Nostalgia vs. reality.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Posts: 3,250
Bikes: More than there were awhile ago.
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 637 Post(s)
Liked 1,285 Times
in
610 Posts
Nostalgia vs. reality.
When I was a kid back in 1963 I got a shiny red Murray Missile for my 8th birthday and I have many great memories of that bike. Hence my choice of user name. I have long thought it would be great to have one for old time sake. Well, I got the opportunity to work on a virtually identical Murray built Sears Foremost from the same era....... I no longer want a Murray Missile for old time sake LOL and they can't come get this Foremost out of here soon enough. Once again I will let memories just be memories. 😎
__________________
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
Likes For Murray Missile:
#2
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2014 Fuji Cross 2.0 LE, 1993 Santana Vision, 1993 Specialized Allez Pro, 1993 Trek 930, 1985 Panasonic DX3000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Liked 75 Times
in
56 Posts
So true!! Memories always have a way of glossing over reality. My first bike bike was a red framed used bike back in the late 60's of which I don't remember the name. My grandfather built her up with a long support bar and banana seat. I really loved it, after that a Murray banana seated green bike. Now I come across those and wonder how I was able to ride these very heavy machines. But back in the day, it was the best
#3
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 5,998
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1955 Post(s)
Liked 3,661 Times
in
1,679 Posts
My brother gave me a beacon 10 speed of his when i was in high school. I rode it everywhere. When i ran accross one at a yard sale i couldnt pull the trigger. All steel components and rims just dont do it for me anymore. Also the frameset while servicable was pretty darn heavy. Funny how i remembered it.
#4
Used to be Conspiratemus
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hamilton ON Canada
Posts: 1,512
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 245 Times
in
163 Posts
I have no nostalgia for the dentistry of my 1950s childhood, either. But at least we didn’t have anti-vaxxers then. Nobody died from opposition to water fluoridation. But boy were our teeth rotten. “Just one cavity!” at each visit was a triumph ... and a toothpaste ad phrase.
Last edited by conspiratemus1; 09-23-20 at 09:33 AM.
Likes For conspiratemus1:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,072
Bikes: my precious steel boys
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 438 Post(s)
Liked 603 Times
in
359 Posts
My brother gave me a beacon 10 speed of his when i was in high school. I rode it everywhere. When i ran accross one at a yard sale i couldnt pull the trigger. All steel components and rims just dont do it for me anymore. Also the frameset while servicable was pretty darn heavy. Funny how i remembered it.
Likes For sheddle:
#6
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 5,998
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1955 Post(s)
Liked 3,661 Times
in
1,679 Posts
Likes For 52telecaster:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,265
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times
in
701 Posts
“Don’t meet your heroes.”
Likes For noobinsf:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,054
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3015 Post(s)
Liked 3,802 Times
in
1,408 Posts
Doing something the second time is rarely as memorable as the first.
I tried it. I liked it. But there is so much more new to try, more than I can do in a lifetime.
I tried it. I liked it. But there is so much more new to try, more than I can do in a lifetime.
Likes For iab:
#9
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,409 Times
in
909 Posts
I have no nostalgia for the dentistry of my 1950s childhood, either. But at least we didn’t have anti-vaxxers then. Nobody died from opposition to water fluoridation. But boy were our teeth rotten. “Just one cavity!” at each visit was a triumph ... and a toothpaste ad phrase.
He pulled teeth for $5 cash, fillings were $10. Numbing? What was that?
He kept his tools in an aquarium that seemed to be steamy. It had some cool name. Clavicle?
The chair was a Ritter, black onyx with leather pulley straps or belts. Not high speed. I think they used them in prisons, too.
He used a pedal switch. No clamping things open, no assistant, just "hold steady," and "OK, spit."
He had Parkinson's and would shake until he got to your mouth, and then got steady.
You got very used to it, and it was actually comforting. As a child, I had no clue; thought it was normal.
Today, due to hyper-sensitivity, no numbing, maybe gas if it's not strong.
Wisdom teeth, then several root canals, no anesthetic. One took 4 hours.
I've learned to "go to another place" during these, but one guy only took 20 minutes, so I was barely "there."
As for bikes, my paper route Columbia 2-speed (kickback) was a tank and I would rather walk to the pool than take my paper route bike.
