non-fixie 

I need more miles on it for a definitive answer, but so far I'd say 'heavy racing bike'. Not a bad thing, but I'm not sure it is what I was looking for either.

It currently takes turns with my Austro-Daimler Inter 10, which I would rate higher, in terms of ride quality:

bikemig 

I posted pics of my 1984 Trek 610 when I started this thread. I've made a few changes to the bike. I've been riding it a lot lately. The bike just rides and handles great. It's also nothing fancy with a reynolds 531cs frameset (531 DB main triangle, chrome moly fork and stays), shimano deore derailleurs with suntour power ratchet downtube shifters, shimano 105 calipers, stronglight headset, campy tipo hubs laced to mavic ma 2 rims, and a shimano 600 triple crank:

Kilroy1988 

This is a wonderful thread. There are so many beautiful bicycles posted! Classic light touring bikes are among my favorite style, yet after eight years of serious riding I have only had the opportunity to own one... And it was the first bicycle that I got in an accident on! I purchased this 1979 Centurion Pro-Tour in excellent original condition (with first generation Suntour Cyclone and many trick tour-oriented details) about two years ago, and added my trusty Brooks B17 saddle and the velo fenders, then went on about a dozen rides before someone decided to roll through a stop sign in front of me and cause me to collide with their truck. The frame and rims were ruined - thankfully I was not!

I have all of the components stripped from the bike and hope to build something similar again when I find a proper replacement. Such a pity!

Tonecaster

1982 Trek 412 near mint craigslist find.

marek85pl

I am part of the Polish present my bike purchased by my father in 79 years got it for 12 years taking care of him and bring home after finishing his father's work. I changed the bike pedals -Own production, route clamped noses with strips of leather by Cristophe. text translated by the translator. health

cb400bill

Picture Assistance.

Parabolous

Panasonic!

ascherer 

Here's my '71 International:

bikemig 

If you're going to own only one sports touring bike, this is one of the more beautiful production bikes ever made. That's really a drag that your bike was destroyed like that. You might want to keep an eye out on the C&V for sale forum. That's how I picked up my 1984 Trek 610. You have the parts for a build so all you need is a frame.

jgscisum 

Legnano Olimpiade Record Specialissima. Full Reynolds 531. Early 1970's. Now painted a metallic Root Beer. Updated components. 700c clinchers. Original Gold/green paint was still evident on fork tube and inside seat tube. Serial number on left side of seat tube. Bought as frame/fork only. Original owner had water bottle braze ons added and had painted it the same color I did. A lot of paint was missing and bare metal showing so I stripped it and followed up with the same beautiful brown. My first full paint job using Dupont Single stage acrylic enamel. I ride this bike whenever I want a super smooth stable handling bike. LOVE IT!

jgscisum 

Before. Bought as frame only. Updated for daily rides. Previous owner added water bottle braze-ons Last photo..... the finished Legnano. My first full paint job! Painted with Dupont Single Stage Acrylic Enamel. Reynold 531DB. Decided the full chrome fork should not be painted. A smooth predictable ride. Love it!

tarwheel 

Since this thread is continuing to grow, I'll add some shots of my Specialized Sequoia that I got last year. I bought the frame, fork, headset, seatpost and stem used -- all original parts. Added a Stronglight compact crank, Suntour Superbe brakes (which were the original spec), and 9-speed Shimano drivetrain.

rgechols

My newly-restored 1985 Raleigh Royal! The most comfortable and responsive bike in my stable.

1985 Raleigh Royal sport touring bike by Reid Echols, on Flickr


1985 Raleigh Royal by Reid Echols, on Flickr

Lazyass

I will have to add my '84 Univega Gran Rally to the thread. Looks like a classic race geometry frame but it actually has clearance for 32's. I have Vittoria Open Pave 27's on it and I still have plenty of room for fenders. Very light and nimble, just a good all around road bike.

jamesj

My 1980 Trek 412.

Found these panniers at the Goodwill for 10 bucks, I need to get a real rack to put them on. Currently using a soma mini rack for now, I just carry my work clothes and everyday stuff in them. I would like to find some blackburn low riders.

gorillagirl

^ This Trek is beautiful. My favorite type of build.

AustinFitz

I picked up this '86 Raleigh Capri a while back. Seems to be sort of a low end, all around sports tourer. I know it's junk, but it was so cheap that I couldn't pass it up. Affordable vintage road bikes of any kind are pretty rare in my area...

I haven't really touched it since I bought it months ago, but after seeing some of the bikes in this thread I'm thinking the geometry might be worth building on! I personally always choose comfort over speed, and have never been much of a racer, so the heavy low end frame and fork aren't too much of a concern for me.

I might totally strip it down, and then rebuild it with the best selection of cheap, readily available Franken-parts I can find aimed towards a short, upright, day trip kind of tourer. I already own a very nice dedicated touring bike, so I want to try something a little different on this. Since it's nothing special I shouldn't be afraid to try some fun and interesting ideas!



Then I also have this '82 Kabuki Super Speed. Pretty much the same story as the Raleigh... No idea what to do with it yet, but too cheap to pass up!

romperrr 

@AustinFitz,

Nice haul! It wouldn't call those bikes 'junk', sure they're entry level frames, but so was my U08 and I rode that thing till the tires fell off. Well, it was actually stolen by a unreputable bike merchant, fun ride while I had it though.

Entry level bikes are versatile and you won't feel bad about keeping them period correct. Think about the type of riding you want to do can build the bikes up accordingly. Maybe there's a tire width or handlebar type you're interested in trying out, these would make great canvases for that. Clean em, build em, love em and they'll love you back.

KonAaron Snake 

I haven't had the chance to ride it much, and I need to play with stem length, but it's light and purdy at any rate.

Andy_K 

So there are times when you aren't thinking "low trail, 650b conversion" and dreaming of firing up your torch?

Roger M 

That's a super nice looking Ross, Aaron.

bikemig 

Sweet, a Tom Kellog Ross or really one of their signature bikes?

Andy_K 

I guess I wasn't absorbing the marketing much when "sports touring" was a thing so I hadn't really thought about it, but after reading the criteria in this thread I realized that most of my vintage bikes are sports tourers. For now I'll just post a picture of the one that's set up that way, my 1982 Specialized Sequoia:



I had to remove some material from the front fender to get it to fit between the fork blades, and these 700x32 tires are a tight fit with the front fender. Maybe it needs smaller wheels....

KonAaron Snake 

gugie 

Sure.

Sometimes I dream of riding one of my low trail, 650b conversions.