RaleighSport

I've noticed a lot of "high end" love around here, and a lot of bottom end love too... but most of the people with the entry level or mid older bikes don't tend to show them/boast about them... well I want to see them/read the stories attached. Is it your old 80's warhorse commuter? perhaps a bmx bike that cost sub 200 and you just can't part with? etc. etc.. now show me!

due ruote 

I don't know if this is what you're going for, but I picked up this Panasonic DX-3000 a while back to flip, and it just rides so nice I decided not to part with it. Tange 2 frame, 105 bits. I have since swapped in some American Classic/Matrix wheels and some PB fenders. My only itty bitty complaint is there isn't a lot of tire clearance. 25 mm is about it.

RaleighSport

That may be a notch or two too nice for this, but you've got the right spirit! I like it..

Cougrrcj

I'm still riding the Fuji 'Special Road Racer' I bought in college 36 years ago. I really don't see the need to replace it.



We've ridden 30-40 thousand miles together over the years...

RaleighSport

Wow ever had to repaint her? And that's exactly what I'm talking about!

3alarmer 

michael k

Got this Mirage frame in trade with another forum member couple years ago.Has less than hundred miles on her as its too small for myself and too big for the kids.Only love for it is from Kitty-cottenheadedninymuggins.

Bianchigirll 

Here is my '87 Bianchi Sport SX which not only rekindled my love of cycling from my teen years but also introduced me to my life long obsession with Bianchi bikes. I actually bought her new from the left over money from my '67 Beetle being 'totaled' in an accident. I bought a used replacement fender/taillight and with the rest of the $500 I bought this.

A Tange DB SuperSet for Bianchi frame, Suntour Alpha 5000 components except for the brakelevers, Nitto B-115 bars on a specialized stem and QBP adaptor, Jagwire cables and Sheetz XL Hazelnut coffee. The first year I had it I rode her almost into the ground. I must have had a good 1000 miles by the end of the year, training, commuting, training races, real citizen races, a MS Ride. She is not exactly original now but very close and set up how I like it.




Despite augmenting her with a Chorus festooned '88 Super Leggera the Sport SX and I continued to enjoy many sunny, rainy, cold and snowy commutes. I also had her set up and flatbar cross bike at one time. She got back at the Super L for pushing her aside by wearing the Super's cranks and calipers for a few years. We have seen alot of miles togather and I hope we will see many more.

ThermionicScott 

ALL of my bikes are entry- to mid-level.

cycleheimer

My current stable is all mid-level at best, and I don't care. I'm having my fun with my bikes, which are appropriate for the type of riding I do. If I were doing some competitive racing, or "A" level club rides, it would be a different story. I also still have my bike that I bought when I was in college.

scozim 

Most of mine are low to mid-end also. Only a couple of exceptions and I don't really ride those much. When all else fails I more often than not grab the '84 Gitane Sprint (Vitus 788 tubing) that I purchased in 2008 to be my winter indoor trainer. It hasn't seen an indoor trainer since 2009.

Oldpeddaller

My Coventry Eagle 'Commodore' - deliberately left 'Urban distressed' so I can lock it and leave it in town. Mid range bike from the late 1970's but built from Reynolds 453 tubing - seamed butted tubing that includes titanium in its steel alloy - great for touring.
This one was a 'shed find' when helping a neighbour to clear an out house in one of his homes. Lucky me!









Here's another "common" bike from the same shed, that I've grown to love. I found that this frame and forks were from a 1993 Giant Allegre, once I'd cleaned all the grime and pigeon guano off the brush repainted frame. Stripped all that off and started from scratch rebuilding from a bare metal frame, using parts sourced cheaply off e-bay or given free by friends. I've got enough Campagnolo equipped bikes, but this makes a brilliant any time ride - It's really fun, responsive and accelerates well - and though I'd hate to drop it, it hasn't cost very much, so probably the best value bike I've got!

