While replying to the quote below on another thread it hit me that maybe I should start a new thread for this one.........
Originally Posted by
thumpism
Yes. I realized I was on the road to recovery when I could start turning down desirable bikes in my size. That happened some years ago. Nowadays I'll drag home something if I think it needs to be saved or if someone here mentions they want it but I'm not doing it to make money. No more 25"/64cm bikes, either. I've got to get real about this shrinking in my old age, so if I find a decent tourer in 60-62cm I'll get it but nothing else appeals to me. Might even be time to sell my tall bikes.
I've also come to the realization that my 25" bikes aren't going to work for me much longer. I recently refurbished a 21" Fuji for someone and on the test rides it hit me that it didn't feel as small as it would have in years past. I've also noticed in recent months I have to think about my dismounts from my 25" bikes where not so long ago it was a smooth automatic process.
Although I have made some impulse buys recently I'm still trying to cull the herd but even with the recent acquisitions I have fewer bikes than this time last year. I've also been leaning more toward smaller frames when I do make a buy however. In the past year I picked up a 23" Raleigh Racing USA Competition, the 23.5" Raleigh Carlton and a 23" 1987 Schwinn Super Sport with some rust issues that was originally purchased for the Shimano 600 Tri Color group for an '86 Super Sport. The Schwinn now may get repainted and rebuilt and the '86 the parts were going on sold as it is a 25". This is probably one of my least favorite Schwinn paint schemes of all time so it won't be a "correct" paint job.
A couple weeks ago I picked up a pair of 1973 or older Gitane Grand Sport Deluxe mixtes, mainly because they were too darn cheap for the condition they were in but also because one was a 23". The 21" is a very dark purple with very good paint but a couple damaged seat tube decals. The 23" has pretty decent paint for a Gitane that vintage and the decals are pretty decent. Mechanically they're both a bit of a hodge podge, I think I have all the pieces to make the purple one all correct Simplex again although I'm not sure I will. I also have plenty of 70's Suntour on hand. The 23" I'm going to build for me with old age in mind, not sure what yet but I'm sure index shifting is in it's future.
