Time...
#1
Thread Starter
Must be symmetrical
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 480
Likes: 351
From: Germany
Bikes: ... but look, they're all totally different!
Time...
So my 13 y old can ride my bikes now (i am 46). I ride 60-65cm road bikes, 55-59cm mountain bikes from the 90s.
I recently purchased a 60.5cm Albuch Kotter city bike and have been tinkering on it in full view of the kids, and using his acrylic pens for touch up. He is artistically endowed, I have supplied him with a full set of paints, and so he has the supplies I need.
So today, he said he wanted to ride it. i lowered the saddle a cm, and off he went. No worries on fit, for sure.
Maybe my 65cm french fit bikes are a bit tall, but he can ride everything I own, with practice.
oh man, time does its thing.
I recently purchased a 60.5cm Albuch Kotter city bike and have been tinkering on it in full view of the kids, and using his acrylic pens for touch up. He is artistically endowed, I have supplied him with a full set of paints, and so he has the supplies I need.
So today, he said he wanted to ride it. i lowered the saddle a cm, and off he went. No worries on fit, for sure.
Maybe my 65cm french fit bikes are a bit tall, but he can ride everything I own, with practice.
oh man, time does its thing.
#2
I’m not getting rid of any bikes for this very reason
I have two boys that already enjoy cycling on their little bmx bikes, I’m sure they’ll enjoy riding around on daddy’s bikes one day
I’d give anything to have one of my own father’s bikes from back in the day
I have two boys that already enjoy cycling on their little bmx bikes, I’m sure they’ll enjoy riding around on daddy’s bikes one day
I’d give anything to have one of my own father’s bikes from back in the day
#3
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,474
Likes: 4,878
From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
This is nothing but a good thing,
of course before long the tyke will be faster than you.......
of course before long the tyke will be faster than you.......
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
#4
Thread Starter
Must be symmetrical
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 480
Likes: 351
From: Germany
Bikes: ... but look, they're all totally different!
My folks weren't cyclists, but chance made me one. Now my kids are. The youngest has real skills that i never developed.
I'm happy my eldest thinks 80s and 90s splater paint and neon is really cool, and that he likes the 90s mountain bikes I build him for his "new" bikes.
But it seems he is graduating to the road stuff now ...
I'm happy my eldest thinks 80s and 90s splater paint and neon is really cool, and that he likes the 90s mountain bikes I build him for his "new" bikes.
But it seems he is graduating to the road stuff now ...
#5
Vintage Trek Black Hole



Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,386
Likes: 1,309
From: Portland, Cascadia
Bikes: 1976 Merz' Tourer, 1984 Strawberry, 1978 Trek 910, 1982 Trek 950, 1982 Trek 720, 1981 Trek 510
My grandfather had a Mercier 300 he handed down to me when I went to college. It was laughably small; I was nearly a foot taller than him. He was not a nice man, but I still would have cherished this "heirloom" had it fit me.
Here's hoping my kid gets to be over 6' so he can have my bikes. Definitely looking that way so far.
Here's hoping my kid gets to be over 6' so he can have my bikes. Definitely looking that way so far.
#6
Senior Member




Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,080
Likes: 9,438
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Me too but he didn't have any, he rode mine when he worked on them and helped make sure I had good ones when I was growing up.
#7
Thread Starter
Must be symmetrical
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 480
Likes: 351
From: Germany
Bikes: ... but look, they're all totally different!
My big hope is that I am transferring a bit of an appreciation of "normal" bikes to them--pre-compact frame size and geo, rim brakes, side pulls or cantis, non electric, rigid, steel (to the extent possible --most little kid's bikes are aluminum today, and i will admit the modern kid's bikes are better than their vintage vorbrearers). Sure, those are my things, maybe they won't be theirs. But if they feel confident adjusting a canti, then they are a few steps ahead in terms of mechanical self sufficiency.
#8
Senior Member



Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 8,830
Likes: 2,877
From: Elwood Indiana
Bikes: they change so much I'm tired of updating this
No one in my family, past and present, or friends like riding bikes. They all think I’m nuts and could care less about what’s out in my shop. I don’t think anyone has ever been out to my shop, I kinda like it that way.
__________________
Semper fi
Semper fi
#9
Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 168
Likes: 155
Several years ago, my son took over the “10 speed” bike I got back around 1980. I have lots of fond memories on that bike over the years. Hardly anything is original except the headset and front and rear derailleurs (which are workhorse Suntour Vx parts that really show their age). There are some Campy, Cinelli, Suntour Superbe, Shimano, and even Huret parts thrown in the mix! Its not light, but its rugged and functional.
When he first rode it, I had to slam the seat, but he was very excited to have it. By now he has grown into it and it’s about the right size.
He has gotten a lot of good use out of it during high school, and now he has his own memories from it I am sure.
Whatever price my dad paid for that bike, it was a bargain.
When he first rode it, I had to slam the seat, but he was very excited to have it. By now he has grown into it and it’s about the right size.
He has gotten a lot of good use out of it during high school, and now he has his own memories from it I am sure.
Whatever price my dad paid for that bike, it was a bargain.
#10
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,035
Likes: 2,116
From: NW Ohio
Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-1977 Univega Grand Rally, S LTD, 1973 Sears Free Spirit 531, 197? FW Evans
When my son was about 15, he asked if he could ride with me in an upcoming charity ride. At the time, he only had a mountain bike, so I told him he should have a road bike, since the ride was 150 miles over two days. He was nearly as tall as me, so I pointed to my 1989 Club Fuji and said "How about this one?" He tried to stay cool about it, but the grin on his face gave away how thrilled he was. Early on, he crashed while reaching for the downtube levers, so he asked me to install a pair of STI levers. He did the charity ride, rode it through high school and took the bike to college (always stored indoors). He said he would always get complements on the bike from his friends when they would go riding together. He still rides it now, 15 years later. When he broke his collar bone a couple years ago, I gave him a trainer so he could ride it indoors while he was healing. I am trying to thin the herd, so I told him I would give him another bike that he could keep on the trainer full time. He thought that was a great idea. He lives in another state, so we haven't yet been able to coordinate the transfer.
#11
Senior Member




Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,367
Likes: 8,278
From: Seattle area
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
My children had numerous bikes growing up. Neglected cycling from about age 15. Now in their mid-30s both are riding occasionally on nice bikes. I predict (and hope) by age 40 they will be regulars at cycling instead of owning flying automobiles.
I know deep down they enjoy riding.

Who doesn't like a Seuss-mobile?
I know deep down they enjoy riding.

Who doesn't like a Seuss-mobile?
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Last edited by Wildwood; 05-19-25 at 09:10 AM.
#12
Thread Starter
Must be symmetrical
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 480
Likes: 351
From: Germany
Bikes: ... but look, they're all totally different!
After a day repairing 20 and 24 inch bikes for the little ones after a few crashes, i had some time to turn to the big bikes.
I realized that I got my first real bike, a Bridgestone RBT, around his age now, it made a huge impression. And a few years later, I got an Italian road bike... All down hill from there.
The RBT was stolen, but the Bianchi i have as a frameset still, easy to built it up. And I have a nice French frame that is a bit too small for me that is ready to go...so the big question -- introduce Jr to Italian or French frames first? (I think Italian will be cheaper for me...)
But I just didn't realize that he was already that big and ready for real bikes. If he were just a bit more careful...
I realized that I got my first real bike, a Bridgestone RBT, around his age now, it made a huge impression. And a few years later, I got an Italian road bike... All down hill from there.
The RBT was stolen, but the Bianchi i have as a frameset still, easy to built it up. And I have a nice French frame that is a bit too small for me that is ready to go...so the big question -- introduce Jr to Italian or French frames first? (I think Italian will be cheaper for me...)
But I just didn't realize that he was already that big and ready for real bikes. If he were just a bit more careful...




