Well, for myself I'd say the 70's...as a young lad eyeing the sweet looking Raleighs at the LBS...nothing beats the sound of a freewheel on a sweet Raleigh clicking away.

For bikes overall, however, I'd have to say right after the turn of the century...I mean seriously, bikes RULED back then. Many macadam roads were paved at the insistence of bike riders, women were being liberated by the wheeled machines, and bike racing became the most popular sport in the U.S.

My friend (shameless namedropping) Peter Nye wrote "America's Jazz Age Sport" about the 6 day races and other cycling craziness during this period...it's a great read and convinced me that the 1900-1920s was THE ERA for the bicycle.

Then again, the way gas prices are going hopefully the Golden Age of cycling will be 2020-....