[MENTION=45088]nlerner[/MENTION] documented riding
69 bikes in 70 days, which, for those of us lucky enough to have stepped down into the
Brookline Bike Cave know that this is but a glimpse of his personal collection.
I don't have as many bikes as Neal. Four things I do have, however, are 4 Raleigh Gran(d) Sport(s), all made in 1973 (if one is to believe the
interwebs), and all the same size (24-1/2" CTT). Each frame was built at the factory slightly differently, which shouldn't be surprising for those who collect, restore, and modify old Raleighs.
Why does one own four of the same model and year bike? At the age of 15 I worked all summer feeding hay on weekends for $2.10/hr (which was $1.50 after taxes) saving up for my first real bike: a
Raleigh Super Course MkII. It gets blazing hot in the Central Valley of California where I grew up, and I sweated my heinie perpendicular off to save up the couple of hundred bucks it cost me. My townie friend Bob, however was handed a creamy white and lagoon blue Grand Sport for his birthday. One good definition of a mid-life crisis is collecting what you desired but could not afford in your youth, and the Grand Sport was just out of reach at the time. At the
Seattle Bike Swap [MENTION=111144]Andy_K[/MENTION] asked me why I was purchasing another Grand Sport when I already had 2 of them. Dammit, Andy, because freakin' Bob had an unearned one, that's why! And then I went out and bought another from a forum member...because four is more than three.
The Gran(d) Sport(s) model was decaled as Gran Sport, Grand Sport, and Grand Sports. Why? Who knows. They came with or without derailleur hangers, depending on who knows what. Full 531 double butted main tubes, stays and fork per the sticker. The fork crowns varied. The workmanship was, well, hidden by the instantly recognizable creamy white and lagoon blue paint job that never failed to turn heads when one rode by. The top tubes were 57cm CTC - the one thing consistent from frame to frame. And it had that cool Raleigh heron headbadge. Look at the Rivendell head badge next to one and you'll see where Grant Petersen got his inspiration.
I'll be riding each of these on my daily commute this week, 9 miles each way of slightly rolling hills through the southwest suburbs of Portland. I don't ride both ways every day, typically I drive into work Monday and ride home, then commute by bike the rest of the week until Friday, when I drive home. I've been doing it this way for 7 years now, despite moving and changing jobs three times. At the end of the day I enjoy the ride home, unwinding and de-stressing before walking in the door and greeting the family. It takes me 25 minutes to drive, only 20 minutes more to ride. If I do need a car during the day I have it to use. If I need to work fairly late, or there's a family emergency, I have a bailout option. Having a secure parking lot at work is a perk. So much for the not so hidden commute plug...
This morning I'm driving in, the first of four bikes in the bed of my pickup. Each bike is a significantly different build. I'll compare and contrast each, showing off the versatility of a vintage, steel frame.