Tonkabaydog

Looking for something more relaxed.... however, all the very well made frames I have been reading about seem to be more aggressive geometry.

Any 70's, 80s or even 90s Bike/Model suggestions would be appreciated.

Tonkabaydog

Looking for something more relaxed.... however, all the very well made frames I have been reading about seem to be more aggressive geometry.

Any 70's, 80s or even 90s Bike/Model suggestions would be appreciated.

Knet

The Trek 520, 620 , or 720 are all classic steel touring frames from the '80's, with a relaxed geometry......

however....

They tend to be pricey (stupid pricey in the case of the 720) when you find a decent one.

Tonkabaydog

How about any models in the Panasonic, Nishiki, Myata, Sekai, Italian stuff, Motobecane, Peugeout ???

romperrr 

Really anything that's not a strict racing machine should be comfortable. There's a wealth of information on this forum. Search the site through google and you'll find lots of recommendations.

AZORCH

Early 70's Raleigh International or Super Course - either one would provide a great ride. Peugeot and Moto were already mentioned, but I'll plug them and any other French bikes from the 60's, 70's and early 80's (the usual caveat about French threading and sizes applies, of course.)

Saguaro

I've owned only a few of the bike brands on your list so I can only vouch for what I know. My 1982 Nishiki Cresta is a very comfortable and forgiving ride. Link to thread about this bike: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-cresta-4.html

I also have a 1983 Sekai 4000 that seems pretty nice but I don't ride it much since I gave it to my son.

Rice Wash

Yeah, most anything from the big name manufacturers from their touring and sport touring lines will be fine. Beyond that the biggest factors in comfort are going to be fit, saddle tires and tape.

dim

Koga Miyata .... I had one that weighed under 9kg .... sadly, I sold it as it was 2 sizes too big for me

Briggestone RB1 .... on my wishlist

Peugeot PY10 .... I will buy one when I can find one in my size

Gitane Tour De France .... I owned one and rode many miles ... brilliant bike

1980's Condor .... I have one as my daily commuter .... rides like a cadillac

if you want modern .... Surly Long Haul Trucker .... I have one and will never sell it.... it's comfy and good for 12 hour rides

if you want to customize a bike and want something totally different.... buy an old 1980's Bridgestone MB1 or MB2 mountain bike but buy the Japanese version that has been hand built with lugs .... add a drop bar with bar end shifters and change the saddle for a Brooks C17 Cambium saddle.... add some stainless steel fenders/mud guards and a pair of Compass tyres

you can ride one of these 16 hours a day .... not the fastest, but really comfortable and a good winter bike aswell as you can use wider tyres

oddjob2

If you want a smooth ride, consider a frame that uses 27" tires or can accommodate 700c tires of at least 28mm or more. The extra air volume of the wider tires makes for a sublime ride, as opposed to those that only accommodate tires of up to about 25mm in width.

Sport touring or touring frames would be more relaxed than a racing frame. My most relaxed riding bikes include the following:

1973 Raleigh Super Course MK II
1981 Schwinn Super Sport
1970s Schwinn Sports Tourer
1986 Trek 520 Cirrus
Motobecane Grand Touring
1990s Trek Hybrids (Upgraded 700)

cycleheimer

Relaxed? For relaxed geometry take a look into touring bikes. From the eighties onwards they got really serious in regard to design and componentry.

RobbieTunes 

Lotus Classique is my first choice. Centurion Semi-Pro my second, very very close.

For value, Centurion Lemans or Lemans RS from 84 to 89, depending on your affection for subtle paint schemes vs. what were they thinking? Same for Panasonic DX4000, most of the Cilo lineup, Miele's from Canada, a bunch of Fuji's I don't know the names of, Trek Elance models, and maybe 30-50 others. Just drop down a bit from the "racing" models and you'll fall into more all-around road bikes, or you can "bump up" to some of the classic steel touring bikes and even the classic Cannondale ST's. A plethora.

David Newton

I suggest a Bridgestone 300.

cb400bill

Duplicate threads merged

rccardr 

87-89 Schwinn Tempo or Super Sport. Comfy all day riders with bulletproof components.

Lots of other great recommendatioms here, too.

John E

Modell Campagnolo from CapO of Vienna, Austria (www.capo.at).

