Other forums have this. I figure let's give it a go and see if it sticks. I'll begin:

QUESTION OF THE DAY - April 2, 2008

What is the best "starter bike" for a CV collection?

Raleigh Super Course from the late 70s.
Relatively accessible, Carlton built, 531 tubing, Suntour equipped, excellent ride-to-value

One you like and can afford.

Starting with something that has a steel frame is a good way to go. ChroMo and better types of tubing typically make for good riding vintage bikes (and new ones as well). This page helps to sort out what is what regarding steel.

Cinelli Super Corsa

I'd start with something a bit more modest. If I had to start from scratch, and was on a budget, I'd get a Raleigh Grand Prix. With $500.00 to spend - a PX10 that needs a bit of attention, or a nice, but lesser known bicycle.

Correct. End of thread.

Japanese steel: easy to find, not incredible valueable to a collector, standard english threading, and decent to really nice tubing and parts spec depending on what you find.

I tried searching for "one I like and can afford" in SF Bay Craigslist and only got the ones under Casual Encounters.

And to make it interesting, a 1950s era Cinelli. Nothing like jumping in head first.

Hmmmm.....I thought the pros were supposed to be blocked!

For a rider: Japanese steel (or Japanese made for American company such as Schwinn)

For a rider with (some) collector value: Mid to late 70's mid-range Raleigh.

For a rider on a nice budget: Upper end Raleigh, Schwinn, Nishiki, or Italian maker depending on tastes.

A basic bike boom era 10-speed is a good way to start, but if you have no specialized tools and little mechanical experience, there is nothing like an old Varsinental or Super Sport. To minimize hassles with incompatible threads or diameters, consider Japanese or English, rather than French.

Of course, if you can find a ca. 1960 Capo, that's not bad, either.

Can add Miyata and Trek to that list.

QUESTION OF THE DAY - April 3, 2008

What's the one you wish you had back?

A 90 GT MTB I worked 3 summers picking berries for that my 1/2 brother sold for who knows what.

I was visiting my dad in San Diego for the summer and had my bike shipped there so I could ride it around. When I came home (Washington State) for school my half brother (who I didn't know) took my bike and sold it. I still dislike him to this day for that and he has never apologized or made any effort to pay me back. 3 summers of hard labor! *******!

The bike that calls out to you from a dumpster.

Personally, it would have to be Italian. I first started with a locally recognised brand but I just didn't appreciate its worth. Not until I got my first Italian bike did I really start to appreciate what I had.

We have a winner!

Whatever the next bike in the dumpster is. I hope it's Raleigh green.

People^^^^^^ It's a new day with a new question!

What is the bike you used to have.... and wish you still had?

That would be the Peugeot that I left behind in a move. It got me through high school, college and grad school. Then I moved downtown, and left it locked to a radiator pipe in the basement of my uptown building.

I don't even know what kind of Peugeot it was. I certainly never did a thing to maintain it. In about 15 years of faithful service on city streets it never got a flat, and I never once even lubed the chain. What I remember is it was metallic gray with orange decals, it was as good as brakeless in the rain, and it cost about $240 new around 1982.

I had a Boss beach cruiser that I made into a serviceable MTB, half a lifetime ago on Block Island. It got stolen from under the deck of a bar in Rhode Island. I still miss that beastie.

uh. what wuz the question again?

The best bicycle I ever sold was a 1990 Bob Jackson, but it was a little too small for me, and I don't really regret selling it. If I could have one back, it would be the Raleigh Super Course that was stolen from me when I locked it to a bicycle I correctly presumed was stolen from my Uncle's bicycle shop, and came back 5 minutes later to find both the bikes gone. The worst pain was knowing who took it, but not having proof. In retrospect, I probably should have fibbed to the cops and said I saw the guy who I know took it riding it down the street when I came back. The price of being honest.

not a one.
i've owned dozens of road bikes over the years- most were well-regarded, some were unique or rare, a few even revered,
...and i kept the very best one.

i've since picked up a few others to satisfy my curiosity,& my nostalgic fantasies,...a couple are intended for plebian practicalities & some just to broaden my own cycling experiences.

I plan to keep the best of those....
...but i've absolutely no interest in revisiting the tossers.

k