noglider 

I feel the same, and I suspect many others do. I've read that the age of 14 years is a highly impressionable one. We can understand how a musician, for example, crafted their creativity by listening to the music they listened to when they were 14 years old. The bikes I lusted after at (and around) age 14 still have a special place in my heart. In 1975, when I was 14, my bike was an Atala Giro D'Italia, similar to a Peugeot UO-8. A schoolmate of mine had a Raleigh International. It had almost all Campagnolo gear on it, and it was light and fast. Well, is it a coincidence, then, that I own an International now? In some ways yes and in some ways no. I also lusted after those Viscount bikes, and I've learned they're not as fancy as the marketing had us believe. I have one now, and I've converted it to fixed gear. It's the most disposable bike in my collection, and I don't mind it locking it up on the street when I take a short trip, but I'm glad to be riding it and imagining what it was like to own one in the 70s.

The C&V realm of bikes has many forces to create and sustain it, and one of them is the tendency for middle-aged men to buy the toys that we had in childhood or lusted after.

After my Atala was stolen from me, I got a Raleigh Gran Sport, whose geometry and weight were similar to the International's. My International is built as a practical frankenbike commuter bike, and it feels familiar to me, from my memories of my Gran Sport. I still have some tugs on me, telling to get a Gran Sport, for old times' sake. I also would like a PX-10, as I had two, each for a short period, as they were both stolen. But I'm holding out, because they would overlap with the bikes I currently own.

Nu2Miele

Hi.

When I was in grade 2 we moved a half block away from Cap's Cycles in New Westminster B.C. (one of the largest bicycle shops in Canada at the time). The shop is still there (established in 1932). The bikes I recall mostly were Peugeots. But I'm sure they had Raleigh and Italian bikes as well.

I agree that as we age (I'm 55) we do long for things we didn't or couldn't have from our childhood. I bought a Scalextric 1;32 slotcar track a few years back, just to have one. An RC car may have been better, but there is something about slot cars that is appealing. Same with audio equipment. It need not be from our "youdth", but late teens and early 20's as well.

Maybe the idea of collecting or enjoying vintage bikes is just that, but it is more too. We get to ride them as well.

clubman 

'58 Raleigh Superbe 'club'. Even more appropriate since it appears to be a Canada-only model, as am I.

ParamountScapin 

Did they make bicycles in 1947?

twowheelnut

"You are not allowed to post URLs or IMAGES until you have at least 10 posts"
I have a 1985 Schwinn Peloton that I bought myself new for my 25th birthday. It sure weathers the crashes better than my carbon bike

seypat

I don't have a birth year bike. I do however, have a 1972 model wife and 3 1972 bikes.

Andy_K 

My birth year bike -- 1969 Raleigh Competition



I'm not committed to keeping it original. My philosophy as it relates to my age, and as with most vintage bikes, is that its age doesn't have to be a limitation. I don't want to treat it like an old bike. I want to treat it like a bike that I love and want to ride. As pictured above, it's a lot closer to original than most of my bikes. It may not stay that way. We'll see.

linnefaulk

These are all great looking bikes! It would be nice to have one from 1965. Though I did get stuck riding my brother’s old Schwinn Breeze (which I am pretty sure was from 1965) when my bike got stolen.

Hudson308 

Trek made some pretty sweet bikes in 1980.

t_e_r_r_y

i was curious as to what was available in the atb world in 81 and after hitting google i now really want a schwinn sidewinder

ThermionicScott 

That's a good point! They were still on their way up.

fleslider 

My Birth year bikes fell into my lap. didnt have to do much for them.

my grail bike at 13 would have to be a , 1987 Diamond Back Arrival. some day i will find one

jefscolnago

They didn't make bikes back then.

I did have a Hopalong Cassidy bike when I was six, though. Black and white with rope details and streamers off the handlebars... and, oh yes... holsters - I think you had to supply your own toy guns, but I'm not sure..

Andy_K 

Oh, man. I could have really used a bike like that! Here's a pic my sister recently shared with me.

Petros98223

I bought a 1958 Olmo, the year of my birth, when I was in high school in about 1974. I only paid $10 for it at a garage sale, it had been badly neglected and needed repairs. I still have it, but I have not ridden on it much in the last 26 years since we moved to rural property where we have gravel roads. It came with tubular tires, mostly Campy, but some steel components (seat and handle bar stem, crank, etc) that were badly rusted. I had at the time replaced the steel parts with some decent alloy shimmano parts and rode on it extensively. I have recent been hunting down period correct Italian made components, including a lot of vintage Campy components, to return it back to its original condition.

1958 Olmo road bike. condition before my current rebuild with vintage components.

neilG

I'd love to have a bike from 1955. I could put it in the back of the '55 Chevy Nomad that I'd also love to own.

IlovemyBreeze

I have my 1965 Schwinn DeLuxe Breeze 2 speed I got for my 10th birthday. It has been repainted with Schwinn Coppertone paint and NOS decals. She’s beautiful! However, recently a pedal fell off while riding it and I’m told it cannot be repaired as it is “one piece”. Not too happy about that at all. Still trying to find one to replace it.

ParamountScapin 

You'll likely find an entire Breeze rather than a pedal. Plus, you'll end up with lots of spares.

cudak888 

Did the pedal unscrew from the crankarm, or did the crankarm break? Either way, this is a simple fix. Post up a picture or a link to an album when you get to 10 posts - start a new thread

-Kurt

IlovemyBreeze

Haha, I thought about that!

IlovemyBreeze

It didn’t unscrew from the pedal post, it slipped right off. The local bike shop said it is a one piece unit and that it can’t be put back on because the pedal came off the stem. I was hoping he was wrong...

cudak888 

You mean the pedal is now just a thin shaft at the end of the crank arm, right? If so, your shop is full of baloney - the shaft can be removed just like the whole pedal unit, and replaced with another pedal.

If the pedal slipped right out of the crankarm due to damaged threads, the shop is still full of baloney, because the crankarm can be replaced. Take a look at this thread and tell me if those double-L shaped things look like one of the broken pieces:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...portunity.html

-Kurt

IlovemyBreeze

Thank you for taking the time about this! There are no pieces like in your picture. When it happened the ball bearings fell out. To be clear, the local bike shop said MY pedal can’t be fixed, which is what I wanted because it’s original and has all my childhood scuff marks on it. LOL! So, yes, the pedal is now a thin shaft at the end of the crank arm. (Sorry, I didn’t know all the parts’ names.). He got out a catalogue and found some ugly ones with reflectors on them...I was hoping to find an authentic pedal if mine can’t be fixed.

IlovemyBreeze

WAIT!! The pedals in your picture with the XXX pattern are just like mine!! Would they be able to replace mine??

cudak888 

Should screw right on in place of the originals. Can you send a PM to @FolderBeholder, or is your account restricted until you pass 10 posts?

-Kurt