How about (only) 1985?
#1
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,297
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,405 Times
in
906 Posts
How about (only) 1985?
It's occurred to me in moments of sobriety that perhaps 1985 was one of the best years for road bikes, across the brands, across the road/racing/touring band. Tons of competition, and it seems like everyone was bringing their "A" game.
So, if you have an '85, let's see it. If not, no biggie, but let's drop back 31 years and see what a buyer could get?
I'll start with my only '85 at the moment, a 1985 Raleigh Racing USA Competition. Raleigh 555 SL tubing, came with Suntour 7sp components and 700c wheels. Next?
So, if you have an '85, let's see it. If not, no biggie, but let's drop back 31 years and see what a buyer could get?
I'll start with my only '85 at the moment, a 1985 Raleigh Racing USA Competition. Raleigh 555 SL tubing, came with Suntour 7sp components and 700c wheels. Next?

#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,460
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 881 Post(s)
Liked 1,148 Times
in
437 Posts
My closest are a 1981 and a 1986, both of which are far superior to 1985s.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,248
Mentioned: 101 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1528 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 680 Times
in
448 Posts
Totally agree with you!
For me the zenith of bicycle design/aesthetics happened right at the mid 80's. That's why my bikes are mostly from 84 and 85..... I feel really lucky that the mid 80's was when I also had the best cycling years of my life, because the bikes were so great!
Here's my 85 ALAN Record Carbonio:

My 1984 Peugeot PY10FC:

And my 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7:
For me the zenith of bicycle design/aesthetics happened right at the mid 80's. That's why my bikes are mostly from 84 and 85..... I feel really lucky that the mid 80's was when I also had the best cycling years of my life, because the bikes were so great!
Here's my 85 ALAN Record Carbonio:

My 1984 Peugeot PY10FC:

And my 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7:

Last edited by Chombi1; 07-02-16 at 10:47 AM.
#4
Senior Member
1985 Fuji Del Rey, 12 speed, Suntour components, etc... Still going strong after 31 years and is in amazing condition!

Last edited by ButchA; 12-19-17 at 08:54 PM. Reason: Corrected the link, using Imgur vs Photobucket
#5
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,150
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1361 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 413 Times
in
276 Posts
Wow Robbie, as always working your magic. Especially selecting the rarely seen Suntour GPX stuff. All business, it works ~ Suntour silk. That ride has one cool looking headtube too having the heron riveted against the chrome. Love it.
I agree on the mid-80's. Poised and confident carvers. Across the mid to upper lineup by many makers of that era, seem to follow the shorter chainstay's, wheelbase, nearly identical seat and headtube angles. 700c was becoming the trend. Great selection and bargain to be had tubing availability. How the mass producers worked with mixed tubing, figuring out how to make less flexy bottom ends with a ride that delivers. Bang for the buck today.
Will be some time before I get around to it, but looking forward to setting up an '84 or '85 Basso in spumoni paint, Columbus Tre-tubi. Not rocket tubing but looking over the geometry and dimensions, I anticipate as being a fave.
I agree on the mid-80's. Poised and confident carvers. Across the mid to upper lineup by many makers of that era, seem to follow the shorter chainstay's, wheelbase, nearly identical seat and headtube angles. 700c was becoming the trend. Great selection and bargain to be had tubing availability. How the mass producers worked with mixed tubing, figuring out how to make less flexy bottom ends with a ride that delivers. Bang for the buck today.
Will be some time before I get around to it, but looking forward to setting up an '84 or '85 Basso in spumoni paint, Columbus Tre-tubi. Not rocket tubing but looking over the geometry and dimensions, I anticipate as being a fave.
#6
Senior Member
Ok i will play, How about a 1985 Trek 470 (true temper tubing / Shimano 600)

and just for RT a 1985 Centurion Ironman

and just for RT a 1985 Centurion Ironman

#7
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,394
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2586 Post(s)
Liked 4,803 Times
in
1,707 Posts
I've guesstimated the birth year as 1985, so here ya go:

DD

DD
#8
Catching Smallmouth
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: In a boat
Posts: 575
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Sirrus Triple, 1985 Trek 460, 2005 Lemond Tourmalet, 1984 Schwinn LeTour 'Luxe, 1988 Trek 400T, 1985 Trek 450, 1997 Lemond Zurich, 1993 Diamond Back Apex, 1988 Schwinn Circuit, 1988 Schwinn Prologue, 1978 Trek TX700, Sannino
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 85 Post(s)
Liked 121 Times
in
70 Posts
My pair of red 1985 Treks. A 460 and something that does not match their catalog and is most likely a 450.



