redxj

I will be 30 this summer. I rode a bike as a kid and in college to get around. I really stopped riding after college until '04 when I got a new mountain bike and got back into riding. Eventually, I decided I had to have a road bike as well, but couldn't afford a new one. So I figured a vintage one would be cheap enough to try and I could do the work myself. I also wanted to build a fixed gear road conversion so finding vintage lugged steel was the way to go. Those first bike projects snowballed into buying every half way decent vintage road bike that I find for a reasonable price to fix up and flip. My personal bike collection is up to 12 with 7 of those being vintage lugged steel road or track bikes, but there are generally another 30+ bikes or frames/forks in the basement shop at all times. I am not saying I won't ad a new non-vintage road bike to my collection, but I don't see it happening any time soon with the prices they ask for them.

High Fist Shin

I'm 38 and I like the vintage stuff for it's elegance and simplicity. Don't get me wrong, I love the modern stuff too but vintage allows me to tinker, learn and make mistakes that aren't too costly.

I have an insatiable hunger for knowledge and I need to work with my hands after 8 hours a day in front of a computer screen in a large corporate office. Vintage bikes feed my need and there is so much to learn.

I also like having vintage bikes around for the quick trip around town. No need to don the spandex or the clipless. Just hop on and go; enjoying the freedom of the road.

Saintly Loser

I'm 48.

I started being aware of, and fascinated by, older bikes fairly recently, when I was trying to buy a bike for serious riding. I was looking for a form of exercise that wasn't deadly boring, and that would be easy on the knees (I had a knee replacement a few years back). I had done quite a bit of riding up until I started to have really bad knee problems (the cause had nothing to do with cycling), so biking seemed like the way to go.

I couldn't find a bike that fit. I'm fairly tall, and it seems that all the bikes out there today have those god-awful sloping top tubes, and that every LBS and every bike manufacter wanted to put me on a frame that was too small for me. I'd go in, check out a bike, discover that it was too small, and the salesperson would say "no problem! We'll just put a taller seatpost on, and a longer stem, and you're good to go!"

I knew this was just plain wrong. I'd had decent bikes in the past, that fit me fine. In high school, I rode a Raleigh Grand Prix (25" frame). Later, at some point in the eighties, I had a really nice Schwinn Tempo that fit me just fine.

So off to e-bay it was. I found a lovely '74 Raleigh Super course in the largest frame size (25 1/2", I think). It fits just right. I'm not a purist -- I swapped out the crank for a new Sugino triple, and the wheels are 700C, with Shimano hubs and freewheels, but I really think the older bikes suit me better. And the lower cost was a big plus.

MajorA

50, as of ten days ago.

I've heard it said that, as we age, we tend to collect the things which we couldn't afford when we were younger. When I was 13, I got my first "real" road bike, a Raleigh Super Course with straight gauge 531, Huret derailleurs, and 27x1-1/4 tires on Weinmann rims laced to Normandy hubs. I rode that bike like fury for two years, when it got stolen. By then, the gods had sorted me into the "tight ends and rugby forwards" pile instead of the "elite road racer" pile, and that was that ... but I still had this little piece of me which lusted after 531 double-butted frames, sew-up tires, and anything with "Campagnolo" on it.

My buddies and I used to salivate over all of the exotic stuff which the pros rode, and dream of the day when we, too, could afford to spent $500 - FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS! - on a bike, because that's what a top of the line production bike, all Nuovo Record, went for back then.

A couple of months ago, I snagged a Scapin, Columbus frame, CInelli bars (another brand which we lusted after back in the day ....) Campy derailleurs, tubulars, and so on, for a bit over $300 including shipping. It is red, so of course it is very, very fast. Or at least it FEELS fast when I'm on it, and that's what matters. It joins three 531 bikes, one all-Campy, one all-Dura Ace, as well as others.

I am in heaven - and yes, at 50 years old and with a broken down linebacker's body, it's the ILLUSION of heaven, but I know that - but as habits go it's very cheap and very healthy.

sekaijin

I'm 39. My first bikes were red 60s & 70s Schwinn kids' bikes (weren't all kids' bikes red Schwinns at the time?), including a cruiser that we converted into a Stingray.

In the early 80s I got a pearl-gray lugged steel Peugeot with orange decals that I rode through high school, college and grad school. No idea what model it was, and I never so much as lubed the chain. After grad school I moved and abandoned it in the basement of my old apartment.

To answer the later part of your question, I initially got into C&V figuring I'd save money and learn bike wrenching on a used throwaway bike. I rescued an old bike to restore, and got lucky with a great find. Since then I've gotten more into the esthetic and history/trivia aspects of C&V bikes.

