Bike Forums - View Single Post - Tell us about your cycling experiences in the 80's...

07-16-10 | 07:55 PM

#18

oldmuthariley

Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 226

Likes: 1

From: Blighty

Bikes: 2009 BobJackson Vigorelli, 1979 Gazelle Champion Mondial, 1989 Dave Russell 653

I'm from the UK so my experience will have a different flavour to those in the US.
I turned 10 in 1980 and have been riding bikes since i was younger - i had a raleigh arena GTX that i used to do my paper round on - it was way too big for me...
Around 1983 BMX hit our shores and i was into that big time for about 3 years, racing , freestyle, jumping, you name it i did it ! (in fact i got another BMX cruiser in my late 30s just for nostalgia really (see below)

After bmx fever i saved up all my earnings from working in a sport shop over the summer and bought myself my first road bike - a Carlton carrera (see below for the frame) made out of 531c and with Shimano 600 (arabesque?) group

i got into road cycling in a big way around this time (around 86/87) and this was when the Tour de France highlights were broadcast every night at 6pm - i'd get home and watch the likes of stephen roche, delgado, indurain, le mond, fignon etc battle it out - of course with Phil ligget doing the commentary.
Throught the summer holidays i worked as a lifeguard and was cyling to and from work 6 days a week - a distance of 180km a week with a 70/80km ride on the sunday..
I upgraded the bike with a new saddle (turbo) and aero levers, red/white LOOK clipless pedals and went off to university in 1988 - i still rode around sheffield , yorkshire and the surrounding hills but also discovered the delights of a university town with all the vices you could wish for.... Madchester, raves , partytime!!
before i knew it the 90s had arrived.....

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