multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
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I think all the following points have all been made, and I agree with them all.
--figure out whether you want a 19" or 21" or 23" frame, and get the right size
--get one with both fenders, chain guard, matching grips...
--Learn what Raleigh frames look like. The rear dropout is distinctive (eyelet below the axle), and the lugs are pretty easy to memorize. Go Pre-Raleigh if you can; good pre-Raleigh brands are Phillips, Hercules, Armstrong, Norman, Sun ... but they all got taken over by Raleigh by the end of 1961.
--a cool chain ring is a bonus.
--older is better;
--get a dynohub if you can; they're cool and they're fun and they're very useful.
--AW is better than anything with a coaster brake.
A leather saddle is nice, but that's something you can add later. I'd focus first on getting a good bike.