Classic and Vintage bikes that didn’t wow
10-12-19, 10:06 AM
#126
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 12,361
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 276 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3426 Post(s)
Liked 3,420 Times
in
1,673 Posts
Originally Posted by thinktubes
Wondering if others use the same seat/bar/pedals across all their bikes? Since these are the points of contact, it would provide a constant and eliminate some variables when evaluating a bike. I do this with all my bikes.
When I was still learning about fit, I almost got rid of what became one of my favorite bikes because I hadn't found a seat/bar combo that worked for me. It took me several years to get things figured out (pre-internet) and I even tried to sell the bike at one point.
When I was still learning about fit, I almost got rid of what became one of my favorite bikes because I hadn't found a seat/bar combo that worked for me. It took me several years to get things figured out (pre-internet) and I even tried to sell the bike at one point.
Not sure if much is the same on any of them. For me that's the point - within the range of comfort.
Are you saying.....
I can't be objective???
Well......I object.
10-12-19, 12:24 PM
#127
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 231
Bikes: 48 Alleluia, 52 Blondin, 57 Cattaneo, 68&72 CNC, 55 Dujay, 46 Herse, 76 Singer, 48 LeGreves, 55 Metropole, 62 Holdsworth Cyclone, 49 Carpenter, 55 Condor, 49 Gillott, 78 R Sachs, 65 Masi Special, 81 Sequoia, 76 Eisentraut, 72 Proteus, 60 Paramount
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 119 Times
in
49 Posts
This is so much a matter of personal preference, and I find that lighter frames work best for me. So Italian frames earlier than roughly the late 1960s have generally disappointed me. Even high-end frames feel overly stiff to me. I'm sure they work great for other riders. The only British frame that disappointed me was a 1953 Hetchins Magnum Bonum, curly stays, full chrome. This was a bike I lusted after and searched for, so maybe it was a case of overly high expectations. In reality, the frame was heavier, and the workmanship less inspiring, than I had expected. I still think the over-the-top lugs are great, but overall this bike was not as nice for me as several other British lightweights of this time period, especially Carpenter, Gillott, Baines and others. Still, Hetchins are unique and quite special, so I understand the following they have. So far I have been careful and lucky with my choice of French bikes from the 40s to the 70s, and haven't had any disappointments. Well, that's not including my late 1960s bike-boom French 15-speed with steel rims and Svelto derailleurs. But at 16 years old, I didn't know enough to be disappointed with this clunker.
10-12-19, 01:01 PM
#128
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,150
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 413 Times
in
280 Posts
Originally Posted by crank_addict
Well, in that regards the new Flying Pigeon 75 watt E bike stinks like leaking sulfuric acid.
Quote: Bicycleen Oct. 2019
Quote: Bicycleen Oct. 2019
10-12-19, 01:43 PM
#129
Senior Member
When I started biking 3 years ago, it was not a classic, but an alum frame bike with full Sora comps. It was ok but didn't like much because of of maybe 700x23 tires.
In the beginning of 2018 I got my Tri-A from Craigslist and tried the downtube shifters. Not wow there, and went ahead and build it with a full 105.
Shifting got greatly improved and ride is really nice with a 700x25 tires. - Wow
Around April I got a cheap Sekai GT2700 for my commuter bike. I got a nice Ultegra groupset really cheap and rebuilt it, but it was heavy and didn't like the breaking at all. - meeh
On 2019 I got the ProTour 15 with flat bars when I got it and decided to move all 105 to it. It is not light - 24 lbs with fenders and rear rack, but rides great with 700x28 tires on it. - wow.
For the Tri-A, I moved the Ultegra group and built a wheelset with 20 and 24 spokes - couldn't fit a 700x28, so is running on 700x25. My first under 20lbs bike, but I don't like the bar tape on it currently
- Wow
The Sekai I parted ways this Summer.
Then I got an Ironman Master with Shimano 600 and I rode some and is really like it - Wow, but after couple rides, the downtube shifter thing is not for me.... so is just getting dust for now after experimenting with some short crank arms.
Next year, thinking on either getting a modern groupset for it, or move the Ultegra from Tri-A there.
So lots of fun and learning and that is a Wow
Wow wow,
In the beginning of 2018 I got my Tri-A from Craigslist and tried the downtube shifters. Not wow there, and went ahead and build it with a full 105.
Shifting got greatly improved and ride is really nice with a 700x25 tires. - Wow
Around April I got a cheap Sekai GT2700 for my commuter bike. I got a nice Ultegra groupset really cheap and rebuilt it, but it was heavy and didn't like the breaking at all. - meeh
On 2019 I got the ProTour 15 with flat bars when I got it and decided to move all 105 to it. It is not light - 24 lbs with fenders and rear rack, but rides great with 700x28 tires on it. - wow.
For the Tri-A, I moved the Ultegra group and built a wheelset with 20 and 24 spokes - couldn't fit a 700x28, so is running on 700x25. My first under 20lbs bike, but I don't like the bar tape on it currently
- WowThe Sekai I parted ways this Summer.
Then I got an Ironman Master with Shimano 600 and I rode some and is really like it - Wow, but after couple rides, the downtube shifter thing is not for me.... so is just getting dust for now after experimenting with some short crank arms.
Next year, thinking on either getting a modern groupset for it, or move the Ultegra from Tri-A there.
So lots of fun and learning and that is a Wow
Wow wow,
10-12-19, 07:43 PM
#130
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 269
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 51 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 34 Times
in
14 Posts
Most of my bikes are disappointing in a head wind, but magical in a strong tailwind. When Im trying to decide if Im going to sell a bike, I'll do a 10 mile ride in a head wind. Makes it much easier to let it go!
Likes For abellanti:
10-12-19, 11:16 PM
#131
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,316
Bikes: 1989 Schwinn Paramount OS - 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1985 Schwinn Voyageur SP - 1989 Cannondale SR - 2006 Orbea Onix - 2012 Specialized Tricross
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1418 Post(s)
Liked 1,550 Times
in
788 Posts
Originally Posted by abellanti
Most of my bikes are disappointing in a head wind, but magical in a strong tailwind. When Im trying to decide if Im going to sell a bike, I'll do a 10 mile ride in a head wind. Makes it much easier to let it go!
Likes For RiddleOfSteel:
10-14-19, 07:39 AM
#132
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,383
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 477 Post(s)
Liked 427 Times
in
313 Posts
Thinking about this thread for a few days the only C&V that consistently under wowed me are black. I currently have three and they are fine machines, a custom, 979 and a smoked black Tommasini and I ride them but don't really like the black, I tolerate it, any other color is preferred.
11-03-19, 04:07 PM
#133
Newbie
I got a good deal on an Oschner SL frame back in the 1990s via GVH Bikes ... it just road terribly. Sold it soon thereafter.