Now I like going on group rides and having a cool bike without having to compete with the guys who like to show off their cycling cred by seeing who can spend the most money on their modern bikes and gear.

Warren128

My story is very similar to MajorA's.

I turned 50 about 2 weeks ago.

In 1974, I begged and hounded my dad until he finally relented and bought me a Raleigh Supercourse. Prior to that, I had a Sears (made by Puch), carbon steel frame, etc. My Supercourse was similar to MajorA's except that mine had Simplex derailleurs and it cost my dad about $160. We were not very well off, so I learned to wrench by necessity. My friends and I soon began to upgrade our bikes and I eventually replaced the 27x1 1/4 wheelset on my Supercourse with a custom built Campy Nuovo Tipo (Grand Sport) high flange hubset with Mavic sew-up rims. Fortunately, the long reach Weinmann centerpulls were able to accomodate the 700c rims on what was essentially a touring frame geometry. I also replaced the cottered cranks with a Sugino Mighty Competition crankset. The tubulars transformed my Supercourse into a relatively lively machine. I also rescued a backyard find Mercier and spruced that one up with some nice components too (Weinmann Carrera Sidepulls and Stronglight 93 crankset).

I was never able to afford a top-end racer until the late-90s when I found a 1984 Raleigh Team Replica (full Campy Super Record group) on Ebay. I currently ride that, and also a 80's Nishiki Tri-A w/Shimano 600EX group. I am currently ressurecting a Nishiki Competition (?) that a friend gave to me.

--Warren

redneckwes

I'm 30,
I rode a lot when I was younger, bike-a-thons ect, won my first two 10-speeds that way. Got out, got fat (Real fat), then started riding again in '06. I'm interested in History, I'm also usualy rebuilding something, any given weekend will see vintage car/truck/tractor/machine tool/woodworking equipment parts scattered about, so old bikes are a natural fit for me. Returning to college has limited my heavy iron budget, making bikes look better and better as a "Cheap" hobby, har har har....

I've lost about 75lbs, gained a basement full of vintage steel, and spent more than I ever intended on bicycles.

Scooper

65.

My dad worked for Schwinn for thirty years, and my first bike was a 1955 Schwinn World "lightweight". As a teenager, I rode Dad's track Paramount in local Amateur Bicycle League of America track events in North Florida.

As an adult, I've always had bicycles and believe riding is a great way to stay trim and fit.

My first bike:

lotek 

55 decimal
37 hex
67 octal
(does this remind you of the old joke about 2 types of people and binary?)

anyhow, programming aside,
Started getting into bikes in a semiserious way back in 1971 when my best friend at school
got a Falcon San Remo, something about that bike really hooked me. I've always liked tinkering
and I always learn something new here.
Most modern bikes just don't 'do it' for me, I guess I'm still chasing bikes I wanted either
in college or shortly after (thus the 25+ year search for a Zieleman). There is a look, or feel
or aesthetic that modern bikes just don't have for me.

Marty

pastorbobnlnh 

I feel honored and humbled to follow Stan and Marty!

50 in 6 more days. Whoo Hoo!

Vintage bikes are like a good dog. They are loyal and rarely ever bite back, and when they do it is for a good reason, such as to tell that you forgot to tighten something. Also, they never complain about the hymns I select for Sunday services.

mrrabbit 

39

Cause I have a Zeus...

I like to share...

and let people stare...

=8-)

dck

60 yrs old.

My first derailleur equipped bike was a '61 Schwinn Varsity.

cyclotoine

27 in 5 days.

Here because I found a bianchi at a scrap metal drop off.... wanted to know more about it. That was close to 4 years ago. I took about a 1 year hiatus and now I`m back. Started off with an affordable commuter then an affordable road bike... then I just got addicted to vintage steel and campagnolo.

Now I have a super record bike, a nuovo record bike, a modern component on lugged steel bike, a touring-commuting bike, a track bike, and a fixed gear... all lugged steel.

My first real bike was a BMX from sears.... obviously.

nick burns

42. I hang out here because I love road bikes built in the 70's and 80's. They just have an elegance that I don't see in more modern bicycles. Plus I'm a collector of Puch bicycles and pretty much the only place to find people who share that interest is here.

huerro

That about sums it up perfectly for me as well, just subtract a year.

steelbikeguy

48 yrs old.

Started building wheels when I was in 9th grade, and just loved 10 speed bikes! I've been a bit slow to adopt new technology, since I was pretty happy once I upgraded to 6 speed freewheels.

