Ibex for me.
I always notice the Ibex on my friends kit.
I still own several pieces, and I'll wear them till thread bare.
By
An addendum for Simplex retro-friction downtube shifters.
I purchased a pair for my sunny day fixed gear a couple years ago.
They are always set on the biggest gear position.
I loved their aesthetics and perfect functionality.

Schwinn, Raleigh, Torrington Co., and Sturmey Archer for me.

Schwinn was never a big deal for me until I got my 1988 Project KOM-10 mountain bike. (My first bicycle was a very heavy Schwinn American with paperboy handlebars and a two-speed Bendix coaster brake hub controlled by what resembled a brake lever.)

I have always had a "thing" for Bianchi, maybe because my first road bike was a cheapo Bianchi (possibly a re-branded Chiorda), and because my fastest road bike is my Campione d' Italia. Looks great, really fun to ride. I lusted after the Specialissimas as a teenager.

Also Capo (Viennese bicycles, not Capo Forma clothing, although I do have their water bottles and a jersey), because the marque is relatively rare (they were overshadowed by the much larger Daimler-Steyr-Puch behemoth of Graz), and because the lugwork on 1960s specimens is unique.

I also endorse and use SunTour derailleurs, simply because they work so well.

Serotta, because I watched Ben making frames in the loft of "The Bikeshop" as a kid and his mom was my art teacher and I nearly lived in his parents Farmers Hardware & JH Mabbet Co. stores when they owned them (and still eat off plates bought there) right up until it was sold to my good friends parents. Bunch of other funny small town Serotta recollections, like local Police breaking a donated Serotta MTN bike in half while practicing going down stairs! One day I would like to find an early Saratoga built Serotta in my size.

Guerciotti for me. My first "real" road bike was a Guerciotti that I purchased in '83. I own two now and sold off 3 frames when I moved and reduced my clutter. There's nothing really special about them, but they ride nice. A late '90s PRX that I have is probably the best riding bike I ever owned.

Gianni Motta, because my first Italian bike way back in 1982 was a Personal 2001 in Italian flag paint. Galli, because the components on the Motta were black anodized Galli KL Aero - the shop I bought it from claimed the brakes and shifting were better than Super Record. I wasn’t fast when I was racing back then but I sure looked good. Sugino 75 componentry, because it’s still as odd and cool as it was when introduced in 1985. And Learco Guerra, because he was a distant cousin of my grandfather.

Never had one, but ... Eisentraut.

A dark blue Fuji Royale was my first decent road bike. About 5 years ago, I found a S12-S LTD and painted it in the spirit of my old bike.

Miyata, because I've had mine for over 40 years and I don't see them very often.

I'm not sure I've ever seen one in person, but after I learned about Mercian, I thought I might get one some day. I really liked the idea of having a bike built in the same shop where they have been doing it for years, using the old ways. My wife said I could order one, as long as we arranged to pick it up in person.

FW Evans. Like the Mercian, they were built in one shop and sold in their store. The company also has an interesting history. They were never officially exported, to it's rare to see them in the US.

Dick Power?

Fwiw, Ibex did get reconstituted: https://ibex.com/

They seem to be slowly reproducing many of the items they carried in the previous iteration.

Not so much a brand as a product line: Descente cycling jerseys. Those things used to be ubiquitous!

Descente is still around, but they seem to only make ski wear now.

I've never made any secret of being a Suntour homer.

The bikes I have that are in rideable condition all feature frames about which I was nostalgic, i.e. that I lusted after as a teenager but couldn't afford then.

I am nostalgic for Clement Criterium Seta tubular tires. Simply the best, and priced like it - they cost about as much as s decent radial car tire, back when bias-ply tires were still available and radials were decidedly high zoot. I am mildly nostalgic for the Bob Jackson I bought as my first big purchase from my first job out of high school. Bought the frame in 1974 or 1975 and built it up with the proverbial dog's breakfast of parts a teenager could afford or scrounge. It was stolen out of my garage c.1992. In both cases, I am not nostalgic enough to do anything about sourcing them.

Parts ...Sturmey Archer, Fichtel & Sachs, Suntour, Syncros

Lejeune, the most out-of-reach bike at the LBS for this drooling 13yo. I still get a tingly feeling when I see the name.

I’m partial to Waterfords.

This would be a very long list…
Most things more nostalgia for the times, the races and rides those brands represent than the products themselves.
Barum tubulars
Clement Strada 66, Criterium (red/yellow/green label) and Tipo 10 tubulars
Vitus Carbone 3 and 9 frames - nostalgia for the difference I thought they would have made. They wouldn’t have.
Mavic 850/851/SSC components and SSC rims
Adidas Eddy Merckx shoes
Benotto textured plastic handlebar tape
Cinelli 65-44 Criteriums
c. 1973 mint green Schwinn Paramount with Nuovo Record - nostalgia for missed opportunities
Delta brakes five-pivot
Concorde Gavina SL in PDM Team colours
Suntour Superbe Pro Accushift
Binda Extras
Vittore Ganna Ceramiche Ariostea team wool jersey

Glider for me, as in Eaton's Glider. Re-badged Raleigh 3 speed for one of the store chains here.
Still haven't found one that isn't a rust bucket, but it will happen one of these days.

-D.S.

Pink Lotus Supreme. Stared at me every time I rode the long jaunt to Brands bicycles.

1988 Cannondale graphics. Color block 'sponge' graphics, painted Nitto stems, Black Lightning, the Crest Team.

Zeus, my first good bike.

My departed buddy Matt managed the pro shop at Brands for a while in that era after being raised in the shadow of Kissena Cycles. He wasn't easily managed and eventually he bought Vito's in Westbury and renamed it Dr. Matt's Bicycle Emporium.

Zullo. Bill Lewis distributed them out of Austin in the early 80's, so there were a lot of them kicking around the area.

Just last night I was poking around the internet, and Tiziano has retired and his family shop shut down!
https://biciclista.us/collections/zullo-bikes


2011 NAHBS

I owned two. The first was a 1984 Personal in Italian colors and the second was an impulse buy…1978 Personal in Champagne color.

I owned a Rainbow model. For some reason, the frame kept cracking and had to be repaired twice. The third time, Albert sent me one of his cheaper frames as a replacement and I sold it.

Kestrel. Bought our first from Daves Bike Sport when he was in Bennett Valley in SR. 1985. Used to have 5 now down to 2.