The old man is moving on up..they are screaming for me to return to motorcycle racing, but my sweet wife will have none of it. So, I put all the excitiment juices into bicycles. Well today, after my favorite LBS gave it a fine tune, I rode my latest aquistion. A vintage Litespeed Classic. Circa 1996..

I rode it to work..Did some posing at Panera Bread.. Had two near crashes!! Saved them both.. One time I forgot I was clipped in and almost bit the dust, the second time I was going up on a very slight curb, but I didn't have enough angle, and the front wheel just slide along the curb. However, the bicycle gods were with me, I saved them both...

1996 is vintage I believe..

it's a nice bike, and 1996 might be "vintage", but there's nothing vintage about it in my opinion, at least anything that i would associate with a vintage bike. titanium, carbon fork, bladed spokes, threadless stem.

ps. i have nothing against modern bikes/technology, i have a trek madone (full carbon) with full ultegra 10spd, but i won't post it here, haha.

Very nice! I've known a lot of folks who've loved their Litespeeds from that time period, great bikes.

Are those 2011 Mavic wheels?

I agree, not C&V, but it's a sweet bike that I'd be proud to ride.

nope...

Ahhaahh man, not a C&V... Coming into this biking bit, I quickly saw that C&V is where it is at.. All my other bikes are C&V, and like the rest of you all, I am looking every day for something to snag.. Shucks, I thought a 15 year old bike would easily be C&V..

This bike is so far over my head it is funny... However, I always want to get into the meaty part of a hobby, I guess I am part the way there now...

One of the lovely things about the C&V forum is the tolerant nature of its inhabitants..... who appreciate bike beauty in all its forms.

And, whilst that Litespeed does not fit a lot of the C&V criteria, it is certainly one heck of a beautiful bike! Wow!

Enjoy riding it, and stay safe out there.

Just be patient. My Miyata wasn't vintage either when I bought it new back in 1984. But now it is, and I suppose I am too. Some day, people will be saying "Remember when they used to make bikes out of carbon fiber? They weighed a ton!"

Vintage or not, if he posted in the road bikes forum he'd be flamed. C&V forum is where it is at, period.

Okey doke. What are they (if you don't mind me asking)?

A wonderful Lightspeed! I like it. Don't sweat it if it isn't definitively C&V. I think it belongs here due to its transitional design. It still has classic geometry, a 1" steerer as opposed to 1-1/8", and that gives it that aesthetic road stance. We all have a modern era bike somewhere in our herd, so post it if you care to. It's sweetness!

I wanna try one of those, one of these days.

A 15 year old bike IS a classic. Not vintage perhaps but a classic all the same.

Nice find in Lightspeed!

Great looking bike, and of course, a great bike.
For more positive shifting, I'd maybe shorten those STI cable housings.
Maybe check into raising the stem's mounting point on that steerer, but then flipping it over, may give you about the same position with a cleaner look.
Are those the Ivory Pro Race 3's? good looking tire, sets off the rims/decals well.
Kysriums and Ti go together so well.

Vintage is simply a year of production. 2009 is a vintage.

https://www.wineinstitute.org/resourc...sroom/01062010

Anyway, good looking bike ! Color, is that a metallic root beer or copper ?

Thanks man!! Don't know what it is about me, but I draw flamers!! Don't want none of that!!

I agree, C&V is the chit!!

Thanks, I think it is a brush gray..not polished.

That are Mavic something...I know they are cool, I know that, and way over my head.

While they were tuning it at the LBS, the mechanic mentioned flipping the stem. Will be checking on that. The tires are Maxxis Detonators...Supposed to be a good race/training tire. They look good and they are way over my skill level..