Best of Classic & Vintage 2020
 

As this miserable year comes to a close, let's take a moment to reflect on your Classic & Vintage highlights from 2020. Perhaps you have a favorite new C&V thread? Best new acquisition of 2020? Do you have a favorite new build from another forum member? Best ride on a C&V bike during 2020? You get the idea...

I admit this thread is also a bit self-serving. It's been a very slow C&V year for me--not much riding or wrenching. As a result, I've spent a lot less time on this forum than in the past, and I don't know what Bikeforums C&V developments I've missed. I'm looking forward to hearing about your 2020 C&V highlights.

I'll start...Greg Lemond is awarded the Congressional Gold Medal:
https://www.velonews.com/news/road/g...al-gold-medal/

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I picked up way too many bikes and rode too few miles. I bought a 1968 Schwinn Paramount Tourist, a 1971 Witcomb with a full campy NR group, a 1985 Pinarello cross with a bunch of inexpensive Japanese parts, and a 1958 Claud Butler Jubilee. I still haven't fixed up any of them! I did build up and got rid of three bikes (two specialized rockhoppers and a 1970s gitane mixte) so I guess this was a N + 1 year. I'm also building a 1992 Specialized stumpjumper drop bar bike for myself that I want to finish before my garage becomes a deep freeze.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...42ab2f6fa3.jpg
1968 Schwinn Paramount Tourist
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1aa432d1f3.jpg
1971 Witcomb
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3b866c60f8.jpg
1985 Pinarello Cross
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...50c945bb54.jpg
1958 Claud Butler Jubilee

My success is much smaller in scale than Mr. LeMond’s, but I did figure out that I prefer drop bars on this Campania, which I had been riding as an upright townie for about a year. I’m now pondering fatter tires, or possibly a full Gigificazione 650b.


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2020 I came to the realization that I like down tube shifters and can totally live without brifters.

4050 miles so far.
1 organized century, 10 more with friends.
1 trip to WI to ride scenic hills.
Most of the mileage in MO and IL.
I learned to climb, by climbing.
Exxon Graftek
Coppi Reparte Corsa
Pinarelo Caten Lusso
Colnago CLX
Paramount (‘84) frameset
Koga-Miyata ProRacer
Got used to 1x11
PR’s on rollers
My girlfriend now has 2 C&V bikes
Met some cool people.
Looking forward to some old things being “new” again.

Biggest thing for me was a swap of Cinellis. I had a 1972ish Speciale Corsa that was a bit small for me, I rode it in an Eroica CA or two, but It's smaller than optimum. By pure kismet, I ran into a guy who had a 1965ish SC in my size. It was too big for him, and mine was his size. One mutual inspection of frames later, and the swap was done. So he got the silver frame and I got the blue frame. We're both happy.

This one is now his.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7ad9e67c12.jpg

This one is now mine, as built up by me.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e20bfe53a.jpg

Don't forget the bloody dufus.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8b8bb37b_h.jpgMP 13 by iabisdb, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e9b59625_h.jpgMP 12 by iabisdb, on Flickr

I picked up a nice Triplecross and a Crossroads ~1990 and learned to love trails and dike lands.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8f67aa0fcd.jpg

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It has been an up and down year. On the down, missed Eroica and riding with my good friend and getting a weekend of eye candy, too many people not doing well and general state of affairs. On the up, I added to my stable by purchasing a fellow BF members 1975 Colnago Super(great bike from a cool former owner), a lot more saddle time this year as I am semi-retired, my family and I are healthy.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b0e5ddaef.jpeg

It was odd....
 

That I didn’t find any humor in your injury at the time.
I must be slipping.

That jersey has its own story.

Ironman bike was available '85 - '89 and I had one Ironman for each year '86 - '89 and could never find an '85 til 2020. The straight is complete, I'm done getting bikes...other than to flip.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ab8a20a945.jpg

Yes. And it ends with me still the dufus and you the mensch. :thumb:

Built this bike after acquiring it in September. Two PO are BFr's. Didn't think I would find one in the price range that would be acceptable. The frame set was nicely priced as were some of the components, some were not. Love the bike.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...23570dbf_b.jpgP1040420 on Flickr

the surprise may turn out to be the Trek 760, which is in process and surprizingly good!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6ed58ed0_b.jpgP1040475, on Flickr

I didn't ride as many miles as I wanted this year, for a variety of reasons, but I finished a project. It started last fall when a local shop held an "update an old bike" clinic. I missed the clinic but asked if they had any old bikes for sale. That led me to this 1981 Fuji S12-S LTD. It was missing a few parts and had a crappy rattle-can respray, but was basically solid and complete. First, I got it road ready to make sure it was going to be worth the effort to completely redo.
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1981 Fuji S12-S LTD, ready to ride.

