I have decided I want to get an older steel road bike. But I want to make it an adventure, one of those "look what I found at a garage sale for $30" types. Though, if I find a good steel bike, I would be more than willing to pay the market value.

The problem is that I don't know much about the older bikes and what is good and what is not. I have seen that people seem to really like the Schwinn Paramount, so that one will be on my list of bikes to look for at the garage sales. Anyone has recommendations for other bikes (Schwinn and other brands) that I should keep an eye out?

I want more of a sport/racing type than a tourer. Though a tourer might be good to make into my grocery/errand running bike.

This thread fits what you're looking for too...

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/326122-favorite-less-expensive-but-light-steel-bikes.html

Give older Raleighs a look too- they offered a number of nice bikes ranging from 3 Speed utility cycles to higher end road machines.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/index.html


I prefer the Sports and the DL1 machines, myself. But some people really like the higher end road bikes.

It's not too likely that you'll find a Paramount at a garage sale, but stranger things have happened! If you happen to find any tiny 19" Paramounts, please purchase and let me know, all right?

Nishiki, Schwinn, Miyata, Bridgestone, Raleigh are all good. Peugeots are nice too, but have esoteric bottom bracket threading that you may not want to essay quite yet.

Whatever you do, we will need photos, and plenty of them.



East Hill