This is my 5000th post submitted to BikeForums. And I find it only fitting that I put this milestone post (and thread) in the same place that it all really started. Classic & Vintage. I must say I've come a long way in my knowledge and experience in cycling since those days, and my collection has most certainly grown! I came here looking for answers about my
1980 Schwinn Traveler, which I picked up for $5 locally on ebay after tossing aside an old K-Mart special of a mountain bike. Had I known then how many great friends, wonderful miles, and cherished hours sharing with this community I would have I wouldn't have taken so long to start.
I want to thank all of this great community, but specifically the Classic & Vintage crowd for their help in times of need, pointing me in the right direction (even when it was to more and more parts and frames!), and sharing your own troubles, successes, catches of the day, great rides, and and more.
mswantak - the first guy to respond to one of my C&V threads asking about the value of that old Schwinn. I blame you for all this.
But more so, thanks for helping out with your decal business when it came time to replace the Schwinn as I built my
Barracuda Mk.I
T-Mar, CV-6, sydney, John E, USAZorro, duane041, bigbossman, ollo_ollo and many more were all right there lending this cycling noob knowledge as I tore that Schwinn apart and put it back together. Everything from brake levers to the interchangeability of derailleurs, I asked all the newbie questions. And always with the straight, honest, and respectful answers.
Lotek - you're to blame for my obsession just as much as anyone beyond myself. I think I still have the PM when you inquired if I was interested in something "
unique" last winter after finishing my Barracuda Mk.I. I had left over parts (you know, everything but a frame, wheels, pedals, and a few other expensive large parts) from the project and by now the bug had bit hard. Many thanks for all of your help, advise, and of course friendship.
Now, fast forward a couple thousand posts, and I have a collection of 3 vintage frames, one American made, one European, and one Japanese built. And my desire for more has never been stronger. Even after recently completing my first
modern build, my love for the vintage steel has not been diminished in the least. Much the opposite, now that I have a modern Campagnolo group I have an even stronger need for a Vingage Nuovo Record group to match.
And I hope that somewhere along the line in all those posts, that I have started giving back to the community just as much as I have received. I don't get to poke my head into C&V as much since I became a moderator, but I intend to make sure I find time to keep up with everything going on in here and sharing my next project(s) with you all. After all, I'm about to dive into the world of wheel building and I'm sure I'll have more questions about that when the time comes.
to every one of the C&V regulars, lurkers, and newbies alike. It is a fantastic part of cycling, and where I feel at home the most.
And now for a few photos, just because I can:
Schwinn Traveler and Me (yes, it was really really big for me)
Barracuda Mk.I - the one and only.
Gazelle Champion - 531, need I say more.
Schwinn Passage - a later American made Schwinn