Kabuki12

I like bikes from different countries and really don’t know much about the politics of the riders or the builders. When I was in my twenties and riding my first racer I rode alone and raced anyone I saw ahead of me , trying to catch and hopefully pass them. I took a cycling class in the mid seventies at our local community college to learn basic riding and maintenance skills. I also had a close friend who did centuries and made racing frames. As far as organized races, I didn’t participate or follow. I think of my collection and remember some of these bikes but they were way out of my league, I could only fantasize about riding them. Now at 66 years old I have these bikes and enjoy them all. I can only name a few of the pro riders from those days and really don’t know much about them. I just enjoy the riding for what it is , mental floss. Joe

SurferRosa

​​​​​​The doc shows many in Napoli supported his his choice of team, and the rest of the country tried to destroy him personally, using as a catalyst, his choice of team.

Great flick.

The Golden Boy 

Really, I just think it's kind of cool that Trek is like 45 minutes away from here.

Add on the fact that the Vintage Trek site is a full on clinic about bikes- and it's totally possible to own those bikes.

RobbieTunes

Never saw him run. Half the Midwest was “Stop Pre,” but good sportswriters at the time got me into his style. When I was 15, a serious injury put me in a pickle; the doc actually asked “does he run track?” when he set my legs. When he was told “no,” he said “then this is good enough.” My wrestling coach was my only visitor, and he brought me a book about athletes overcoming stuff. At a tournament in Seattle or somewhere near there, I picked up the shirt, men’s L, which I couldn’t wear until I bulked up in the service. Wore it all the time, hence the chance to trade it.

No idea what it is worth now. The knife I got in trade was worth it.

sykerocker 

Fascinating thread, so far.

My bike ownership? Anything Rossin, but not all that interested in Italian bikes in general. Anything British, definitely, anything Raleigh very, very definitely. Mild interest in French bikes, but at the moment only have two competitors: Gitane Tour de France and a Peugeot PX-10.

If anything, my collecting anymore has turned more (cycling) cultural than national. Political doesn't factor at all.

Other than finding more Rossin's, I'm pretty much limiting myself to IGH equipped commuters and roadsters, work bikes and general transportation, because that's what I ride most of the time anyway. Partially because of their style and usefulness, and partially because I'm tired of changing clothes to get into cycling kit to be comfortable on the bike. I notice that in rebuilding the parts section of the shop since the fire, I'm spending time and money in acquiring Sturmey-Archer spares, not derailleurs. And enjoying 10-15 miles on a rod-braked roadster more than 20-40 miles on a tubular-tired road bike. Once I have that PX10 finished, I don't see myself buying another derailleur road bike in the immediate future.

RiddleOfSteel

The short answer for me is: no.

The longer answer is: I follow the geometry as well as a combination of the undervalued/forgotten/underdog. Geometry knocks out many manufacturers now that I am firmly staking out the 66-68cm market for good. And even among those skyscrapers, the reach (top tube length + seat tube angle) culls even more of the potential options. I am basically a Golden Retriever when it comes to a decently brazed and painted, tall bike: an instant (big) fan.

son_of_clyde

Yes. I avoid anything of Chinese origin.

seypat

It certainly has affected my ability to read up on vintage rides/events around the country and who will be attending them. Definitely affected the current build I am working on. I needed a stem/handlebar combo. I found some on the Bay from a company named Cinelli. They looked sweet, but they have the words BREV ITALY on them which generally means super expensive. I had to buy something from Japan instead. I also needed a right side 9 speed Shimano style STI shifter to test out a RD. Any 9 speed R STI except DA. I scoured the Bay and other places looking hard. The cheapest thing I could find was a new set of Micronew(Chinese knockoff) of Microshift(Taiwanese) STIs. I'll use those till they wear out then replace with Microshift. Actual Shimano STI's have too long of a throw on the brake lever shift for my short , stubby fingers. Life is hard.

noglider 

I would submit that politics and nationalism (which can include enthusiasm for a country that's not your own) plays a bigger part than some will admit. Look at how some love, e.g. French or Italian bikes but not Chinese bikes.

RobbieTunes

All it takes, though, is one really crappy Italian/French/Japanese/Dutch/British/Spanish/U.S., etc. bike to put a dent in fandom. Once the veneer is cracked, it's just a film on wood.

Spaghetti Legs 

sykerocker so you’re the reason I can’t find a Rossin at a decent price around here!😉

C9H13N 

I have a Davidson that was hand made less than 5 miles from my home, almost the same year I was born. That’s pretty special to me.