Cougrrcj

Nope, original scratched/nicked/chipped paint. I couldn't stand the original screw-on-valvestem pump that came with the bike, so I've had the Zefal HP pump on it since '76... That and the cheap rack.... That orange thing is a USCG-approved Xenon strobe for early morning rides.

Numerous wheelsets, three rear derailleurs, one front, new crankset, two freewheels, suspension seatpost... SunTour barends since 2-months old. Replacement cables, etc...Only original components are frame, fork, Dia-comp centerpulls, and believe it or not, the original Fujita Belt leather saddle! Now wearing my last set of original 'Number 1' handlebar tape.

RaleighSport

Michael, I want to steal your cat. And how small is that mixte?

BG: As always, amazing.

Scozim: I love stories like that! The bike that took over!

Old: Those mostly look like sleepers not "common love"!

This is great guys keep them coming!

zukahn1 

This one is my current love a 74 Juenet 620. I originaly got from the scrap pile at the local bike coop with intentions of building it up to flip. Well I couldn't sell it for a good price the best bit of odd luck I have ever had on a bike if I had sold it would have regreted it and never realized how great it road, so I kept it and road it. The bike road so good that upgraded most of the parts and kept it as a daily rider. With the current 9 speed alpine gearing it rides better than bikes I have owned costing close to a $1000 and can handle almost anything including riding with 50lb roads or doing centuries with friends who have high modern carbon fiber bikes.





Yes I do intend to redue the paint some day but that would mean I would have to stop riding it which I don't want to do.

michael k

Ha!When she has kittens your welcome to the whole litter. The Moto is 19 ".

jimmuller 

This has been posted before, but here is it again. This was my first derailleur bike, 1972. When I bought this I didn't know anyone who owned such a bike, so I was going out on a limb. This pic is from about a year ago when I was using it as a commuter, 25 miles round trip. I rode this as my main ride for perhaps 15 years and have only recently opened my eyes to how a bike could be better. That says something about how good the UO8 really was.



Since BianchiGirll has posted her Sport Six, I will post this also, a near-bottom-end Bianchi Brava. I built this up from a bare frame this past winter on a whim, and have been delighted with it ever since.

auchencrow

You can't get more "common" than this... I don't think even the U08 is more ubiquitous than the GP - and like its French cousin, it's a joy to ride.


'73 Raleigh/Gazelle Grand Prix


It's so common I have two!

rotharpunc

I love your cat!

BattleRabbit

My Franken-Le Tour has a few thousand on it, and it's a definite old entry level bike! I love it anyways, it's good fun, and it's comfortable. Handles loose gravel better than it has any right to!

RaleighSport

Zukahn: now that truly looks like an old friend.

Jim: I've heard often enough the ride on those peugeot's are nice. Dunno about that bianchi.. looks a bit shiny for my liking.

Auchen: I've got a 72 centurion lemans, (basically the same bike) and it's stayed with me forever. I think I understand that pair.

Battle: Love it.

WNG

94 Schwinn Crosscut. I found her at a storage facility sale. I set it up as shown, and it was love after first ride. This one stays in the keeper fleet.


2012-05-04 -001 by WNG555, on Flickr

96 Diamondback Sorrento. Parts bin build as a utility-cruiser. It sports a mtb rack now, and serves as a beater.


IMG_8085 by WNG555, on Flickr

I added a Peugeot U0-9 fixer-upper recently, and may turn it into a single speed for a change. I have a soft spot for Pugs.

Novakane 

Pretty much all of my bikes are low-to-mid-range models because that's all anyone ever throws out around here, or at least is still on the curb by the time I discover it.

These two from 1980, my Sekine RM40 and my Wife's Mixte Sprite are my two favourites, though:

02Pilot

I think everything I have in my small stable is pretty common, but this is about as common as they get: Gitane Grand Sport de Luxe built from a beat-up bare frame with mostly scrounged or traded-for parts.

sloar 

my cannondale rs600. great riding bike, its the one i can ride in bad weather or throw in the back of my jeep and not worry about scratches.