What is the oldest serviceable bicycle component you have?
04-20-16, 01:25 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
What is the oldest serviceable bicycle component you have?
The delivery man brought home our package. It was tied to the rack of his Raleigh bike.
I asked him how old it was. He replied 60 years. He had got it as a child, and the only thing that ever needed changing was the bottom bracket.
I don't know if he was bluffing, and I don't have a picture to prove it. But it did look like a pretty ancient bike.
I asked him how old it was. He replied 60 years. He had got it as a child, and the only thing that ever needed changing was the bottom bracket.
I don't know if he was bluffing, and I don't have a picture to prove it. But it did look like a pretty ancient bike.
04-20-16, 03:40 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
313 Posts
My oldest would be the '77 Colnago Super. It has the same parts it was built with that year. It was built for racing and served the original owner very well. If properly maintained, bikes last far longer than you imagine.
04-20-16, 05:59 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
Well, I have only borrowed it, but I did yesterday just do some work on an early 1970s unicycle. Cottered cranks! My first time w/those.
04-20-16, 06:07 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
My Olmo gran sport is from 1960-61; I'm in the process of rebuilding it:
04-20-16, 06:14 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
Three Sturmey Archer AW hubs ranging from 1962 to 1965, two on working bikes (both early 80s), one more recently overhauled and on a spare wheel. And these are work horse parts, not museum pieces.
04-20-16, 06:22 AM
#7
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,790
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3590 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
My daily commuter bike has a 1953 Sturmey-Archer AW hub.
04-20-16, 08:25 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Kent Wa.
Posts: 5,332
Bikes: 2005 Gazelle Golfo, 1935 Raleigh Sport, 1970 Robin Hood sport, 1974 Schwinn Continental, 1984 Ross MTB/porteur, 2013 Flying Piegon path racer, 2014 Gazelle Toer Populair T8
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 396 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
I have a 1935 Raleigh sports model that's still fully functional even though its obviously seen a lot of use.
04-20-16, 08:53 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
Personally? Only 1978. Everything on my Le Tour is original, minus the consumables, and it is the bike of mine that gets ridden the most. Yes, even including the original steel rims.
I did buy the girlfriend a women's pink 1968 Collegiate with all original part. It had the original tubes and tires, even. Tubes still held air just fine (date code was printed on them), even if the tires were dry rotted out. I kept the tubes for the fun of it. I have no doubt that if that thing was ridden daily, the only part on it that might not still work would be the finnicky Huret derailleur.
I did buy the girlfriend a women's pink 1968 Collegiate with all original part. It had the original tubes and tires, even. Tubes still held air just fine (date code was printed on them), even if the tires were dry rotted out. I kept the tubes for the fun of it. I have no doubt that if that thing was ridden daily, the only part on it that might not still work would be the finnicky Huret derailleur.
04-20-16, 10:32 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 256
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just sold my 1975 Ralieh sprite 27 3 speed.
40 years old and all original.
The bottom bracket had some ware but still has years of service left on it.
40 years old and all original.
The bottom bracket had some ware but still has years of service left on it.
04-20-16, 10:42 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,931 Times
in
2,556 Posts
The seatpin on my Peter Mooney. From my '67 Peugeot UO-8. 50 years old in 14 months. 22k on the Peugeot and about 40k on the Mooney. Been in continuous service.
The Mooney started with the beautiful Campy pin but it s***ed using it with a hanger for the cantilever. The Peugeot pin had the proper tab to stop the rotation of the hanger and was far stronger and more secure. Never looked like much, just the cheap galvanized plating, but it has worked extremely well.
I still have one or two wheels going with Sanshin hubs from my 1976 Fuji Pro. Rebuilt with Campy cones and still running but they don't get a lot of use.
Ben
The Mooney started with the beautiful Campy pin but it s***ed using it with a hanger for the cantilever. The Peugeot pin had the proper tab to stop the rotation of the hanger and was far stronger and more secure. Never looked like much, just the cheap galvanized plating, but it has worked extremely well.
