30 years
 

Thirty years ago today, I took a test ride on a Motobecane Grand Touring. It was such a great riding bike, I had to buy it. And it seemed like a LOT of money to spend on a bike-- $250! Still, it was worth every penny to me.

30 years later, I still have my Motobecane, and it's still my first love. To celebrate our 30th anniversary, I brought home a companion-- a 1976 Motobecane Grand Touring mixte. Same color, gun metal grey. She's a year older, but they look so good together. I'll post pics when I can borrow a camera.

This is the year I begin the restoration, and transformation of the bike into a randonneur. Twin randonneurs, now, with the mixte. It's going to be a great project! :)


A nice memory on the first day of summer. Happy summer, everybody! :)

Great story to share when you can tell about the day you bought your bike and it was several decades in the past. Thanks for sharing and we look forward to the pictures. Best of luck on the restorations.

Great story :)

23 years ago, a co-worker of mine bought a Raleigh touring bike at a local bike shop. A month ago he went to the same bike shop for a new bike (Specialized Expedition) and sold the Raleigh to me. (Bike shop is still owned by the same family). Today the two bikes are parked side by side as we both commuted in on them today!

You know what? I still remember talking with the salesman about what kind of riding I wanted a bike for; I still remember him suggesting the Motobecane; I still remember getting fitted to the Grand Touring, and the salesman asking me if I liked that color, and taking it for a ride behind the bike shop-- I still remember how great it felt riding it. It was love at first ride.

You know what else? Before my Motobecane, I had a Raleigh Record. My father bought bikes for the family-- Gitanes for my father, mother, and sister, and a Raleigh for me. I still remember the bike shop, looking at the rows of new bikes, and strangely, I still remember the smell of the new bikes and their new tires...

That's a great story too! It sounds like his Raleigh went to the right person. Very cool.

25 years ago, I bought a Miyata. It was expensive, about $800 if I remember correctly.

That bike is still being used on a regular basis. We have so many memories from over the years...

Az

I bought this Schwinn 27 years ago to the date of taking this picture with gift money received at my wedding the month before. I can remember vividly the LBS, the showroom, even what the LBS owner looked like. I was about to head off to seminary. My first 10 speed had been stolen while I was in college. We only had one car, which my wife would need for work. The day I bought it I had wished I had enough money to buy a Le Tour or Voyager. The Traveler was and remains just an average road bike, but it has served me well and I can't say that we have many things left from the early days of our marriage, except this well used Schwinn.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...79Traveler.jpg

Damn, wish I still had my original old bike. I bought it in 1974 and road until the mid-90's when I got into an accident and the bike was damaged. Earlier this year I found a bike on eBay that was a much better model than my old one but same size, brand, period (it's a 1972), color, decals, etc so it looked just like it to the casual observer. It's what I would have bought back then if I weren't a kid with no money :) I still remember the LBS too - they had a main showroom for the "regular" bikes and a small room in the back for the high-end stuff with glass cases full of all sorts of way cool components. I had gone in intending to buy this red Raleigh for $140 or so. Then the salesman led me to the room in back and talked me into this beautiful blue Bottecchia with lots of flashy chrome for $175. You know it was probably fixable but I didn't know about C&V and eBay back then. It worked out for the best though cuz my current Bottecchia is a much nicer bike, even if it's not my original.