fender76

I figured I'd share my collection on here after posting up my 30's DL1 that I found.

This all started when I was 14 (I'm 34 now) with my first job as a bike mechanic. I really think it shaped my mind to understand things on a mechanical level, and how basic things function.

Anyhoo - my dad died unexpectedly three months ago and this spurred a random need for a distraction, so I started getting into 3 speeds. I travel all over New England for camping trips, boat down in Barnstable, and run a state tech project that involves a lot of travel to every corner of Mass. I figured along the way I'd grab a few bikes, refurb them and bring them back to Somerville. The ones I liked I'd keep, the ones I didn't I'd sell...but I'd have fun working on them and meeting people along the way (I'm convinced craigslist buy/sell transactions involve nothing but good, interesting people when you're dealing with antiques)

So, here's what I kept...

a '65 Columbia Sports III. This thing's awesome. It was part of a his/hers set I picked up. I ride this everyday to the T in Davis


a '50 Dawn Tourist. This was to be my 'project tourist' since I already have a newer DL-1, but I'm not sure now. Neat bike, and it's all there but rusty in some spots






a '70 DL1 - I haven't even ridden this yet due to the clipless pedals which I only recently acquired clips for. This was a really nice woman up in Maine who lost her husband unexpectedly two years ago, and he was a fanatic about this bike and biking in general. I bonded with her over our losses and we still keep in touch. She would only sell these as a pair - his DL1 and her '52 Sports with enclosed chaincase which is also immaculate. I don't know what to do with that one, but I don't have the heart to break them up. The blue sticker on the front fender is a Maine bike registration that expired in 1974



and here's the '52 Sports that is paired with it


I also hung onto a really neat/pristine BSA - it's a 1970, so I guess it's just a rebadged Raleigh, but I still like it...

fender76

ps the garage is a work in progress - don't judge me! the previous tenants left a LOT behind

KonAaron Snake 

1. I'm sorry to hear about your dad.
2. That's an extremely cool project.
3. I agree...the vast majority of CL folks I've dealt with are great. The Ebay crowd? Shallower gene pool.
4. I love the Raleigh!

RavingManiac

What's wrong with the garage???? Very nice bikes. You do 3speeds only?

fender76

garage is a disaster! I need a neat work area

No I also have a '04 Ellsworth Truth and a '04 Lemond Zurich....well, 2. One that I crashed horribly and one that has two wheels

xanthochrome

I love the his/hers set. It's truly lovely that you want to keep them together - as much as I envy the Sports!

Chris_in_Miami

That's a nice collection you've got! I was in the Sturbridge/Brimfield area for an antique show a while back and was amazed at the quantity of 3-speeds that I saw, even in that hilly part of the state.

fender76

Ah yes Brimfield - I'll be going this week!!

greengage

Jason--this is a wonderful collection! There's a nice balance between grocery-getter/project/sentimental keeper/crown jewel and you seem to have them all, as well as a pleasing visual consistency/variety (think Commonwealth Ave. brownstones--similar but not the same). And yes--sorry to hear about your dad. It's good to have some quality distractions.

Almost decided to go to Brimfield this weekend but decided against it. I'm in pare-down mode right now on both antiques and bikes--want to sell two of mine, just haven't decided which two...

ScottRyder 

Good to see another C&V'er in the Boston area ..

Scott

fender76

hmm..not sure what that stands for...

southpawboston

sorry about your loss, and i certainly understand the part about needing a distraction as a result!

very nice collection.

ScottRyder 

"Classic & Vintage"

Scott

gbalke

Great bikes Jason. As far as the ladies Sports, you need to keep that for your riding partner; she'll love it.

Now, post a picture of your MG.

fender76

thank you!

My MG? Am I just not getting abbreviations today? lol

gbalke

Maybe I read too much into your screen name, the MG1976 has me thinking of a 1976 MG sports car. Am I wrong?

fender76

oh - yeah no it's different.

I did have an Alfa once though

fender76

finally got to ride my '70 DL-1 this past weekend (full length of the Minuteman trail and back). what an awesome, awesome bike. I'm amazed how fast these things go. The clipless pedals - I didn't think I'd like them on this bike, but they are actually really nice to have once you get going. Awesome ride. I'm never going back to smaller wheels

greengage

see? Addictive....