After the test ride, the work began. All the hardware came off, then I had to work on the "decals". They were a combination of craft store letters and auto shop striping decals. A heat gun helped soften the glue. Next I stripped the frame down to bare metal and sanded it smooth. Since it was cheap paint, it came off easily with sandpaper. One warm spring day, I got the primer and color applied. I didn't order the decals until after I painted but that was okay, so the paint had plenty of time to cure. I liked the color, but I wasn't sure about the shine. After I put the decals on and applied the clear coat, it really popped. I am extremely happy with how it looks. It was an agonizing wait for the clear to harden so I could reassemble everything. In the end, it was worth it. I try to rotate through all my bikes but I may have shown some favoritism toward this one.
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1981 Fuji S12-S LTD

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331 Chromoly frame

2020 was the year I got to sample the finest middle tier C&V bicycles picked up incomplete and cheap: Road Racers, Sports Tourers, and a Tourer. Each one was a "Keeper". Any one of them could have been my one and only. 2020 was also the year that I sold off every one of them and put the $ (I'm in the black.) into brazing equipment and hopefully a set of tubes and lugs. Everything I learned from riding the bikes THAT YOU GUYS TOLD ME I HAD TO HAVE will be sifted onto my conception of the ideal Classic Road Bike which I hope to be riding in 2021.

My one keeper for 2020. The best news is that I passed on to others 4 or 5 bikes.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c44650de4.jpg

I discovered a whole different side of cycling on my wacky cyclocross adventure on the Emma Carlin trail in Wisconsin. My Mercier wasnt exactly the type of bike to tackle the trail but I made it thru without incident. But then hung out in the trailhead parking lot and talked to a few mountain bikers. Liked the atmosphere and the comradery. I'll be looking for a mountain bike with some suspension for next year.
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Me!
 

My best of 2020 is joining the C&V ranks, finally fixing up and getting riding on my Ironman, after nearly a decade of lurking (and time in the Recreational and Family forum).

​​​​​​Story here https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ion-story.html

I enjoyed the process enough to start a second C&V project... Italvega Gran Turismo which languished as I spent my non-family, non-chore weekend time riding not wrenching.

My goal had been to do an easy (organized) century this summer. inspired by the HHH discussion on the Ironman thread, I targeted Aug 29th, and to do it on the Ironman, requiring more commitment to flexibility and strength. 8/29 turned out to be a "Stay inside, avoid activity due to smoke" day, but I rode 63 miles and 44kft, a milestone for me. On the Ironman!

Then, courtesy of the "Are you looking for one of these" threads, a Lambert, well cleaned up, was available right near me, and reasonably priced. That would ensure I'm L'Eroica ready if the ItalVega stalls...why not go see it.

As I'm buying the Lambert from a fellow BF'er, he asks "So, are you a collector too?"

I guess I am now!

.
...I did some more paint repairs, and after fixing up and reassembling a Cinelli SC and a Colnago Super (both from the 80's, I think), I got to ride them.
I don't know what I was expecting, exactly. I decided after a number of rides that they are fine bicycles, but no better or worse than a number of other fine marques.

So on the one hand, I'm pleased I finally have a Cinelli SC and a Colnago Super.
And on the other hand, I'm pleased that I have had a number of bikes I thought their equal, and for a longer time. So I guess I wasn't missing much.

Mostly, I am very impressed with more modern rims and tyres. But that's been going on since before 2020. :) And I still wish I were as fast as I once thought I was.

Just ticked over 2500 miles for the year - haven't put in this many miles in at least 15 years. Gym was closed, and I was grateful for an exercise option.

WFH has allowed for "after work" rides to continue into October, November, and December. WFH has also made it easier to ride farther after work since there is no commute time. Big change for 2020. Many times, I couldn't get out of the office in time to ride.

Late in the fall, I discovered some new MUP links to areas way north of the city. Looking forward to exploring more in 2021.

Weight is down 25 pounds as part of an effort begun in April of 2019. Lack of workplace candy and vending machines helps a lot. 200lbs is the new "sound barrier".

Found a Schwinn Prelude being thrown out while on a "Covad sanity walk" with my wife. Filpped it since it was too small for me. Went to a gal who was stoked to get it. Before and after pics, since this is C&V.

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Hoping 2020 will pass and 2021 will be better for all!

Lots of ups and downs for me this year. 2020 has altered my reality: I had to drop out of the lovely little college in Portland I used to attended thanks to academic pressures rising costs, I got into lots of squabbles with my mom when moving back in, and I haven't seen much of my friends thanks to the pandemic. On the up side, I got my mom into cycling, I've acquired some tools and skills that will allow me to work on all things C&V, and I've learned about the N+1 rule which has allowed me to amass a decent squad of bikes that I hope to ride on during 2021 Eroica CA. I hope to look back on this year with rose-tinted specs.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...01576e04cc.jpg
On left: my mom's Brompton; On right: my 1991 Miyata 1000.

I’ve ridden about 4600 miles this year with probably 90% of that on modern bikes, mostly steel but one Ti frame I bought back in May and that has been pretty much my primary ride (did 63 miles today on it). These bikes have 1 1/8” threadless headsets, sloping top tubes, and two have carbon forks and disc brakes, all have brifters of some sort. That said, my current project is rehabbing a 1937 Raleigh Sports Tourist, so I keep dabbling in C&V.

I've ridden a little bit this year, bought a little bit, sold a little bit, and tinkered a little bit... Purchasing the 1954 Carlton Super Python and gathering parts for it has probably been the most significant project, but that's not done yet and may well be sold off just about as soon as it's done... I currently have four bicycles ready to ride, one of which is borrowed and will be returned to the owner soon, two I want to sell, and one new cruiser I purchased. The other three are projects slowly coming together. The goal is to just have three or four bicycles to suit my different riding styles, all ready to ride and keep in orderly fashion. I hope that becomes a reality in 2021!

-Gregory