Best classic bike of each decade?
06-24-20, 06:28 PM
#26
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06-24-20, 07:02 PM
#27
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1970's
1977 Schwinn Super LeTour 12.2. My BF avatar.
06-24-20, 07:46 PM
#28
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For the 50's I'd say Schwinn Phantom
for the 60's probably the Schwinn Sting Ray
for the 70's its probably a tie between a Schwinn Varsity and the Peugeot U08 as a close second.
for the 80's I'd say Nishiki Sport, with maybe a Schwinn Traveler or Letour being a close second. both were sold in big numbers around here.
By the 90's, Peugeot was gone, Schwinn was dying, most bikes were starting to come from China. Around here GT was making a good showing selling a ton of comffort bikes and Giant and Trek were the only road bikes you saw. So its hard to pick any one model.
for the 60's probably the Schwinn Sting Ray
for the 70's its probably a tie between a Schwinn Varsity and the Peugeot U08 as a close second.
for the 80's I'd say Nishiki Sport, with maybe a Schwinn Traveler or Letour being a close second. both were sold in big numbers around here.
By the 90's, Peugeot was gone, Schwinn was dying, most bikes were starting to come from China. Around here GT was making a good showing selling a ton of comffort bikes and Giant and Trek were the only road bikes you saw. So its hard to pick any one model.
06-24-20, 08:24 PM
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Based on the bikes I've owned, each decade from the 40s to the 70s was led by builders in different countries:
1940s - French bikes were the best, led by Herse, Singer, Pitard, etc. My choice would be Herse.
1950s - British builders caught up. There were so many great ones - Gillott, Carpenter, Condor, etc. Hard to choose, maybe Carpenter.
1960s - Italian builders took the lead, led by Cinelli, Colnago, Masi. I like Masi best.
1970s - American builders surpassed everyone, led by Eisentraut, Davidson, Sachs, Gordon, etc. Eisentraut possibly my favorite.
1980s - Japanese builders? I haven't had any, but 3Rensho and Zunow look great.
1940s - French bikes were the best, led by Herse, Singer, Pitard, etc. My choice would be Herse.
1950s - British builders caught up. There were so many great ones - Gillott, Carpenter, Condor, etc. Hard to choose, maybe Carpenter.
1960s - Italian builders took the lead, led by Cinelli, Colnago, Masi. I like Masi best.
1970s - American builders surpassed everyone, led by Eisentraut, Davidson, Sachs, Gordon, etc. Eisentraut possibly my favorite.
1980s - Japanese builders? I haven't had any, but 3Rensho and Zunow look great.
06-24-20, 08:47 PM
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Where would the Paramount fit in?
06-24-20, 09:44 PM
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Best American mass-produced model from it's introduction in 1939 until Trek was making better. For quite a while it was the best that American riders could get without going to extraordinary effort. I give it props for being well made an having a nice appearance and respectable performance, but in any given year, I could find a few other models from overseas that I'd rather have. all my personal opinion, of course.
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06-25-20, 06:13 AM
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The game-changer in the 80's: Kestrel via Aegis... The 200 series.
It really didn't make it's mark until the 90's, but monococque was the shot across the bow and then the direction of steer thereafter.
The aluminums of the 90's sort of held it back until it became cheaper to make, but "they're real, and they're spectacular..."
It really didn't make it's mark until the 90's, but monococque was the shot across the bow and then the direction of steer thereafter.
The aluminums of the 90's sort of held it back until it became cheaper to make, but "they're real, and they're spectacular..."
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06-25-20, 06:32 AM
#34
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The game-changer in the 80's: Kestrel via Aegis... The 200 series.
It really didn't make it's mark until the 90's, but monococque was the shot across the bow and then the direction of steer thereafter.
The aluminums of the 90's sort of held it back until it became cheaper to make, but "they're real, and they're spectacular..."
It really didn't make it's mark until the 90's, but monococque was the shot across the bow and then the direction of steer thereafter.
