Advice Needed: Which classic to keep?
 

I just began road-biking this year and love it. I also have a ton to learn. Along those lines, I have 3 classic bikes and I must sell two. Which one is the keeper (for riding purposes 50-100 mile routes)?

1983 Peugeot PH10 - Original mint/pristine condition; Pearl White; Carbolite 103; Simplex w/ Stem Shifters; Turkey Levers; Really enjoyable fit and ride; Durability?

1985 Schwinn Traveler - Red with some scratches, dings, and overall wear; Double-butted 4130; Suntour w/ Stem Shifters; Turkey Levers; Solid bike but doesn't seem to ride as nice as other two in my opinion.

1988 Lotus Unique - Metallic Lavendar w/Black headtube in vg (not mint) cosmetic condition; Tange Mangaloy 2001 w/Chrome Fork and Stay Ends; Suntour BL w/Downtube Shifters; No Turkey Levers; Lightest of the 3 but rides a little harsh for me?

Am I crazy for leaning towards the Peugeot? Do I sell all 3 and put the money toward something more modern (aluminum/carbon fiber, index shifting, etc.)? Thanks in advance for helping a newbie!

lotus. i can not stand stem shifters or safely levers. oh, and its a lotus

Keep the one you most enjoy riding. You can always upgrade the components.

this is true

My vote goes toward the Lotus, but you might be best served by moving the best components to the frame of your choice.

What do you mean it rides harsh? Any room for larger tires maybe?

lotus and buy some paselas with your sale proceeds.

I just Googled "Paselas." They may improve the ride. Also, they still make them in 27" size which I need. Definitely something to consider. Looks like the Lotus is getting the most love.

pick the one with with the "Really enjoyable fit and ride".

I would keep the Lotus, but the correct answer is that if you can only keep one, then you should keep the one you like to ride the most.

Start by selling the Schwinn, then do some tweaks on the Lotus to see if you can make it more comfortable (different tires, seat; adjust the seat position). If this doesn't make it better, take the tires back off and keep them for future use on the Peugeot, and sell the Lotus.

Sounds like the Lotus is more of a racing bike whereas the other two are probably for more liesurely riding. I'm assuming this, of course, since I have a limited amount of info ;) hint, hint, PICS!

I agree that the Schwinn should be the first to go.

If the Lotus is a racing bike (dead giveaways: there will not be any "eyelets" for fenders/racks on the front/rear dropouts, and the space between the rear tire and the seat tube will be very tight) then there is a limit to how much more comfy you can make it. A tire change can help, and getting a good quality saddle that you like can help too. However, chances are that the handlebars will be significantly lower than the saddle, and without some unusual "fixes" (long stem or riser stem), this is difficult to rectify without making the bike look ridiculous. If the bike actually fits you (not too big or too scrunched) then it might be a sign that you are not keen on the "racing" type ride characteristics (quick handling - this can feel "twitchy", short wheelbase - contributes to handling and makes the bike feel "harsher", etc).

So, it sounds to me like the Peugeot might be the one to focus on if the Lotus is not your style.
It might be worth considering a component swap between the bikes, with some nice 28mm tires. If your Peugeot is like my old mixte, the bike likely has steel rims and handlebars, etc. The component swap would make a huge difference in the ride quality, and will cost you very little if you do the work yourself. The bottom bracket may be an issue. Pics would help.

Cheers!

I agree with everyone else...keep the one that has a great fit and feel. A PERFECT fit and feel. Sell the others, or all of them, in pursuit of a bike that fits and feels great.

You're asking the wrong crowd about CF and aluminum. Uhmmm...to answer the question...NO. Unless you're racing, or keeping up with others on CF and aluminum, steel offers a lot of advantages. You can get a lot more bang for your buck with classic and used steel than with new stuff.

Example...even assuming you pay max dollar on ebay...you can have a $1200 bike on ebay with top of the lines parts (for the era)and a well made and time tested top end Italian or custom frame.

For $1200 you can have a mid-level, Taiwan made cookie cutter aluminum bike with miid range parts.

In 10 years the cookie cutter will be worth maybe $300. In ten years the classic will probably be worth more than you paid.

Based on your description it sounds like the Peugeot ride is what you like. I agree - swap a few components over from the Lotus (shifters - assuming they're clamp on and not braze on) Sell the Schwinn.

How about some photos?

Same here.

Its too bad the French one is the one that fits best.

I'm surprised the Traveler is getting so little love. I'd take that or the Lotus over the Pug.

If you don't like stem shifters and turkey levers its not a big deal to change em.

Yes. But you're right to favor a bike that fits you best.

If you don't wanna keep the Lotus or Schwinn, sell all 3 and get a Miyata.

If you really are not completely happy with one, I say sell all three and find a Centurion that fits you. They are pretty light and super cheap here is an article about a 1989 Pro Tour, after reading this I am in the market for one.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...w=1280&bih=685

^^ written by none other than one Gary Fisher. I want a Centurion too.

I vote for the Peugeot!
I had that exact PH10s (if it's not a mixte) and had a blast riding and modding up the bike for some years in the 80's. I would even dare to say that the ride was actually more responsive in the end (after the mods) than my later Peugeot PSV. It just feels faster in all conditions for some reason. Mid you though, that this was after I changed out the Rigidas to lighter/narrower Ambrosio 19 Elites, tires to Specialized Turbos, Installed clamped on Simplex DT Retrofriction shifters and changed out the derailleurs to Suntour Cyclones, changed out the cranks to a Stronglight 104bis crankset. Also changed out the brakes to higher model Weinmanns (405s to 605s??..don't remember) all of which took a bunch of weight off the bike and further improved shifting performance, but I think it all comes down to the nice handling frame on the PH10s that provided a good baseline to buiild a fast bike on. Says a lot for Peugeot's Carbolite 103 tubing. and lugless frame construction engineering. I can still remember how nicely the bike "sang" on the road back then. It felt like it was alive! The beautiful pearl white paintjob and classic looking Peugeot graphics also made the bike look ten times more expensive than it really was. JMOs

Chombi

Okay, here are the pics. The Schwinn and Peugeot (tires not flat anymore) are mine. The Lotus pic was from the web, but is identical frame to mine. Mine just has drop bars instead of the mountain-bike handlebars. Thanks again for all of the advice.

Attachment 170056Attachment 170057Attachment 170058Attachment 170059Attachment 170060Attachment 170061

Lotus, its really a no brainer to me. Its by far the best bike of the bunch. Travelers are a dime a dozen, so if you want one later, no problem finding one. Lots of Peugeots out there too, and it is a lower end model.

Suntour BL components are older than 1988. So if those components are original, the bike is older. A 1988 model would have indexed shifting. Post pics of your Lotus.

Back to school time and that peugot is in fine shape to fetch top dollar with little to no work... If you sell all 3 you could potentially have almost 1000$ to spend on a bike depending on market. It is hot here right now, college town...

That's a HOT market! Boston is a heck of a market and college town...but at best those bikes would fetch $200 a piece. First few weeks of September are pretty hot, but sales are about to drop of the radar entirely as it gets colder here.

<looking at sig>
I won't argue with this.

I think that Peugeot is beautiful - just exactly the way it is. You say that you love the ride and the fit, so where's the question? It's set up for easy riding, not racing, but it doesn't sound like you want the feel of a racing bike anyway. If that bike were mine, I'd leave it, ride it and enjoy it as is. The reason everyone hates stem shifters and turkey levers is because they associate them with cheap bikes, but for the style of riding you're doing, they work fine and are pretty useful, aren't they? Lao Tzu says - look with the stomach and not with the eye.

I kinda like the Lotus myself.............but then I'm a weirdo.....

Are all these bikes the same size?
I totally agree that you should keep the one that fits you the best, would you please tell us the frame sizes?