro ball - so cycling took a back seat and the Panasonic was sold.
It does not matter what color - but a DX4000 or DX5000 in my size would be a lot of fun to build up and ride.
Was fun reading this thread!
03-16-15, 11:33 AM
#68
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The grail bike for me is a function of what I know and learn. Very dynamic. Today, I can't express it. But I do have a list of highly desirable bikes, mostly Italian but some American. Well ok, I think it would be a custom bike built for me and it would start with a V and built in Portland OR. Kind of like the opposite of grail, plain (not) Vanilla.
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03-18-15, 10:31 AM
#73
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I take up the school of the torch but out comes a flow of ether. I build my own frameset that somehow and continually morphs into a glorious on / off roader. Some guy out of the clouds calls himself Alex 'Z'inger makes me components of unobtanium metal.
Smack.... wake up...
Smack.... wake up...
03-19-15, 08:45 AM
#74
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Mine would be an Arvon World Traveler, and while I'm dreaming let's give it a belt drive Rohloff rear hub and make it out of Titanium 
Grail bikes but no grail wallet to go with it
Grail bikes but no grail wallet to go with it
03-19-15, 10:21 AM
#75
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Grail bikes for me would be any number of bikes from the glory days of American track cycling ---- these 2 are PAramounts , and would be a great start !
Another piece of outdated unobtainium i would love love to have is any of the Project 96 GT track bikes , from something like this, to one of the re-badged Trimbles they used for Omnium duty -- I used to train in Colorado Springs in the early 2000's and every day i had to pass Mariano Friedick's pursuit bike just tucked down in the basement under the track like it was an ordinary piece of kit --- boggled my mind
Regarding late model stuff ---- I'm already living the dream
I'm riding a modern carbon Cannondale Synapse that does everything i want -- Di2 would be a fun upgrade, but it is such a great bike, i cant think of anything it needs - (except a nice set of handbuilt tubular wheels and some 25c Vitt. Corsa's - for those special rides )
--- Mountain bike is a current model Yeti SB-95 - anything else to me would be at best , a lateral move , ---- and my current trackie is a '00 vintage Waterford (didnt mean to sound like i was bragging -- but i LOOOVE riding my bikes !
)
But if i really had to pick a "grail bike" of current times, -- i would likely replace my track bike with something a bit stiffer and more in keeping with putting down massive watts
A Bridgestone Anchor is obtainable -- (but just barely) - but is rarely seen on US soil ---- would be a nice contradiction to the BT's, Dolans, Corima's and Felts that are only slightly more common
Another piece of outdated unobtainium i would love love to have is any of the Project 96 GT track bikes , from something like this, to one of the re-badged Trimbles they used for Omnium duty -- I used to train in Colorado Springs in the early 2000's and every day i had to pass Mariano Friedick's pursuit bike just tucked down in the basement under the track like it was an ordinary piece of kit --- boggled my mind
Regarding late model stuff ---- I'm already living the dream
I'm riding a modern carbon Cannondale Synapse that does everything i want -- Di2 would be a fun upgrade, but it is such a great bike, i cant think of anything it needs - (except a nice set of handbuilt tubular wheels and some 25c Vitt. Corsa's - for those special rides )
--- Mountain bike is a current model Yeti SB-95 - anything else to me would be at best , a lateral move , ---- and my current trackie is a '00 vintage Waterford (didnt mean to sound like i was bragging -- but i LOOOVE riding my bikes !
)But if i really had to pick a "grail bike" of current times, -- i would likely replace my track bike with something a bit stiffer and more in keeping with putting down massive watts
A Bridgestone Anchor is obtainable -- (but just barely) - but is rarely seen on US soil ---- would be a nice contradiction to the BT's, Dolans, Corima's and Felts that are only slightly more common
