Most fun bikes to ride?
 

We all love the look of a sweet old racing bike! But let's be honest, sometimes putting on the chamois and special shoes can take the fun out of a bike ride.
Lately I've been cruising on my 1969 Schwinn, 40lbs, but I upgraded it with a short stem and riser bar and a single thumb shifter. The 27x1 1/4 tires are smooth and comfy and the bike is by no means slow! Plus I love the sprung saddle and the fact that I can wear pants and no need for gloves. Fenders to keep my back dry through gutters. It's fun!
Then today I fixed up a bike I had snagged from a thrift store and put on 700c wheels, some English racer(?) type bars a thumb shifter. A sprung saddle, and it's so much fun! :)
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...82001844_n.jpg
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I like riding my carbon mtb and speedy road bike but I usually find myself thinking about upgrades and equipment. My city is implementing bike lanes in a lot of places this year, but I wonder if the bikes would catch on faster if people knew how fun it could be to ride a sweet old 3 speed instead of a fancy new $800 bike to really save on gas.

So, What do you like to ride and why?

OK, I only keep the bikes I think are the most fun to ride. But with that caveat, there are two that kind of come to mind at the moment.

First, my Holdsworth Professional has been outfitted to be light, quick, convenient transportation at my office. I can jump on, even if I'm in suit and tie, and zip down to grab a bite to eat or even make short errands.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8...91cc6112_z.jpg

Second, the International I wrapped up work on a while back is really comfy and makes for great riding with my wife (who doesn't relish the long rides that I do.)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8...6bcaf70d_z.jpg

Since I use toeclips and straps, I need special shoes only for long rides. Likewise, I can get by w/ unpadded streetwear instead of chamois-lined shorts on shorter rides.

I always thought these were the dumbest things but then I got one. It can be adjusted to fit every member of the family except me, it's totally maneuverable and really simple. I can even ride it without too much trouble.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/IMG_8462.jpg
This one is the most fun for a quick zip around the neighborhood. It's a little small for me so it's easy to swing a leg over the top tube but then it's got a really long seatpost so it actually fits me. i like a coaster brake for riding around the parking lot with the kids, too;
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/IMG_7495.jpg
Then there's the 10' long 75lb monster that I pick the kids up from school with. Dumbest waste of boat anchor fixins ever but it's the bike that see the most use around here;
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN2391.jpg

Hmph. All my racing bikes (old, lugged steel, nothing under 22lbs) have flat pedals. Toe clips are as hi-tech as I go. I don't own any chamois. These bikes are all pretty fun for me. I simply can't get settled in on anything where the bars are set higher than the seat. So for me, the supposedly 'fun' bikes are only fun for 1 or 2 miles, then they get downright uncomfortable.

This is the only reason I haven't converted my retro 3-speed beach cruiser into a grownup sized Sting Ray, 'cause I think that would be totally *****in' (I just wouldn't ever ride it).

All of my miles this winter have been on my Fargo.

Throw on some winter layers and have at it.

Maybe the most fun I've had in years on a bicycle.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8...72f55f41_b.jpg

I think all the bikes I've seen so far are fun!

The fargo looks very comfy!

For me, fun is a cold beer with friends, playing high school football, wrestling live nude women, playing Stratomatic Baseball, old table hockey, running a 5K on the edge of madness, climbing a water tower, pranking a rival high school, riding a GPz550 on a curvy road, almost anything involving a frisbee, along with a myriad of other things I've done that that I knew I couldn't or can't do forever.

I really don't consider cycling fun. It is simply an excellent thing to do.

I put on the shorts and the shoes so I can enjoy my ride.
Most of you have seen this bike before, but the OP asked.

My favorite rides are long solo rides, in the drops. I can think, feel, and move across the planet.
I consider it contentment, enjoyable, and more so on this than any other bike:
http://cdn.velospace.org/files/P1050246.jpg

There is, however, a potential rival to this bike in the works, similar in many ways, and if a success, will produce the same feeling.

Yes, it is.

It feels like it would roll over anything.

In comfort, of course.

I'm loving my 29ers.

I have the most fun on my winter MTB, after (actually during) a good snowstorm :).

PS - I just Googled "chamois"... You actually wear goatskin leather to ride a bike? :twitchy:

PPS- IIWY, I'd find a decent set of drops and a Brooks for your thrift store snag!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps67fbd8ed.jpg

I never even thought of a 29er until I saw one of these and knew I had to have one.....It's a blast riding right on the beach too!
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psd7483ee5.jpg

The bike I built for winter commuting, but ended up riding pretty much exclusively almost all summer. Maybe because it's my first bike build, maybe it's because I also built the wheels, maybe it's because there's just something about a 3 speed. She's not pretty, she's not worth a dime, collectable-wise, but this is my most fun ride despite also being my workhorse.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8444/7...8819628c_c.jpg

Never forget that cycling is some damn serious business.

:)

But then, it can also be a blast.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...11ccmpath1.JPG

Putting the F in fun, although it isn't yet C&V... it would be hard to wipe the smiles of my face with a bat when I ride the Pugsley.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...2pugrefit1.JPG

Anything with a ringy-bell! :ride: :lol: ;)

...wait a minute. You snagged a Frejus at the thrift store Tulok???? That's my idea of fun. :thumb:

Anything with a coaster brake and a bald rear tire :D

+100

Hello out there!

Two years ago I was giving my friends grief about owning Pugsleys and Mukluks.

Not any more, as I have changed my tune.

Your's is a beaut!

This is my main ride around town, but it's also nice to ride all day. It gets a tool roll and bottle for longer rides. I'm thinking fenders next. It's 700x32.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8...916bd9b4_b.jpg

Sweet rides, love the Fargo. My favorite winter ride is a 29er as well. Good ole Tennessee Ti

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...psac7177b3.jpg

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...ps95dc5a9d.jpg

Most entertaining: '73 Colnago Super.

Most "classic", '71-72 Cinelli Supercorsa.

Most relive my youth: '73 LeJeune CdM.

Most oohs and aaahs from others who know or were around at the time: '76 Confente. Second would be the '69 Colnago, lots of riders of even mod bikes appreciate that one.

Again, that's a great bike.

I wanted to go for a ti framed 29er, but just couldn't work the funds right now.

I did end up with an El Mariachi, which I can't wait to put through the paces.

Have fun with that great bicycle Vonruden!

Just wow.

What a list.

I love riding all my bikes but I will say that I probably get the most pleasure from the "mutt' of the bunch. It was a dinged up frame, not wanted by my son so I cobbled together some odd spare parts and set it up as a fixed gear for myself. A very basic, simple bike that has been my companion on many adventures.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...d/P1030649.jpg

If you mean me, I'm waiting for a direct link to a new-ish Frejus thread. I can't be bothered with the search function, it gets me into trouble. :D ;)