Older bikes
 

Hey does anybody else ride older clunker bikes? or am I the only cheapo here?:confused:

You'll find that quite a few members ride older bikes for commuting, running errands and just for fun.

I have an old Schwinn 5 speed that I converted to 21 speeds and used for commuting for a long time. Now I just use it to ride around with my grandchildren.

I think a lot of us ride good old bikes. They are cheap to buy, easy to maintain and ride well. Unlike bad old bikes and bad new bikes.
I cant think of any reason to ride a bad old bike when a good one will do.

All four of my bicycles fit the good, old category.

Definition of good:

1) butted moly steel main triangle;
2) mid-grade or higher components, particularly wheels and cranks.


Definition of old:

1) Pre-1984 road bikes (essentially pre-index; according to the Vintage Bicycle Assn.; who am I to argue?).

2) Pre-1992 mountain bikes (non-suspension, "old school").

i ride an early 90's performance ridged mtn bike. I affectionately call it "the Jackhammer". it's a good bike with good components. i also enjoy shredding the local single track on this bike. it's funny when i ride better than people with all the "right" gear on. i think i burst their bubble. i have to admit though i'm saving up for a new Giant Rainer hardtail. i'll always keep and ride the Jackhammer though. but then it will be just for commuting and neighborhood cruising.

how about them gas prices! HA!
Cael

I ride an early 80's Raleigh road bike. I would say that counts under John's definition above.

Mind you, I bust my knee at the weekend, so I'm not riding anything right now... :(

Ellie

Currently restoring a 1970's Folding Raleigh Twenty.

Richard

I ride a late 80s model Schwinn. Initially the plan was to make sure I'd ride it before laying down money for a new one. But I had so much fun buying accessories and clothes and paying for a bicycle maintenance class that I haven't gotten around to buying a newer one.

Now that I'm commuting, I'm quickly realizing that a hybrid might be better for the rough patches in the road around here. But for now, my road bike is getting me around and I'm not too worried about hurting it.

I'm also incredibly cheap and therefore probably won't buy a new bike for some time....

Teresa

My bikes date from 1984 and 1963, so I guess I qualify.

I've restored an old Schwinn Collegette, and picked up a Schwinn World I'm in the process of converting to fixed gear. These are old school steel, nice too. I have a Gary Fisher Sphinx, that Fisher can't tell me anything about. It's my commuter, sort of. Yeah I ride older bikes.

I still have and used to ride my 10 speed Schwinn Continental for a few years here in PA, which I bought back in 1979. Its all original equipment except a new seat and of course the tires. Its yellow as it was the color at the time. When I lived in Florida, where I originally bought it, I rode it from dusk till dawn.
When I moved to PA, 10 speeds on these hills was just a bit too much and 2 years ago, I finally broke down and got a new Schwinn Supersport GL with 27 speeds. Sure makes alot of difference on hills, especially since I am no where as young as I used to be. :)

Ya know, I commute on a Continental most of the time now. It's funny, but that is a nice ride, isn't it? Sure, it is a bit heavy, but that steel frame provides a smooth ride and is rigid enough to put most of my power into moving the wheel rather than flexing the frame.

I have a fleet of bikes to ride, but I noticed lately that I often choose the Conti. I guess another thing I like about it is that I can replace any part by buying whole spare bikes for about $15.00. Best of all, though, is the durability. The Conti is so reliable - it is always ready to go when the other lighter and newer machines are wanting for some minor maintanance or wheel trueing.

Yes, it was always a nice ride. Simestimes I do miss the steel frame because my new bike with its aluminum frame, sure lets me know where all the bumps are in a road. :)

SSGL

You're all making me feel bad about giving away my 1980 Centurian Super Le Mans. It was gold with brown detailing, brown seat, brown handlebar tape (both of which I swiched to white), had a chrome fork, and had shifters on the end of the bars, which I thought was pretty cool. Of course it weighed forty pounds...

My new bike rides okay, but just doesn't have any class. Those darn spouses can talk you into getting rid of anything.

Clay

I hear you on this one. My spouse is always trying to get me to sell my Schwinn Continental. So far, I have won the arguments. :)

Did I mention I secretly kept the handlebars? Hey hey! Now if I can just figure out how to put them on my hybred commuter without buying new brakes and shifters...