The aluminums of the 90's sort of held it back until it became cheaper to make, but "they're real, and they're spectacular..."
06-27-20, 02:10 AM
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Another way of asking these questions is: Which nation had the best bikes each decade? Which bike symbolized that dominance?
I love the answers so far. Definitely fuels my inner bike historian...
I love the answers so far. Definitely fuels my inner bike historian...
06-27-20, 07:44 AM
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That thing was THE **** when I was 12!!
Even to get those blue perforated rubber grips on the "ram's horn" handlebars on the other Huffys would have been awesome.
Even to get those blue perforated rubber grips on the "ram's horn" handlebars on the other Huffys would have been awesome.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
06-27-20, 08:55 AM
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1990s, '93 Bridgestone XO 1 or maybe the '93 MB 1 or RB 1.
1980s, top end Trek road racing or sports touring bike (full reynolds or columbus tubing), a top end Cannondale touring bike, and a top end Specialized mountain bike
1970s, top end French bike, Motobecane is a good choice (le champion or a grand record); or a top end Japanese bike like a Fuji Newest or Finest.
1960s, Schwinn Paramount
1950s English 3 speed
These are all iconic bikes and most of them have different functions.
1980s, top end Trek road racing or sports touring bike (full reynolds or columbus tubing), a top end Cannondale touring bike, and a top end Specialized mountain bike
1970s, top end French bike, Motobecane is a good choice (le champion or a grand record); or a top end Japanese bike like a Fuji Newest or Finest.
1960s, Schwinn Paramount
1950s English 3 speed
These are all iconic bikes and most of them have different functions.
Last edited by bikemig; 06-27-20 at 12:22 PM.
06-27-20, 09:40 AM
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I rebuilt my vintage bike collection around European countries. One per (exception for Italy), with no regard to decade, just a good tubeset - and fit for my body.
Whatever you choose - have fun.
And remember, bike collecting for bike riders is a never ending process. N+1.
edit: ooops, fell in love with AustroDaimler and found a VentNoir to go with an Olympian. And a large step-thru for a long-think project.
also: I'm w/ RobbieTunes = I have no idea what BEST means. And whenever I think I do know the meaning, I'm usually wrong.
Whatever you choose - have fun.
And remember, bike collecting for bike riders is a never ending process. N+1.
edit: ooops, fell in love with AustroDaimler and found a VentNoir to go with an Olympian. And a large step-thru for a long-think project.
also: I'm w/ RobbieTunes = I have no idea what BEST means. And whenever I think I do know the meaning, I'm usually wrong.
Last edited by Wildwood; 06-28-20 at 02:18 PM.
06-27-20, 05:16 PM
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Just for the sake of completionism, on a purely "influential" view...
1990s: Giant TCR
2000s: Cervelo Soloist
Other options for the 90s could be a Litespeed, Cannondale CAAD, or Bianchi Mega, but the TCR is probably the most influential racing bike since the 90s, with only the Soloist mainstreaming aero tubes on non-TT bikes coming that close.
In the ONCE/CSC team replica jobs, naturally
1990s: Giant TCR
2000s: Cervelo Soloist
Other options for the 90s could be a Litespeed, Cannondale CAAD, or Bianchi Mega, but the TCR is probably the most influential racing bike since the 90s, with only the Soloist mainstreaming aero tubes on non-TT bikes coming that close.
In the ONCE/CSC team replica jobs, naturally
Last edited by sheddle; 06-27-20 at 05:21 PM.
06-28-20, 05:17 AM
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1990's - Colnago C40.
In the late 90's one of the cycle magazines asked the pro riders what bike they would want to own going into retirement and most answered Colnago C40.
In the late 90's one of the cycle magazines asked the pro riders what bike they would want to own going into retirement and most answered Colnago C40.
06-28-20, 09:24 AM
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Continental or nothing! ;-)
06-30-20, 10:36 PM
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