squirtdad

my newest bike is an 89 and all are steel and all get used.

torpado is pretty original

nishiki is rebuil as an upgright utility/commuter

miyata upgraded to sti.


no worries about riding any at any time.

I like the ride and the look of classsic steel frames quill stems.

I were to get a new bike I would get steel, classic look, quill stem but would use current parts. would consider electronic shifting, would not consider disc brakes.

but that is me

what work for anyone else is great also

obrentharris 

Take a look at the "Where'd you Ride Today?" thread. https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-improved.html

You'll find a lot of people who ride their vintage bikes regularly. (or vintage bikes with newer components, or newer bikes with vintage components)

It all comes down to who you are, what kind of riding you do, and what you want in a bike. We can all give you our opinions but none of us know what you want better than you do. As someone who has been riding regularly since the middle of the last century I assure you that there will be ample opportunity in your life to get rid of one bike and replace it with a different one, or even splurge on a second bike!

Enjoy the ride!
Brent

JamesRL

I'm old (54), just over the lower limit for a clyde, and I don't ride as much as I might like. While I ride with some similar age guys on CF, I don't see a difference on my old 1990 bike. I don't need more gears. Lighter isn't important to me. My bike isn't as fancy as some, but it works and is reliable and comfortable. If I rode everyday, I might invest, and I often look. But what I have is more than enough for what I need.

Cougrrcj

All of my bikes are C&V, since the newest (A 1990 Schwinn Wooodlands solid MTB) is my newest bike. The three road bikes are my 1975 Fuji (my primary ride since new!) and two I have yet to dial in completely ('84-ish Univega Viva Sport, and '84-ish Grand Tourismo.) The Univegas are hard to nail down exactly since many components were substituted in mid- model year.

No aluminum or CF frames here, no index shifting on road bikes, etc...

noglider 

I own about nine bikes. I ride five of them regularly, soon six. The newest among all of them is a Bianchi Volpe and has a steel frame and was made in 1995. Is that vintage? Maybe not, but it's old, and it proves that old bikes work just fine. Unless you prefer new bikes. There are reasons to prefer a new bike, but if you prefer old bikes, you'll be fine if an old bike is your only bike.

gaucho777 

No problem using vintage as my primary bike. My primary errand/commuter is a period-correct bike from the early 70s, toe straps and all; and my primary go-fast bike is a period-correct mid-80s racer, friction DT shifters and all.

The OP's implied notion that vintage bikes are for looking at and modern bikes are for riding is nonsense IMHO.

cyclotoine

Yes and I will get it repainted at intervals as necessary, just like they did in the old days and still do today. There is a cyclocross team in British Columbia Canada on steel bikes and they get new paint every season or two. I assume Richard Sachs team riders also get fresh paint as required.

OldsCOOL

My newest is the '88 Cannondale Criterium Series and is my first choice when riding fast. It's my go-to. Vintage. Hardcore.

non-fixie 

I think that the total driving or riding experience is made up of more than just practicality. The lack of modern creature comforts on older machinery is often more than made up for by things like beauty, elegance, workmanship and the resulting 'pride of ownership'.

It just needs to be practical enough.

With cars it's exactly the same, as far as I'm concerned. Case in point: mrs non-fixie's 'new' daily driver is a '72 Alfa Romeo. And it's not her first old Alfa either, so she knows what to expect.

D1andonlyDman

My two most ridden bikes are a Tommasini from 1986 equipped with original Campy Super Record, and a 1992 Schwinn Paramount PDG Series 7 with a more modern 9x3 drivetrain that contains a mix of brands of components that I've found work well together. If I had to choose just one of these, I'd keep the Tommasini but cold-set the frame to 130mm rear spacing, and put the drivetrain that's currently on the Paramount onto the Tommy.

CliffordK

My old Colnago wasn't entirely vintage when I bought it (probably already 10 to 15 years old back in 1982). I've ridden it as my primary bike for the last 30 years.

So, now I find out that I've been riding a vintage classic all those years.

I've now decided to limit its exposure to rain. But the bike certainly isn't parked. And I have a rack on it, and tow a trailer with it. I don't keep it 100% original. There have been many replaced parts and upgrades over the years, and no reason to go backwards.

