Dirty old low end Windsor
 

Got this at the local vintage swap last week. Disappointed, I figured with the chrome lugs and socks and the forged dropouts it was going to be decent frame. Totally missed that there was a kickstand mounting plate. :)
After some research turns out it's gas pipe probably about the level of a Raleigh Grand Prix.
Luckily I didn't pay much for it. Guess when I have some time on my hands I'll clean it up and do the bearings and see what it looks like.

http://i.imgur.com/VIHQ6X9.jpg

One awesome fixed gear if you so choose.

Does not look like you did too bad. Certainly a tall one. With a hanger and drop out adjusters can't be a real nothing frame.

Looks like a nice frame worth building up. If nothing else, it's orange.

put dt shifters on it and sell the barcons for $40.

orange gets a premium.

It's a Carrera Sport.

I had one in the 58cm size. Angles were steep and the frame was a stiff one. The bike was heavy gas-pipe but had a very distinctive look to it.

Original wheels were alloy clinchers on hi-flange hubs, freewheel was a quite large Suntour 5s. Mine was gloss black with the same chromed lugs and socks. I found it next to the dumpster at Bicycle Emporium in a quite-weathered condition, but it cleaned up nicely and I eventually sold it.

Your thread title is a good one OP, lol. It does look like it'll be a pretty cool bike built up. You could probably sell it then if you werent that into it.

I have a Winchester with chromed faux Nervex Pro lugs (and peeling paint) that's quite similar. Also has a "made in Mexico" sticker, so might have come out of the same factory as that Windsor.

FWIW, I have built up bikes with crap frames. If you put on good wheels, they can be very pleasant to ride. Don't give up on it until you try!

The nice thing about a dirty low end bike is that you don't have to worry about getting it dirty... Yours may at least be straight gauge Tange tubing. And it's orange. I have the same bike (Carrera Sport) of roughly the same year and I never really rode it until I boxed most of the parts and put smaller wheels and fatter tires on it (and changed the fork, which is a biggie). Then I added the components that fit my needs for it. Thrashing it in the woods and on the pavement is a guiltless pleasure and this is my go-to bike much of the time for that reason. Enjoy it. It can be a very good bike, depending.

http://i.imgur.com/2nz9wrE.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/ZxPvyAR.jpg?1

Great photo, speaks of adventure!

+1
Every collection should have a 'pig w/ lipstick'. They can be the rain bike or the grocery getter or the pub crawler. Yours looks well above standard. But yeah, get rid of the barend shifters.

I'd have bought that. Looks great, and some of my favorite bikes were originally lower to mid end offerings.

Here's my hi-ten orange bike. Bought it as a bare frame for €50, just because it was orange and my size. :) It took one or two tries to get the parts selection right, but now it's one of my favorites. Toured with it and rode it in several C&V events, including the Retroronde.

http://myalbum.com/photo/PIPPSj4fIpCh/720.jpg

Is that a pic of Nepaug? Small world.

That's really nice, no fancy tubing needed.

Nobody said you had to mount a kickstand. :D

This frame demonstrates how much better quality the low end was BITD. Chrome socks and head lugs, forged dropouts, striped lugs. While it might be gas pipe, it might well be a nice rider.

I have a similar bike, a gas pipe (or close relative) Conti (26.4 seatpost, so you know the seat tube is sturdy - no chance I'll dent that puppy!) I showed up for a group ride Sunday morning. Of course, everybody else was riding something modern. A woman walking into the Starbucks complimented me on my cool bike just as we were shoving off. So, polish that baby up and ride it proudly.

Ah, not Nepaug, a local shoreline trail system. I've yet to get out to Nepaug, hoping to this summer. I may get in touch for some tips if you're familiar with the place - all I know is it's a maze with some hidden gems.

Edit: Thanks @dddd, just saw your post above.

That's a nice machine, Skip! :thumb: From what I've experienced so far, I'm leaning towards the impression that geometry is more important than weight, as long as you're not racing.

Some of you guys sure have some pretty BEATERS! hate to see what your GOOD bikes must look like.
And the OP's Windsor could be worse: it could be a plain Carrera... still gaspipe with chrome but wouldn't have the forged SunTour ends and at least you got some decent components with it. It's possibly even SLIGHTly better made than the Raleigh Grand Prix of the same era ;)

+ 1, :).

Pretty much every time someone does a thread on beater bikes, some pretty amazing bikes show up as "beaters." Given the low cost of old high end bikes though it might make sense to use a high quality bike as a beater. That's what I do with my vintage mtb (a 1988 specialized stump jumper comp).

OP gets bonus points for one of the better thread titles I've seen on BF.

Erm ..., I think you're looking at our GOOD bikes. Which is not necessarily the same as our EXPENSIVE bikes. :)

Even though it's a low end model, it has lots of possibilities. The designer/importer was a lover of high end bikes and offered the best value he knew how to offer. This was the result, and it's pretty commendable. Build a beater or a townie or a something out of it. You might like it.

+ 1. But I'd put my sights a little higher than that, given [MENTION=185430]dddd[/MENTION]'s comments. Clean, lube, mount a nice light wheel set with decent tires and your favorite saddle, and find out how good (or bad) it really is. A frame looking as nice as that deserves a chance.

True, many have followed this philosophy.

It's like the way Dawes operated. They built the frame nice or nicer then the price point they were aiming for then compensated with components that brought them inline with it. They knew that the owner would eventually change things out to make it better so they focused on the frame.

I dig the frame. I love well-built "low-end" bikes. They are pretty much all I ride.

I love this thread.
And that's gonna end up as a really cool orange bike. :thumb: