I was checking out this guy's Univega today.. a Viva Sporrt i think. it was in decent shape, but i noticed the rear brake was all rusty, the frame was high ten and it had a riveted crank. plus there was mud on one of the fork blades, and i think it probably had the original rubber.

a year ago i would have been like, yep, a bike. now i was like, ew, super low end! im surprised it didnt have turkey levers honestly

i blame all of you

are you a c&v bike snob? any confessions?

I've always been a bike snob and I have to say that the people that collect old low-end bikes kind of mystify me a little. I understand it on one level, but I suffered through a lot of crummy bikes as a bike mechanic back in the '70s. Just as one example, I did a complete overhaul on a UO-8 that cost over $250 in '80s dollars, which is $650 now. It was so worn out that even after I fixed it up it was going to need fairly constant attention. I called the guy and advised him to ditch the bike and buy something nicer, but he apparently was emotionally attached to it.

If you don't want a better bike than you are currently riding, you aren't human.
But we are a fallen race, after all.

+ 1 on this.

I once overhauled a really crappy bike owned by one of my former Command Master Chiefs. What a drag. She was cool about it - wanted to get back to riding. I told her it really wasn't worth the cost of the stuff we needed to make it ride-worthy, but she told me she'd rather spend that than get a new bike and find out she didn't want to ride it after all.

And whatdyaknow? She did a test ride of the refurbished bike and put it right back in the garage where it's sitting on two flats even today.

Another co-worker of mine wanted the same thing; an old Peugeot UO-8 he'd had since high-school. It was for nostalgic reasons, but there was nothing I could do about the bent fork and I told him so. After the overhaul it stayed in his study. I guess that's better than riding it with a potentially-catastrophic fork failure looming on the horizon

My point being if they are just gathering dust and rust, I'm a snob about them. However, I've gained a healthy respect for some of you riding "gaspipe" in the year-and-a-bit I've been on this forum. They're out there being used and appreciated and no matter what level they occupy that's all that matters.

DD

Calvinist?

Yes, I'm a bike snob. I'm also kind of like one of those PETA 'save the whales and starving puppies' types, except with bikes...because when I see a nice bike being neglected, abused, worn out, or manhandled, I feel a strong and almost irresistible urge to "liberate" it.

If I was really a snob I'd not have so many high-ten steel bikes occupying stalls in my stable.

I enjoy the low end stuff too. And I have fun scavenging better parts for them from time to time.

A true C&V bike snob would not have even noticed a Univega. An Italvega just barely, unless a Superlight.

Total snob here, not gonna lie. In fact I realized it the other day when I was at the bike co-op. They had a 531 trek there that I very nearly bought. I rode it around the block, and it rode completely fine. When the guy there asked me what I thought about it I mentioned that it would need bar tape, tires, stem and handlebars, deep cleaning, etc... He looked at me like I was crazy and was like, dude, the bike is totally rideable as it is! This experience and my obsession with dura ace pretty much confirms it.

Or a Super Speciale? (further along than this now, only the wheel build left)

After drooling and pining for years in the 80's for high end bikes and components in magazines and when I see them in the shops and races, I think I at least deserve to be a "bike snob" now that I can afford SOME of them......Do I still like Carbolite framed Peugeots, Yes,..........but I won't own any of them anymore as I have moved on and up in the past 26 years since I last owned one.....as one should. Call me a C&V snob then, if anyone likes to.........wehhh!.... A bike snob..........when it comes to my own collection that is!......

Chombi

Sadly, I fear I too am among the fallen.

The rains have started here in California, though,
so with any luck I'll be back on the beater this week.

I was having doubts about my Raleigh Supercourse MKII because it has stamped dropouts rather than forged.

But I got over it. I'm going to ride it until it falls apart.

Snob, through and through.

Some may call it snobbery, but personally, I have a very narrow interpretation of which bikes I consider Classic and Vintage.

I can appreciate the lowly UO8 and it's variants as well bicycles like the Grand Prix and other high ten frames for being decent entry level rides that, with a few upgrades make for great daily drivers.

I have started threads on this very subject and just built up an AO8 for an around town coaster bike.. it is rather amazing how many people have told me what a beautiful bike it is.



I also ride a 1954 Raleigh Sports which is 2010 steel that has been upgraded with a bunch of nicer parts and is a pretty fabulous bike to ride that is lighter than it's 451 framed stablemate, (my 1955 Raleigh Lenton) by virtue of all the alloy parts.

Sports...



Lenton...



More gaspipe... although she is a P and not a U.



My Raleigh 20's are all high ten frames although the P20 has some chromoly in the new fork and rear triangle... these are great bicycles.

My Garlatti is gaspipe... the parts I used to build it up are among the finest of their kind.



My CCM is a total beater... everyone seems to want it.



My Kuwaharas are both factory handbuilts and I have a one of a kind Ron Cooper, a hand built Moulden XC bike as well as a Rocky Mountain Blizzard which is also a factory hand built... these are all gorgeous bicycles in every respect but the Cooper barely gets a passing glance from anyone except true bicycle nerds.

Do not think I am a snob but do have a pretty deep appreciation for really well made frames and parts because of how well they all come together and these parts do not have to say Campagnolo or Dura Ace (although a little of that is nice) as is the stuff that says Zeus and Suntour.

And I do have a leather fetish...

yup, its about quality of workmanship and material, plus a little reputation.

I just got back from a ride on my Varsity cruiser. Installed MTB handlebars and 26" coaster braked rims. The Varsity is the bike to take a leisurely ride of about 10 miles. Next to it in the garage is my Univega Super Strada with original Dura Ace AX components. Taking up space on the left is a Univega Gran Turismo. Univegas were not the best or cheapest bike in their day, just the best value for the bicycling dollar ever.

A Viva Sport was my first real good bike. Won't hear anything bad about them. Wish I still had it today.

No snob here- until you get down to the Huffy level. Even then I can appreciate the odder styling exercises they produced. Just don't make me ride one.

But univega frames were made by miyata

The distinctive styling and lines of a vintage bike combined with a sympathetic restoration will leave a bigger impression than an expensive bike that is filthy, gawdy or in a state of disrepair. The time it takes to look at that U08 and figure out it's not a PX is the same amount of time to fall in love with it.

If it's not an Italian frame with Campagnolo components it's not worth looking at. How snobby am I???

People can point their fingers all they want, but your collection is astounding Gary!

BTW, I don't have the time, space, need or money for a multitude of bikes, so what I have must be good. The moulton is obviously the most downrange, especially in components, but that bike's in another league all together.

Back off on drinking the Italian Kool Aid...

My Garlatti was Campagnolo equipped when it was received... but I yanked all those crappy parts off and tossed them.









Could not appreciate the Valentino parts nearly as much as the Stronglight, Lyotard, Suntour, Arvon, Araya, Simplex, and Tange parts I used to build it back up.

The only original parts are the frame, fork, stem, bars, and Universal brakes.

I've become one.

I work in Greenpoint Brooklyn, the Mecca of the Hipsters. It's a place with a bike tied to every street sign, fence, pole, or factory. Walk a block and you'll see 10-20 vintage bikes. It's like a bike time zone, or museum, where Schwinns of all flavors reign supreme and where old Fujis and Motobecanes are king. I learn alot just walking the streets there and looking, and hence, I've become abit of a snob. I've learned what to look for and what is quality and what is not.

Unfortunately, your basic hipster doesn't care what a bike looks like, actually the more scratches, the better they seem to like them, so it can be a disheartening experience....

Hahaha. That Italian Kool Aid is such sweet nectar.

I only hope you can retrieve those Campy components and 'make things right' again.

I hope you tossed them to somebody who could use them

Or into a BOC!

DD