Only 400 were exported to the US from about 1958 to 1962, but there are lots of other bikes from the 1960s and 1970s with similarly relaxed and comfortable "sport touring" geometries. If you want something contemporary, consider the Surly Long Haul Trucker.

gugie 

An easier thing to do would be to tell us something about yourself. If we knew what frame size you could comfortaby ride, and where you lived, many of us would scour Craigslist and eBay for you.

Do you have an idea what frame size you ride?
Are you riding a bike now?
What kind of riding do you want to do? Road, light touring, day trips, gravel?
Where do you live?

You've asked the equivalent of "Doc, I don't feel well, what do you have to make it all better?" The Doctor's in this house need more information before we prescribe a solution.

Bandera

Lots of good recommendations here, however actually finding a specific make/model 40 year old machine in good nick, at a reasonable price that actually Fits is a matter of luck/timing.
It seems that they are simply not making them anymore, time & use/abuse have taken their toll, the ravages of fixie-drewing are irreversible and vintage-$$$ madness has set in.

A look at the local metro's c-list reveals: Junk, junk, more junk, overpriced-"vintage"-beater, too-big, too small.
Nothing worth a looking at. Repeat search ad infinitum.

I'd like another '74 MkIV Raleigh Pro in 22 1/2" Silver/Black in excellent condition for what I'm willing to pay.
The occasional flea-bey search for the last few years resulted in Nada and the odds of one popping on c-list are less.

Good luck,

-Bandera

Tonkabaydog

Although reasonably fit at 5' 7", I like to refer to myself as "Middle Age Man" .....without the belly. (Mike Myers SNL character from the 1990s).

I have owned an orange 1976 Raleigh International since new which I purchased in in 1978. I rode it up until the early 90s then put it in the attic. Since have owned aluminum carbon Shimano and Sram. Sold them all and last year resurrected my Raleigh. It is in pristine condition. However, I have been told I may not want to ride it every time I go out.

I have no interest in be the fastest guy on the rode... more into safe rides on comfortable bikes. Although I have been smitten by the Suntour Bug, since having picked up a 1986 Fuji League for my young daughter.

I would like a 54cm steel frame with Suntour Cyclone, Sprint or Superbe. Comfort and control are my priority.

I have only just gotten the vintage bug, but it seems that touring bikes are hard to find kitted with the higher end Suntour gear.

I have no bias for frame origin.... Japan, Italy, UK, France, Canada and US are all fine.

AZORCH

Who told you this, and more importantly why do allow them into your life?

If that sucker fits you, ride it.

gugie 

+1

My 73 International went under the torch last year, and I don't baby it. Here it is kitted out for a 3 day trip, 200+ miles, much of it on gravel roads:


And, yes, that's a SunTour Cyclone original edition rear derailleur, MKII Cyclone in the front, vintage Stronglight cranks and MAFAC brakes, the rest is a hodge podge of good modern stuff.

And my Weigle'ized 73 Raleigh Competition out on an 8 day, 500+ mile credit card tour last fall:



Now, mind you, this collective forum crowd isn't one to stop you from buying another bike. Didn't see where you're from, by your handle can we assume upper Minnesota?

Lazyass

A comfortable bike is one that fits properly and doesn't have the bars slammed a foot below the saddle.

Tonkabaydog

West of Mpls .... Lake Minnetonka area.

Trying to figure out how to upload a pic of my bike.

daf1009

Miyata 1000 my "mile munching Miyata"

Bandera

Do you generally let other folk dictate what you operate/not-operate as a matter of course in cycling hardware choice?

Having "owned an orange 1976 Raleigh International since new" you might well have an opinion on it's suitability for day to day operation by now, or should. It rarely takes more than a single decade of use to make this decision for most of us and what one is "told" would be ignored due to actual experience w/ the machine and it's capabilities.

As far as a preference for any drivetrain of choice the International that you already own is remarkably adaptable.
Note the pics of modified machines provided: a Suntour device or three will fit quite nicely if that is desired or pretty much anything else of the period and mods well beyond it.

Ride what you have modified as you please "daily" use or peruse c-list for endless overpriced junk that doesn't fit.

Full disclosure: I ride my '74 International modified for town bike use more often than any other bike: 42 years of continuous service in a variety of roles and still going.....

-Bandera