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Your Least Favorite Bike You Have Owned

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Your Least Favorite Bike You Have Owned

Old 03-24-17, 08:45 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by corrado33
The first road bike I ever bought, a 58 cm Felt Z85. Two sizes too big for me. (Not classic, but now all of my bikes are MUCH older than it.)
I find this funny, because I have this exact bike and was just telling a friend of mine that I am considering selling it because it just doesn't inspire me to ride. ESPECIALLY now that I have a Torpado Super Strada that fits me like a glove!!
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Old 03-24-17, 08:47 PM
  #27  
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1. (Illegal to include in this list, per your rules)
1980s Sears Free Spirit
Fortunately, got stolen from my workplace.

2. 1974 Schwinn Varsity
Despite my aluminum rims, 6-speed freewheel, SunTour downtube shift coversion, and pie plate, chainring guard, and kickstand removal, it was still a slug.
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Old 03-24-17, 09:47 PM
  #28  
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Raleigh Competition, 1985 or 1986, Huffy era.
Santana Tandem, because the seatpost is stuck down inside the seat tube.
Never found a Giant I liked, road or mtb.
Bianchi Brava, made in Japan.
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Old 03-24-17, 09:57 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by oddjob2
Raleigh Competition, 1985 or 1986, Huffy era.
Santana Tandem, because the seatpost is stuck down inside the seat tube.
Never found a Giant I liked, road or mtb.
Bianchi Brava, made in Japan.
I had a post trapped in a tube once. Was able to run a piece of all thread down through it to the BB, slide a large washer on and fix a nut. Then put an oversized washer up top and another nut. Turning the top nut pulled the post up. Eventually I was able to yank on the all thread and get the post out.
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Old 03-24-17, 10:30 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by jamesdak
Well, I'd have to say it's this. It's never really "spoken" to me and sit's neglected as I take out any of my other many rides. Gonna devote a little time to taking it out again soon and if we still don't connect it's going up for sale.

I've got the same bike, same color. 560 Pro, right? 1986. I keep trying to sell it but my son won't let me. I've got quite a few bikes he won't be interested in, but this one he expects to inherit. I rode it a few months ago with him - just casual - and was surprised how much I liked it.

But for me, it was a Trek 790 MultiTrack with drop bars that I could never get comfortable on. Weird sizing, very long top tube, just strange. The components and wheels on mine were fine, and I made a real effort to make it work ergonomically, but never warmed up to it.
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Old 03-24-17, 10:53 PM
  #31  
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'74 Nishiki Competition. I thought this bike would be ideal for commuting and/or grocery getting. Nothing wrong with the ride. Fits fine. Gives a very smooth and stable feel. It's just that it has been supplanted by another more "sporty" bike in my fleet for its expected purpose. The Nishiki is more of a classic touring bike with a bike longer (sluggish) wheel base, and expected weight penalty. But more than anything, the Nishiki is equipped with Suntour bar-end shifters and half-step gearing. I know they both have their fans, but I don't like either. It's a handsome bike, (imho) and performs as it should. It's just not for me. I even went through the trouble of repainting it, but just don't ride it.




Last edited by gaucho777; 03-24-17 at 10:56 PM.
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Old 03-25-17, 06:12 AM
  #32  
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In the end, I wasn't all that impressed with the RB-T I owned. Granted, wasn't built for the type of riding I like. Just didn't put a smile on my face while riding like my keepers. Spent some time building the bike up and it turned out visually very nice. Really enjoyed the rubber too. But in the end it was moved down the line.

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Old 03-25-17, 07:09 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by toavii
In the end, I wasn't all that impressed with the RB-T I owned. Granted, wasn't built for the type of riding I like. Just didn't put a smile on my face while riding like my keepers. Spent some time building the bike up and it turned out visually very nice. Really enjoyed the rubber too. But in the end it was moved down the line.

Sure was a looker though.
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Old 03-25-17, 07:19 AM
  #34  
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For me it was this Trek 1400. I built this up during the winter with very high hopes. Fast bike but dull ride and after 10 miles of riding it, I was wishing the ride was over. It really hurt to ride it. Brutal bike. I sold it off.


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Old 03-25-17, 07:25 AM
  #35  
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2006 Giant TCR C2. My first and last experiment with carbon bikes. Felt like shaking a limp wrist, totally dead.
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Old 03-25-17, 08:23 AM
  #36  
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It must've been that damed Confente. What a dog! Sold it and bought something else.
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Old 03-25-17, 08:36 AM
  #37  
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Worst by far....

I came across this Russian machine a while back & it is unforgettable...
Look:




Has a crude 4 speed derailler & awful beige paint...
That's the positive side of it.

Obviously a 'Peoples Bike' & this one was abandoned in Hull where the Soviet Fishing fleet used to dock...
Not surprised he left it behind, after a night on the town I reckon: )

Wierdly this same company used to make track machines for the Russian Olympic Bike teams.....
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Old 03-25-17, 09:11 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by Bicyclz
I came across this Russian machine a while back & it is unforgettable...
Look:




Has a crude 4 speed derailler & awful beige paint...
That's the positive side of it.