I still have one or two wheels going with Sanshin hubs from my 1976 Fuji Pro. Rebuilt with Campy cones and still running but they don't get a lot of use.
Ben
04-20-16, 10:49 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 5,395
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1765 Post(s)
Liked 1,124 Times
in
746 Posts
I'm a babe in the woods --- the oldest thing i have that was bought new and personally used are a set of Look compatible Shimano pedals from 1991 ---
Also have a right side Campy crankset still in use from 1993 (left crank arm rounded out ages ago and has been replaced with a Shimano)
Oldest in general would be from mid 80's on some of my craigslist C&V pickups
Also have a right side Campy crankset still in use from 1993 (left crank arm rounded out ages ago and has been replaced with a Shimano)
Oldest in general would be from mid 80's on some of my craigslist C&V pickups
04-20-16, 11:51 AM
#15
Senior Member
My 82 Fuji Del Rey is still going strong. The only parts that have been replaced are: several sets of tires, 1 chain, 1 set of ball bearings, several sets of brake pads.
04-20-16, 12:05 PM
#17
Passista
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,599
Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaña pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 868 Post(s)
Liked 721 Times
in
396 Posts
As a complete bike, my '80 Raleigh DL-1. I also have some '70s Campagnolo parts and I'm thinking about building a bike around them.
04-20-16, 03:34 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,719
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 258 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Component....a 35 y/o pair of quills with toe clips and straps I just pulled off my old Fuji Tourer which is about to be donated. They'll be the first pedals I use on my next new bike.
04-20-16, 06:27 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Garden State exit 135
Posts: 475
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
I also have a Schwinn LA Tour III,its 37 years old.I bought it the year we married Funny earlier today I was thinking I have been riding it for 6 months now evevn though I have 3 other bikes. I changed the rims,cables,chain,free wheel,bar tape saddle.I added a rear rack to carry stuff,removed the kickstand.Oh ! I hate the gum wall look,so I added gator skins,all black sidewalls.added clip in pedals
Last edited by Shamrock; 04-20-16 at 06:32 PM. Reason: add pedals
04-20-16, 07:02 PM
#20
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,879
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1804 Post(s)
Liked 1,442 Times
in
991 Posts
The front and rear deuraillers, and stem shifter, on my 1977 Schwinn LeTour. The LeTour also has its original headset bearings!
04-20-16, 07:17 PM
#21
Standard Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Posts: 4,272
Bikes: 1948 P. Barnard & Son, 1962 Rudge Sports, 1963 Freddie Grubb Routier, 1980 Manufrance Hirondelle, 1983 F. Moser Sprint, 1989 Raleigh Technium Pre, 2001 Raleigh M80
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1297 Post(s)
Liked 940 Times
in
490 Posts
A Hercules lamp bracket from 1940...but enough of that. Tell us more!
__________________
Unless you climb the rungs strategically, you’re not going to build the muscle you need to stay at the top.
Unless you climb the rungs strategically, you’re not going to build the muscle you need to stay at the top.
04-21-16, 12:42 AM
#23
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
My legs.
The rest of my meatsack components are shot, but my legs still work pretty well after 58 years.
The rest of my meatsack components are shot, but my legs still work pretty well after 58 years.
04-21-16, 12:59 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5791 Post(s)
Liked 2,581 Times
in
1,431 Posts
I still occasionally ride my Frejus Supercorsa which I bought new in 1967 and put over 50,000 miles on it over the next 10 years or so. It's just about all original, except for chains and freewheels, and the brakes which I replaced after a crash.
Other than that I ride an old SA TF (2 speed fixed gear) hub dating from the 30's, but I didn't get that new.
Other than that I ride an old SA TF (2 speed fixed gear) hub dating from the 30's, but I didn't get that new.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
04-21-16, 02:54 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: wisconsin
Posts: 71
Bikes: cinelli,falcon super route. masi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My Cinelli. I bought it new in 1970. It is a 68 model and I have taken good care of her. If you buy a decent bike and maintain it the thing will last a long time.