Your Very Best "Bicycle Found Story..."
#27
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,516
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
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While doing an early season grouse hunt in the WI Northwoods, we decided to check out the rummage/estate sale of the mother of the local tavern owner we have known for many years. Her Dad had been a machinist at Ladish so we thought there may be some tools, not to mention homemade bakery. My buddy and I noticed a bike hanging on the wall under a layer of dust. Both being "bike guys" we asked, Bon, is the bike for sale? She w said "You know me, everything is for sale!" Long story short, I had more money than my bud and $40 was agreed on. I walked out with my 1968 Raleigh Sprite all original with the S-5 hub and a homemade pie. Her Dad "Flambeau Joe" who lived to be 92 had ridden it all over the area. I fortunately still had the rack on my car to bring it 300 miles home.
#28
52psi
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 4,134
Bikes: Schwinn Volare ('78); Raleigh Competition GS ('79)
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I was at Bicas, Tucson's bike co-op, for parts. It was busy that day, and when I got up to the counter there were a couple of people ahead of me so I leaned back against the counter, people-watching or whatever. I noticed, off to my right, what looked like an opaque-blue Schwinn hanging with a bunch of others in the "class bikes" section. I walked over to check it out, more just killing time than anything, and discovered it wasn't actually opaque blue. But it was a Schwinn Paramount. In my size. Most of the time that would be a damn, wish I could take that one home with me moment, but we'd just received our tax return and funds were available. I didn't buy it that day, but it made its way home with me not long after. If not for the line at the counter I'd have left with my parts and never known what I missed.
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
Last edited by Fahrenheit531; 07-12-15 at 04:07 PM.
#29
Senior Member
I opened a craigslist ad that read "Criterium 531 Reynolds" for the title. $100 with a very bad picture, I could tell nothing from the photo. It was like a Seinfeld episode. I called the guy to ask about the bike. His wife answered the phone with a heavy New York Jewish accent . She tells me the bike belongs to her 83 year old husband and he has had the bike for 50 years, rides it every day, but he is now too old to ride it, she worries about him. I ask her if the bike is in good condition? She tells me her husband is hard of hearing so she will ask him for me. She yells very loudly to her husband, HE WANTS TO KNOW IF THE BIKE IS IN GOOD CONDITION? She answers, the bike is in great condition, he loves the bike and takes great care of it. I ask, how is the paint? She yells, HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW THE PAINT IS? She answers, he says the paint is great. So I make arrangements to meet him at 9:00 in old town, Chicago.
When I arrive I see the old man standing on the corner with his bike, very proud, this bike has been his friend for 50 years. I cross the street and as I get closer I see that this bike has paint issues and is covered in a layer of grease. The drive train is all old Suntour, that looks like it had not been cleaned in 20 years, no name cheap cottered cranks, the rear wheel is steel, the front wheel cheap 80`s aluminum replacement rim. I am trying to be happy because this bike is this mans prize. Even if it was a huffy I would have had to buy it.
I was expecting a near mint bike. It turns out, the frame was a pretty good one anyway. I changed the drive train to 1950`s period correct parts and bought a set of wheels. The bike rides great. Should keep me happy until I am 83. I love the bike.
When I arrive I see the old man standing on the corner with his bike, very proud, this bike has been his friend for 50 years. I cross the street and as I get closer I see that this bike has paint issues and is covered in a layer of grease. The drive train is all old Suntour, that looks like it had not been cleaned in 20 years, no name cheap cottered cranks, the rear wheel is steel, the front wheel cheap 80`s aluminum replacement rim. I am trying to be happy because this bike is this mans prize. Even if it was a huffy I would have had to buy it.
I was expecting a near mint bike. It turns out, the frame was a pretty good one anyway. I changed the drive train to 1950`s period correct parts and bought a set of wheels. The bike rides great. Should keep me happy until I am 83. I love the bike.
__________________
My bikes: 1970`s Roberts - 1981 Miyata 912 - 1980`s Ocshner (Chrome) - 1987 Schwinn Circuit - 1987 Schwinn Prologue - 1992 Schwinn Crosspoint - 1999 Schwinn Circuit - 2014 Cannondale Super Six EVO
My bikes: 1970`s Roberts - 1981 Miyata 912 - 1980`s Ocshner (Chrome) - 1987 Schwinn Circuit - 1987 Schwinn Prologue - 1992 Schwinn Crosspoint - 1999 Schwinn Circuit - 2014 Cannondale Super Six EVO
Last edited by Steve Whitlatch; 07-12-15 at 08:45 PM.
#30
1991 PBP Anciens
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Elburn, Illannoy
Posts: 594
Bikes: 1954 Robin Hood, 1964 Dunelt, 1968 Raleigh Superbe, 1969 Robin Hood, 197? Gitane, 1973 Raleigh SuperCourse, 1981 Miyata 710, 1990 Miyata 600GT, 2007 Rivendell Bleriot
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No pics because this was thirty plus years ago.
I was becoming what was known as a 'Lifer' at my last job and one of the guys in our maintenance shop knew I rode bikes. He told me his Great Uncle had passed away and that he had found a bunch of old bike parts in the barn and did I want them. I said yeah and he'd bring them the next day. The next day turned out to be very busy for me so I just handed the guy my keys and told him to put the parts in the my trunk.
I got home, had dinner, mowed the lawn, and then remembered about the stuff in the trunk. Opened the trunk and started hyperventilating. It wasn't parts, it was an entire bike in pieces with extra wheels. The bike turned out to be a 1939-ish Modern Cycles Stratos, built by Harry Skidmore of Leeds. The frame was fillet brazed with all the original decals. Rims were SS 26x1/4x1/4, one rear wheel had a 3 sp FW on it, the other had an AM hub with a triple cluster. The rear derailleur was a Simplex TDF. Most of the components were post WW2, but except for the crank set, aluminum. Did my best century on that beast.
All I have left, though, is the AM hub and the memories. The bike went to Denver a few years ago, I felt it deserved better than to be stored in my unheated garage. I laced the AM to a 700c rim and stuck that on my 1970 Robin Hood.
I was becoming what was known as a 'Lifer' at my last job and one of the guys in our maintenance shop knew I rode bikes. He told me his Great Uncle had passed away and that he had found a bunch of old bike parts in the barn and did I want them. I said yeah and he'd bring them the next day. The next day turned out to be very busy for me so I just handed the guy my keys and told him to put the parts in the my trunk.
I got home, had dinner, mowed the lawn, and then remembered about the stuff in the trunk. Opened the trunk and started hyperventilating. It wasn't parts, it was an entire bike in pieces with extra wheels. The bike turned out to be a 1939-ish Modern Cycles Stratos, built by Harry Skidmore of Leeds. The frame was fillet brazed with all the original decals. Rims were SS 26x1/4x1/4, one rear wheel had a 3 sp FW on it, the other had an AM hub with a triple cluster. The rear derailleur was a Simplex TDF. Most of the components were post WW2, but except for the crank set, aluminum. Did my best century on that beast.
All I have left, though, is the AM hub and the memories. The bike went to Denver a few years ago, I felt it deserved better than to be stored in my unheated garage. I laced the AM to a 700c rim and stuck that on my 1970 Robin Hood.
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