Obviously a 'Peoples Bike' & this one was abandoned in Hull where the Soviet Fishing fleet used to dock...
Not surprised he left it behind, after a night on the town I reckon: )

Wierdly this same company used to make track machines for the Russian Olympic Bike teams.....
Not Russian, a product of the Ukrainian SSR. Specifically of the Kharkov Velocipyed Zavod.

If you still have this bicycle I'd be very very interested. I leave England next week for a european cycle tour but maybe we still make something work.
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Old 03-25-17, 09:16 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by rootboy
It must've been that damed Confente. What a dog! Sold it and bought something else.
How are you enjoying the Varsity? Is it all that you expected?
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Old 03-25-17, 09:23 AM
  #40  
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Varsity? meh. I bought a Huffy. :>
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Old 03-25-17, 09:25 AM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by gaucho777
'74 Nishiki Competition. I thought this bike would be ideal for commuting and/or grocery getting. Nothing wrong with the ride. Fits fine. Gives a very smooth and stable feel. It's just that it has been supplanted by another more "sporty" bike in my fleet for its expected purpose. The Nishiki is more of a classic touring bike with a bike longer (sluggish) wheel base, and expected weight penalty. But more than anything, the Nishiki is equipped with Suntour bar-end shifters and half-step gearing. I know they both have their fans, but I don't like either. It's a handsome bike, (imho) and performs as it should. It's just not for me. I even went through the trouble of repainting it, but just don't ride it.



just ship it to my house. i'll see if i can junk it for u.
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Old 03-25-17, 09:25 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by TimmyT
Peugeot Triathlon. I spent a lot of time making it look good. It was the last year of the Sachs Huret drive train and super virus tubing (lol. Super Vitus... autocorrect ftw!). It sucked, bad.
Pretty much any low to mid range power climber POS MTB is going to suck worse than any road bike and then some. So the Pug is just middling at best on the suck scale. Of road bikes I have owned the worst was a 80's Lotus 3000 looked like a good bike but even rebuilt with some upgraded parts it was a soft noodle that felt like you were going backwards if you peddled hard. It was bad enough that I scrapped it at the bike coop rather than sell or give it away.

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Old 03-25-17, 10:05 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by Cute Boy Horse
Not Russian, a product of the Ukrainian SSR. Specifically of the Kharkov Velocipyed Zavod.

If you still have this bicycle I'd be very very interested. I leave England next week for a european cycle tour but maybe we still make something work.
You absolutely correct Sir! I should have said USSR instead of Russia, my mistake, but I know the name is correct.
Unfortunately/fortunately I am no longer in possession of it.
How cool if I was?: )
You could have had it gratis.
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Old 03-25-17, 10:10 AM
  #44  
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Cannondale R-900. It was a lightning-fast and soulless machine that I quickly dubbed "The Terminator." I imagine many would hold onto this bike forever, but it gave me very little enjoyment. I kept it less than two months.


[EDIT] I chose not to include the Godzilla Takara here, because that one's just too obvious.
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Old 03-25-17, 10:33 AM
  #45  
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The Schwinn Varsity I had freshman/sophomore years of high school (1977/1978) I hated that green tank. That said, I'd kinda like to have one in my size now and if I see a clean one in my size for cheap in local craigslist I'll snap it up "just cuz".
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Old 03-25-17, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Bicyclz
You absolutely correct Sir! I should have said USSR instead of Russia, my mistake, but I know the name is correct.
Unfortunately/fortunately I am no longer in possession of it.
How cool if I was?: )
You could have had it gratis.
I would've bit your hand off, it's no Chempion-Shosse but it's a start. Did it find a good home?
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Old 03-25-17, 12:43 PM
  #47  
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Early generation Giant compact geometry TCR, -- cool ONCE team edition paint scheme

the bikes came sized , S, M, L, XL --- which is common now, but in late 90's wasn't quite as widespread --- I normally ride a 53, so I picked a medium, -- it felt right at the shop, -- but after a few long rides, was uncomfortable --

Never could put my finger on why either -- I tried my best to duplicate the measurements from my old steel bike with different stems and things

I sold the bike after a while and never missed it


This is not the exact bike , but one very similar

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Old 03-25-17, 12:47 PM
  #48  
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For me it was a vintage Colnago Cross bike. It was light, fast and nimble. The Mafac cantilevers stopped it well, but if a bike could be cursed, this one was. I enjoyed it for a few months, then had a near death encounter with a clueless woman driver. After several more incidents spread over 1 Summer, I pretty much quit riding the bike but hung on to it for years. Every so often I would take it out for a spin, but inevitably, another close call would put it back on the hook.

Eventually, I donated it to my local co-op. Don
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Old 03-25-17, 01:11 PM
  #49  
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A 1970 vintage Sears 10 speed that I rode to High School in downtown Atlanta. What a freakin boat anchor. I think it was made out of cast iron scrap metal. So heavy that when the planet explodes it will be floating around out in space forever. Just a pure evil hell bike.
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Old 03-25-17, 01:24 PM
  #50  
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A pristine Trek 1100. It cost me $35 and the tires were flat, so I couldn't test ride it. When I had it ready to ride, it was an ass beater and way too twitchy for me. I sold it for 5x what I paid and the buyer loved it. Go figure.
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