My '76 Bicentennial Free Spirit remains the most beautiful and fastest bike that I or anyone else has ever ridden.
And I'm not about to alter that with reality.
Likes For RobbieTunes:
Likes For RobbieTunes:
#11
Used to be Conspiratemus
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hamilton ON Canada
Posts: 1,512
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 245 Times
in
163 Posts
. . .
Today, due to hyper-sensitivity, no numbing, maybe gas if it's not strong.
Wisdom teeth, then several root canals, no anesthetic. One took 4 hours.
I've learned to "go to another place" during these, but one guy only took 20 minutes, so I was barely "there."
. . ..
Today, due to hyper-sensitivity, no numbing, maybe gas if it's not strong.
Wisdom teeth, then several root canals, no anesthetic. One took 4 hours.
I've learned to "go to another place" during these, but one guy only took 20 minutes, so I was barely "there."
. . ..
Likes For conspiratemus1:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Let's not forget the clothes that accompanied those late 50s early 60s bicycles for a kid. In my case my patched knees Levi's over cotton briefs, cotton T-Shirt summer, add a long sleeved flannel shirt in the winter and semi-hi-topped Red Wing Flyer lace up boots. Yet during summer vacation from school I would ride 10-20 miles a day on a bike that weighed the same or a little more than me.
Last time I rode a bike wearing briefs and Levi's the combination of sweat and wet cotton made a pretty good polishing compound, took a couple days to calm down the contact points.
Last time I rode a bike wearing briefs and Levi's the combination of sweat and wet cotton made a pretty good polishing compound, took a couple days to calm down the contact points.
Likes For since6:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,579
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1608 Post(s)
Liked 2,216 Times
in
1,103 Posts
Well there is what I had and what I wished I had. More interest in the later than the former
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
#14
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,833 Times
in
2,229 Posts
I remember walking uphill, in the snow to school. Both directions......
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Likes For Wildwood:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,846
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,822 Times
in
1,541 Posts
you forgot barefoot. I can say I have walked to school at 50 below, with parka and gloves, but not snowboots...that was uncool for a teenager
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,846
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,822 Times
in
1,541 Posts
My dentist was upstairs over a candy store, the Ben Franklin downtown.
He pulled teeth for $5 cash, fillings were $10. Numbing? What was that?
He kept his tools in an aquarium that seemed to be steamy. It had some cool name. Clavicle?
The chair was a Ritter, black onyx with leather pulley straps or belts. Not high speed. I think they used them in prisons, too.
He used a pedal switch. No clamping things open, no assistant, just "hold steady," and "OK, spit."
He had Parkinson's and would shake until he got to your mouth, and then got steady.
You got very used to it, and it was actually comforting. As a child, I had no clue; thought it was normal.
Today, due to hyper-sensitivity, no numbing, maybe gas if it's not strong.
Wisdom teeth, then several root canals, no anesthetic. One took 4 hours.
I've learned to "go to another place" during these, but one guy only took 20 minutes, so I was barely "there."
As for bikes, my paper route Columbia 2-speed (kickback) was a tank and I would rather walk to the pool than take my paper route bike.
My '76 Bicentennial Free Spirit remains the most beautiful and fastest bike that I or anyone else has ever ridden.
And I'm not about to alter that with reality.
He pulled teeth for $5 cash, fillings were $10. Numbing? What was that?
He kept his tools in an aquarium that seemed to be steamy. It had some cool name. Clavicle?
The chair was a Ritter, black onyx with leather pulley straps or belts. Not high speed. I think they used them in prisons, too.
He used a pedal switch. No clamping things open, no assistant, just "hold steady," and "OK, spit."
He had Parkinson's and would shake until he got to your mouth, and then got steady.
You got very used to it, and it was actually comforting. As a child, I had no clue; thought it was normal.
Today, due to hyper-sensitivity, no numbing, maybe gas if it's not strong.
Wisdom teeth, then several root canals, no anesthetic. One took 4 hours.
I've learned to "go to another place" during these, but one guy only took 20 minutes, so I was barely "there."
As for bikes, my paper route Columbia 2-speed (kickback) was a tank and I would rather walk to the pool than take my paper route bike.
My '76 Bicentennial Free Spirit remains the most beautiful and fastest bike that I or anyone else has ever ridden.