#11
Motorcycle RoadRacer
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,828
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Totally agree with you!
For me the zenith of bicycle design/aesthetics happened right at the mid 80's. That's why my bikes are mostly from 84 and 85..... I feel really lucky that the mid 80's was when I also had the best cycling years of my life, because the bikes were so great!
Here's my 85 ALAN Record Carbonio:

My 1984 Peugeot PY10FC:

And my 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7:

For me the zenith of bicycle design/aesthetics happened right at the mid 80's. That's why my bikes are mostly from 84 and 85..... I feel really lucky that the mid 80's was when I also had the best cycling years of my life, because the bikes were so great!
Here's my 85 ALAN Record Carbonio:

My 1984 Peugeot PY10FC:

And my 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7:



#13
Senior Member
All my favorite bikes are from the 80's. That's about all I collect now. Specifically bikes that were made in Japan.
#16
Bike don't lie
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,022
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR gravel Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount
Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2946 Post(s)
Liked 5,668 Times
in
3,316 Posts
One of the things I like about the mid 80's bikes are all the colors that were available then.
Here is my 85 Trek.
Here is my 85 Trek.
__________________
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 7,363
Bikes: '72 Cilo Pacer, '72 Gitane Gran Tourisme, '72 Peugeot PX10, '73 Speedwell Ti, '74 Peugeot UE-8, '75 Peugeot PR-10L, '80 Colnago Super, '85 De Rosa Pro, '86 Look Equipe 753, '86 Look KG86, '89 Parkpre Team, '90 Parkpre Team MTB, '90 Merlin
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 802 Post(s)
Liked 1,824 Times
in
499 Posts
Wow, Robbie, moments of sobriety? 
I agree '85 was about the peak of the classic era. The time when Campy, clips & click-less were all still dominant.

I agree '85 was about the peak of the classic era. The time when Campy, clips & click-less were all still dominant.
#18
Senior Member
My '85 Masi Nuova Strada (SL tubing):

Originally it came with a mixture of C-Record cranks, Chorus derailleurs, NR/SR hubs, brakes and downtube shifters.
It's now Record 10 (at least it has a down tube shifter for the front (but it's carbon)). Sacrilege?

Originally it came with a mixture of C-Record cranks, Chorus derailleurs, NR/SR hubs, brakes and downtube shifters.
It's now Record 10 (at least it has a down tube shifter for the front (but it's carbon)). Sacrilege?
Last edited by gearbasher; 07-02-16 at 02:28 PM.
#19
Senior Member
This is a 1986 Ironman but the frame serial number indicates it was made in 1985. Doesn't take much for me to want to post one of my bikes.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,973
Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 884 Post(s)
Liked 324 Times
in
221 Posts
1985 Nishiki Riviera GT the day I picked it up. Tange Infinity tubing and Suntour LePree.
__________________
I hope...that all mankind will at length…have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats. Ben Franklin
I hope...that all mankind will at length…have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats. Ben Franklin
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Northern San Diego
Posts: 1,857
Bikes: mid 1980s De Rosa SL, 1985 Tommasini Super Prestige all Campy SR, 1992 Paramount PDG Series 7, 1997 Lemond Zurich, 1998 Trek Y-foil, 2006 Schwinn Super Sport GS, 2006 Specialized Hardrock Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It WAS a very good year. My Tommasini is from 1985, equipped as when new, with all Campy SR.
My De Rosa might be, I've only been able to narrow it down to somewhere between 1984-1987. The components are newer than that.
My De Rosa might be, I've only been able to narrow it down to somewhere between 1984-1987. The components are newer than that.
#22
weapons-grade bolognium
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 6,206
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 945 Post(s)
Liked 2,043 Times
in
800 Posts
Ciocc Designer 84. Has a California bike license dated 1985 stuck to it, so I would guess it was bought in 1985.

#23
Disciple of St. Tullio
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: State of Jefferson
Posts: 721
Bikes: Ciöcc, Bianchi, DeRosa, Eddy Merckx, Frejus, Hampsten, Kondor, Losa, Magni, Pegoretti, Pelizzoli, Pogliaghi, Scapin
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 257 Post(s)
Liked 286 Times
in
127 Posts
'85 Losa

'85 Corsa Extra

'85 Corsa Extra

#24
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 9,899
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4127 Post(s)
Liked 2,687 Times
in
1,466 Posts
Oddly, I don't have a photo of my '85 Ciocc San Cristobal without me riding it. 
RIP Maria-Angelica...

It was nice... but about 1985 was when things stopped being standardized (126mm OLD, square taper spindles, friction shifters, quill pedals, etc) maybe that's what you're nostalgic about.

RIP Maria-Angelica...

It was nice... but about 1985 was when things stopped being standardized (126mm OLD, square taper spindles, friction shifters, quill pedals, etc) maybe that's what you're nostalgic about.
Last edited by DiabloScott; 07-02-16 at 04:23 PM.
#25
Bike don't lie
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,022
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR gravel Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount
Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2946 Post(s)
Liked 5,668 Times
in
3,316 Posts
Here is my flamingo 1985 Team Fuji.
__________________
Last edited by cb400bill; 12-10-17 at 07:09 PM. Reason: Fixed broken pic link