I have a soft spot for French bikes because the first “real” bike I owned was an abandoned Motobecane that I rescued from the basement of an apartment building I used to live in. That said, the only French bike I have these days is a disassembled UO-8 frame in the closet.

But other than that, not so much for nationality. I have a handful of Taiwanese bikes and a couple of Japanese ones. They’re all great at what they do, and I’m glad the people who designed them had the sense to have them built in the places they did.

tkamd73 

Hello to a fellow cheese head, similar attitude, I’ve got 4 Wisconsin built bikes, Waterford Paramount OS, Trek TX900, and two 80s Trek 400s.
Tim

seypat

So there are high end GT level vintage bikes from china out there? We need to have a thread on those.

RobbieTunes

Same here, but I sort of draw the line at Treks, after the Y-Foil, so I can at least put dates on my hypocrisy.

I really only like the steel lugged Treks and the Y-Foil. That’s it.
I like the nerve it took to build the Y-Foil. It would be nice if they still had that backbone.
Paramounts from Waterford, I like, but have not been thrilled, just pleased.

hodgykins and I rode across WI on Paramounts in WI-made jerseys and drank beer after in Green Bay.
Corny, but it’s Wisconsin, where “everything is funny.”-Phil Hartman

tkamd73 

OK, All my Treks are steel lugged, and Paramounts are an acquired taste, but what the hell is a Y- foil?
Tim

sheddle

Honestly, I'd like to get a Flying Pigeon.

RiddleOfSteel

That's me with Raleigh and Peugeot. Indifferently made, per many anecdotes (even if they ride decently), in addition to not being Japanese-made (or American made, depending on the model/builder). I guess I have a fairly hard line drawn with regard to overall quality/competence (in brazing, at least). Maybe it's because I'm not too vintage a human yet... Still, if it isn't in my size or have what I'm looking for, I won't be interested. Koga-Miyata is a fantastic combination of "old world" / continental (Netherlands) and "new(er) school" (Japan)--excellent hand-made quality and ride for people of all heights/sizes (including giraffes). Stem shifters for the top-of-the-line touring bike in 1986? Why not??? My '74 Paramount had them at one point. I'd say that's great company.

I'm not going to bag on anyone's ride, though. My limitations limit me only. If you found some magic and are presently riding that magic, it doesn't matter what I think. You're #winning, period (ugh, hashtags! lol), and I'm pumped that you and anyone else enjoy it! I just want to find some fancy scaffolding with wheels to ride, hung with my favorite components. And knowing me, you'll know when I do (for better or for worse!).

aland2

Germany was never a cycling nation.

stephanlinn

Thanks for the tip about the documentary. I didn't realize Miradonna played for Barcelona and Naples AND was involved with the Camorra. Is there a connection between the Camorra and Piranello, Bianchi, etc...? I currently own a German bike and they don't have the best history. I can recommend the Italian TV series called Gomorrah.
Ciao

RobbieTunes

Back when Trek had balls. Of course, now they have power.

RobbieTunes

There’s a great copy made in India with running boards for a passenger and ornate trim.

Germany_chris

If available I will buy by either American or German

CrowSeph

Sometimes i feel a bit influenced by my country in general.
I love to see the craftsmanship, the cure of the details and the fame of the quality of the italian brand in general (we got a lot of big brands! Cars, clothing etc) . As you can expect I love campagnolo (wich one more than one time i started to think about being a collector but since i can't for many reason I'll just stick with some of my jewelry and pride) . for me campy is an ambassador of the quality and the invention on bikes in general, even the name of the brand is some sort of italianissimo simbol (is a surname but translated mean a country man, land-man).. For me a perfect bike is not only the lightest machine or the super aero, but instead is something made with the heart in one hand and the patiece and passion in the other hand, is finding of the correct lines and the correct pieces to match into the small detail the art of making, the way the old frame builder do. The customization, the traditions and the original ideas are some example of the truly beauty. Maybe I'am wrong but i can see this shine of line into those framebulders that still craft bikes. In italian there are a lot. Okay i admit that maybe I'am nore influenced than i was thinking.

tkamd73 

Thanks for posting that, now I know, easy to see where the name came from. I like a lot of the trek road frames, and the multi-tracks, but kind of draw the line around the year 2000, not much interest after that. Always did admire their innovation though, currently building up a mid nineties 2120 Carbon.
Tim