And I'm not about to alter that with reality.
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,846
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,822 Times
in
1,541 Posts
BITD my 3 speed columbia (shimno 333 hub, steel rims) was the greatest, even got my bicycling merit badge on it. then I got my first 10 speed...an azuki and have never looked back
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 2,841
Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 796 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
367 Posts
I had a hand me down Schwinn Typhoon from my older brother who had probably had it handed down to him from a neighbor or some such, I commuted to Jr HS on that bike and it took me lots of places. I have thought of finding one and then think better of it. Mine was something like this ....
#19
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,646
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,700 Times
in
936 Posts
I saw a BEAUTIFUL copper tone Jaguar (or some other paper boy-esque Schwinn) at a rummage sale- it was in excellent shape- only $75; my wife gave me the go ahead- I was going to pull the trigger- as I grabbed it to take it up to pay for it- the second I started to pick it up.... there was no way in hell I would ride that thing as long as I had lighter, more 'exertion friendly' bikes. Someone else got a prize that day.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Posts: 3,250
Bikes: More than there were awhile ago.
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 637 Post(s)
Liked 1,285 Times
in
610 Posts
I had a hand me down Schwinn Typhoon from my older brother who had probably had it handed down to him from a neighbor or some such, I commuted to Jr HS on that bike and it took me lots of places. I have thought of finding one and then think better of it. Mine was something like this ....
__________________
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
Likes For Murray Missile:
#21
Junior Member
Sometimes there is a wake up call about old bikes and nostalgia to be had, but I feel like if you approach old bikes with an understanding of what they are there is enjoyment to be had. My favorite riding bike is a 3 speed road bike from the 50s. The bike is slower, heavier, cruder in most every way than a modern road bike (I've ridden a lot of bikes modern and old), but the experience it gives is so much fun. The best comparison I can give to it's ride is comparing a modern sports car to an old MG roadster. The same can be said for something like the Schwinn Typhoon above, a modern bike will be "better" but the experience it gives while riding is worthwhile. Granted I did end up building new wheels for the bike, because steel rims offer no advantage and 26x1 3/8 had limited tires that were any good. I suppose you have to find the good in the old and update what doesn't work (just like with cars)
Likes For rogerm3d:
#22
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,515
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2747 Post(s)
Liked 3,395 Times
in
2,056 Posts
Cleaning out the old homestead to settle the estate and just threw my first bike on the pile to go to the scrap yard. AMF roadmaster single speed coaster bent fork.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Near Pottstown, PA: 30 miles NW of Philadelphia
Posts: 2,186
Bikes: 2 Trek Mtn, Cannondale R600 road, 6 vintage road bikes
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 472 Post(s)
Liked 1,028 Times
in
404 Posts
My first new bike, bought with money saved from mowing many lawns, was a Campus green Schwinn Varsity. Loved it. Rode, it and moved it many times, riding less and less. First comes Varsity, then comes marriage, then comes Thomas in the baby carriage. The Varsity collected dust and cob webs in many garages until, one day, with an air of confidence (aka Engineer's arrogant know-it-all) I said "I cannot see myself ever riding drop bars again." Took it to the recycling center and rolled it into the dumpster.
I now own 9 drop bar road bikes and a dropped mtn bike. But I'm also a part time LBS mechanic and have handled, serviced and ridden many Varsities. Tom Rush comes to mind - "No regrets, no tears goodbye, don't want you back. We'd only cry again, say goodbye again."
Once you've ridden a top end bike, there's no going back.
I now own 9 drop bar road bikes and a dropped mtn bike. But I'm also a part time LBS mechanic and have handled, serviced and ridden many Varsities. Tom Rush comes to mind - "No regrets, no tears goodbye, don't want you back. We'd only cry again, say goodbye again."
Once you've ridden a top end bike, there's no going back.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North, Ga.
Posts: 2,401
Bikes: 3Rensho-Aerodynamics, Bernard Hinault Look - 1986 tour winner, Guerciotti, Various Klein's & Panasonic's
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 159 Post(s)
Liked 375 Times
in
162 Posts
Looking through adds and articles in bicycling magazine at 15 years old, my dream bike was a 3rensho aerodynamics. Almost 40 years later I actually have one. I must say the nostalgia lived up to the reality!