Ready for the commute now...

I'd love to feel what that rides like, 65er. We're currently fixing up a 50's or 60's clone of a Raleigh Sports, which is upright and lively compared with that. We were remarking at how relaxed it feels. I bet yours could ride no hands easily.

Roadsters are so uncommon here whereas the Raleigh Sports was sold widely over many decades and even manufactured in Canada after 1978.

There is no comparison between the bikes when it comes to ride quality... I sold my '78 Superbe because the ride was too upright and harsh for my back whereas I can ride the Rudge a decent distance in fair degree of comfort.

The fellow who has my old Superbe adores it but has also ridden the Rudge... he is now on a mission to find one for himself.

What kind of back problem do you have, and how far can you ride in a day these days? I had a crippling back problem 20 years ago which I solved with surgery. It's creeping back now, but this time, it comes mostly in the form of painfully numb feet. I've had a neurologist determine that the problem with my foot is a pinched nerve in my back.

I just googled "roadster bicycle" and I see someone is selling replicas. Does anyone know if these are decent? The price seems too low.

https://www.hiwheel.com/antique_repli...t_roadster.htm

I bet you can get them in China really easily. For a long time, I think it was the only model available.

I have a nerve impingement / damage at my L4 which causes me a great deal difficulty in walking and standing... cycling is good therapy as it relieves the pressure on the affected nerves and keeps my left leg from withering away.

I don't have any experience with those replicas but am sure they are of Indian or Chinese manufacture... they sell for $50.00 new in India and believe the price in China is similar.

I'll be riding my reconfigured Schwinn Varsity to work tomorrow. It started out as a Varsity Sport, but now it's a Varsity Tourist

I think I finally got mine set up the way I want:

I would be a little aprehensive to buy a bike with "rideable" in the name.

My latest build: dorked-out Cannondale 1FG

Random highlights:
- Dura-Ace crankarms
- Wetzikon chainring guard
- Paul Component Love levers
- Wald 198GB basket
- Nitto Albatross handlebars
- massive stack of spacers
- Sumo wrestler horn

Sorry for the nasty cellphone pic in the nasty garage. Here's the noble steed.

Love it!

A pic taken during the commute yesterday:

Just got my Sweetskinz mounted.

Love the new shoes..where'd ya get'em?

Off ebay, but the shipping was as much as the tires themselves.

You forgot the rest of the url!

My jack-of-all-trades, Bianchi Volpe.
My_Volpe.JPG

Just spent the last few weeks on this 1974 Varisty. It had touring bars and seat. In case it goes in the basement for a long time, I wanted to give it some props.

awesome! i baught it used off of craigslist.org and the original owner said it was an '04. thing is, i haven't been able to find any specs on it. would you happen to have them?

when I get back to it - this will be my ride

rumrunn6, how is your rear wheel holding up? Did you ever solve your problem?

My wife used to have a bike that looked exactly like that, but in green. Same brakes, same bars, same frame... It was a mid-90's bike.

Hi noglider, Thanks for asking. This is the bike with the 24 spoke aero wheels that popped 2 spokes this spring. if you recall I brought it to my LBS for spoke and true twice. after the 2nd time I didn't commute on it but did ride it 50 miles on a paved bike path. That original wheel is off and in the basement for safe keeping.

While this bike was off the commuter task I rode two old ten speeds, a LeTour and a Varsity. After about 500 miles the LeTour started to creak so I switched to the Varsity. The Varsity needed a rear wheel so I visited a new bike shop near my new oddice and bought two wheels. One for the Varsity and one for the hybrid pictured above. both were cheap wheels with 36 spokes. The Varsity wheel was good for about 100 miles before it needed trueing, and then I finished up my 1000 miles for the season. I feel good about that wheel even though it's cheap. I wouldn't "tour" on it but it's good so far for I'm doing with it.

The hybrid, got it's new wheel this weekend. I suspect I'll do the same thing - ride it 100 miles then get it trued again. the LBS seller checked all spokes on both wheels before I left with them and I think it's expected that using the wheel will require "maintenance" after a 100 miles, especially if that 100 miles is commuting.

I'd be surprised if I get more than another 300 miles commuting this season due to work and vacation plans, so I'm hoping the hybrid finishes the season on it's own.

I will be riding tons more with all my bikes (and kids) this summer - even cleaned my MTB yesterday

so the short answer is - the new wheel is on and I'll be testing it soon, maybe over the holiday weekend on a paved bike path or maybe commuting next week. you know me, if I see a dead frog I'll be posting about so stayed tuned for more wheels news ...

THANKS FOR ASKING!

BTW: It was a little sad wiping down the Varsity and putting it in the back of the basement ... it served me really really well