It was 1997 when I bought a 1982 Olmo Competition with full Campy Nuovo Record parts. The parts were heavily pantographed, and the cranks had the "Mexico" treatment (milled and lightened). It was my first full Campy bike, and lots of fun. Now I've got 7 bikes and they are all steel. Of these, 5 are vintage bikes. The other two are custom bikes from local builders.

Steve K.

badger_biker 

53
Loved bikes and the freedom they gave me since my first 3 spd as a kid. Bought my first "road" bike in college and took a 200 mile tour that summer. I managed a bike shop in 1984 at the end of the real Japanese and touring bike era and have had a soft spot for 1970 - early 1990 bikes ever since.

I was never into racing so I don't know much about the higher class stuff on the forum. I'm mostly interested in seeing good solid steel bikes stay on the road in one form or another. I lean toward touring and utility bikes that are modified/updated to provide more benefit to the rider, but appreciate anything in pristine shape also.

BobHufford

Recently turned 48. Went through the usual cycle of Sting-Rays, 3-Speeds, and then my first road bike was a brand spankin' new '73 Schwinn Super Sport in Opaque Blue (thanks Dad). First really nice road bike was a brand spankin' new '75 Peugeot PX-10 (thanks me). Road regularly up until about 1985 when I moved way out into the boonies (and didn't get into mountain bikes). Moved back to town, had an '85 Schwinn Super Sport but didn't ride it that much as I was surrounded by kids, college and career at that point. Bikes faded away until I stumbled across an old Schwinn Sting-Ray at a old car swap meet in the mid-'90s and the cycle started over again (this time I've included mountain bikes in the mix). I like the old steel as it is attractive to me, easy to operate and work on, and typically a bargain for what you get. I like my motor vehicles old as well ...

Bob

Tom Stormcrowe

48 myself.

int19

I'm 27 decimal earth years.

Vintage bike design seems to be just as functional for my purposes (mostly daily transportation, some recreational) and far more beautiful to my eyes. I like the feeling I get walking over to one of my bikes before hopping on and smiling because it looks nice, even though I've looked at and used it nearly daily for the past few years. I like how steel frames, alloy components and leather age so gracefully when properly maintained.

jgedwa

I am 38. Bikes were a part of my life in some small or large way from childhood to around college age. Then they disappeared, and then came back to me a couple of years ago.

I like bikes generally for fun and utility (more and more, as time goes on in fact) and health and as a silly distraction. I like older bikes because I am cheap, and because they are easier to tinker with, and because they are sooper cool.

jim

StephenH

I'm 47. I read through here and post on occasion, but don't actually ride a "vintage" bike as such. At the moment, I've got a Worksman Industrial Cruiser that I ride, and almost have my Arpan Low Gravity bike ready to go. Both are vintage style, but are new bicycles.

-holiday76

Holy crap! 46 replies to my thread. I'm not used to having more than 3.
Good stuff!

Keep it coming.

Ex Pres 

My "racing age" is 50 , but I'm not quite there yet (Don't race yet, either). Had bikes as a kid, including a Schwinn Apple Krate, and my first ten speed was a '71-'72 Gitane Interclub. I really wanted the TdF, but just couldn't do it on my lawn mowing money. Now I have one, NR equipped, and have traded in and out of several other vintage bikes. Love tinkering. I was the kid that polished all of his components even back then. Painted a few, both rattlecan and gun. Next up on the block is an '83 Trek 600.

Here for great info and as a bike voyeur.

sonatageek

I am 44 and my first 'real' bikes were a crappy 3 speed and 10 speed from a department store bike that I got one Christmas because the department store where they came from was going out of business. That was a happy Christmas. My parents got both bikes for a total of $70.00. I used the 3 speed on my paper route, well for a few weeks, until one of my customers backed their car over it while I was collecting. Had the 10 speed long enough that the rims looked like rusted brillo pads. Now the bike that I really wanted was a Schwinn Varsity, which was financially just out of reach. I didn't even aspire to anything that cost more than that.

Fast forward to adult times and back in 1992 I wanted to start riding again and I bought a Bridgestone XO-2 that I still have. Great bike. Still have it and sometime this year it will get a complete tear down and rebuild.

About 18 months ago I decided I wanted a drop bar bike and started searching, learning, buying and selling. Since then, due to the low cost and relative simplicity of the mechanics I have been buying, rehabilitating and selling a succession of bikes. I love how they look, how they ride and how affordable they are as a hobby. Of course I now have over 25 bikes....and I keep looking for more.