So, should I now use it as a wall hanging?

I suppose you have to decide when a bike is a classic.

I've seen a number of old low end Raleighs, Peugeots, Schwinns, Huffys, etc being used as commuters around town. Some of that vintage steel will last a long time.

You may, however, choose your bike wisely. I'd be a bit careful about an old Alan, Vitus, or perhaps an early aluminum lugged CF bike. But, there is still no reason not to ride it.

John E

Like so many others in this forum, I own vintage steel exclusively, in my case covering production from 1959 to 1981 for the road bikes, 1988 for the mountain bike.

jimmuller 

Indeed. I'm still riding my 42 y.o. Peugeot as a commuter occasionally though it is not my preferred commuter. It will outlast me, I'm sure.

Bad Lag

I have ONE bike. It is a steel-framed bike (Reynolds 531). It has been with me since 1974, ridden hard and long.

If I were to buy another bike, it would be another 531 bike.

jetboy 

this might be a troll. of course everyone in the C&V forum rides a vintage bike! if you consider the 80s vintage...

OldsCOOL

My '80 Huffy Aerowind is vintage, though I surely would NOT call it classic. Do I ride it? It sits intact in my shop with bare rims just for the novelty. I ride my Columbus and 531 beauties every day possible.

John E

My 1970 UO-8 is my preferred commuter/transportation bike. It currently gets more use than any of the others, just because of its "daily driver" status.

dedhed

My daily commuter is my 91 Trek 400 with 10 speed Ultegra

Firochromis

Thank you soo much for all your valuable comments.

Today I acquired a 1996 Fondriest Megachrome with a modern Campegnolo Veloce grupset and Campagnolo Proton wheelset on it. So my steel bike is my primary now.

non-fixie 

Great! Pictures?

Firochromis

Sure

non-fixie 

Thank you.

Camplex

Yep, count me amongst those relying on vintage steel as primary bicycle, for pleasure and utility. A Vitus for everyday sport, a Peugeot city bike, ... super impressed with the Crescent Touring I just built up, and a couple of other things. That being said, there are new bikes I'd love to have*. Not sure if they'd be primary ever, they're too nice. (*like a VO, Roberts, Koga-Miyata, Herse/Boulder, Grand Bois, etc.)

figc

The bikes I ride today are all from the 80s

My custom made Giro (Ottawa framebuilder who sourced all his material from Marinoni) which I used to race on back then.

My daily commuter (late 80s Bianchi with Columbus Cromor tubing)

I've recently bought 2 late 80s Marinoni's too. All steel, all vintage Campy (with a smattering of Shimano and Simplex).





Don't like the new stuff they make now. Crazy expensive too.

RobbieTunes

At present, only steel, only old.

Not really much of a problem. One of my "old" bikes has somewhat modern components (still with downtube shifters). With friction or downtube shifting, there are two things to think about: 1-think ahead, 2-technique (a fancy way of saying "get used to them"). Planning ahead is easy, and getting smooth and quick at downtube shifting is simply a matter of mileage and thinking about it.

In a pace line, still no problem, but you have to pay attention a little more, and try to stay smooth. It's not that hard. You find yourself compensating with your legs, which works, but is counterproductive in the long term; work the gears instead. Almost all pace lines deteriorate on climbs, and downtube shifting can grab those missed gears, and the habit of planning comes in handy.

I like modern bikes, but I don't find riding them to be that much different. Easier until you forget to plan ahead on a climber. They have their own attraction, but less of what I like to see on a bike, while riding or sitting still. Some are plain awesome.

There are two bikes I'd really like to own someday; both are modern, steel, and neither gives up any weight to carbon or aluminum. They're just bikes I like. For some reason, I like the look of steel bikes.

The main thing, once you're moving, is that you're moving. Ride with folks or enjoy it solo, but move on two wheels and enjoy it.

Once you have a bike, it's your bike, so just ride it and don't sweat the details.
The details are what we discuss here, or you talk about when stopped on a ride.

No biggie. A bike is a bike. Some are just more interesting than others.