Originally Posted by
mike
It is interesting to note that some collectors are still seeing bicycles from the 1970's as "too new".
A bicycle from 1970 is 30 years old. Ya, that's right; 1978 was 38 years ago! It doesn't seem that long ago, but bikes from the 19-- anything are from the last millennium.
To put it in perspective, when I started collecting bicycles in the 1980's, a bike 38 years old would have been from the 1950's. THOSE were considered very collectible bikes in the 1980's.
About ten years ago, I suggested that people start collecting the bikes from the 1970's as they were going to the landfills literally by the truckloads. Today, I feel a little better knowing that bicycles are going to recycling rather than landfills, but the good bikes are getting to be rare.
As pointed out in some of the other posts, we are seeing fewer nice bikes from the '70's on the market and those that are available are bringing in values well over $100+.
Now may be the last opportunity to grab the remaining beautiful bicycles made in the USA, England, France, Italy, and even Japan.
After dealing with my modern Schwinn, an '07 Town & Country Trike I'm having something akin to buyers remorse. This past Saturday I managed to snap its rear drive axle. Ever since I bought it I keep comparing it to all the Schwinns I handled growing up in the late 70s early 80s and I can't help recognizing how inferior it is to the good old electro-forged versions. I'm beginning to regret not finding a 60s to 80s Town & Country instead of buying brand-new. I'm willing to bet that I would've been greatly challenged to snap the axle on an Electroforged Town and Country.