Attainable C&V You Want but just Haven't Got!
 

Hello,

Thought this might be a fun thread idea... I've been into this for a bit more than a decade now (which seems a long time considering I'm only 33). Some of the first fine vintage bicycles I was introduced to were models with Nervex Pro lugs, such as the Peugeot PX-10 and Raleigh International. Despite owning some rare bicycles and going through roughly 20 vintage ones and spending many thousands of dollars on the hobby, I have yet to own and ride ANY bicycle with Nervex Pro lugs despite always admiring them and the fact that many models are very reasonably priced.

That's my starter. What's on your wish list of reasonable C&V stuff that you simply haven't got around to having yet?

-Gregory

I probably have enough bikes... if I can complete them all. It's been perhaps 10 months, IIRC, since I posted a WTB for some 700C wheels with track hubs, High Flange, so I can get my Zeus track bike together. Especially now as I do have a set of rollers in the basement and I could at least use the bike there. I was sorely tempted when recently there was a For Sale post but the wheels were 27". That is what I really want but have not yet found; of course I could resolve this... if cost were no object.

85' Centurion Prestige . These come up for sale around me now and then , usually not my size or not the right year .
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...5KUd1jxW8d6RuQ

I like this question. Many of the bikes I have and want are rare but not really expensive in the realm of C&V. I'm interested in smaller ~one-man American-made steel lugged frames. I found my Spectrum, Fuso, Appel, etc. for not a lot. I've paid more for a couple of well-known collectible bikes.

So...what I want:
Fattic
Bock
Kvale
Mooney
Franklin

Then the ones you kind of just have to pay for:
Bruce Gordon
Eisentraut
Della Santa
Gangl
DiNucci

Alex,
Good to see your putting Doug at the top of the list! Smiles, MH

Good luck with finding an 86. Never seen a real one, not even in a pic(except for the catalog). The 85s are hard enough to find. On a related note, 83 Turbo close to you. Might be your size. The 83 and 84 I have are really nice bikes. I haven't ridden the 85 Prestige yet. It might be lighter, but I find it hard to believe it'll ride any better than the Turbos. Marathon season ended a week or so ago. I am in recovery mode till after Thanksgiving. :D

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224635331593

A 65cm quality early 80s road frame that is in good cosmetic condition. Haven't come across one I would want to keep and hang period correct components.

Next- a bike from Jeff Bock. My main road frame was built in one of his classes where he did some of the brazing, but it'd be cool to have one fully made by him. The guy is an artist.

Gray fade Schwinn Prologue.
Purple slime PDG Paramount.
Panasonic DX-5000.
Dinucci designed early '90s Allez.

All 60 to 62cm.

Brent

Good question. Working my way through the more readily available French racers. So, probably something like a Jeunet 630 and a Mercier 300.

Also interested in some higher end Brits, like Bob Jackson, Holdsworth, etc. Probably pick up something in that direction in 2022.

I'm not looking for anything, but have been known to succumb to temptation! That's how I ended up with a Hetchins, and have no regrets about that. :)

Another temptation was a shiny International. I grew up looking at Raleigh catalogs and also found the Nervex lugs pretty exotic. When a nearly new one popped up for sale about 20 years ago, I was happy to pay the asking price.....
https://live.staticflickr.com/1420/1...5c4bcc_c_d.jpg

...but... my first good bike was a Raleigh Gran Sport. I rode it for 14 years, eventually deciding that it was showing its age and that I needed an update. I considered a Mercian (which is still a temptation), but went with a small local-ish frame builder. We tweaked the Gran Sport's geometry, added a few modern features, and picked out a suitable color. I'm still riding that bike, and have put about 60,000 miles on it. If you think you know what you want in a frame, this is a path you should consider.
this was its original color and configuration. Apologies for the bar tape.
https://live.staticflickr.com/1307/1...9ba81b_c_d.jpg

About 10 years later, when I was bike commuting, I thought it was time to get a bike that was suited to the job. i.e. room for fenders and larger tires, fittings for racks, lights, etc. I was doing some traveling, so I was looking for S&S couplers too. I went to a (different) local-ish builder, worked out the design, and was very happy with the results!
https://live.staticflickr.com/5585/3...e57f44_c_d.jpg

There are plenty of highly skilled frame builders out there, ready to put together something that fulfills your needs and dreams! Just to showcase a couple, let me offer some pics of Mark DiNucci's work...
https://live.staticflickr.com/1726/4...0251a4_c_d.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/8715/1...9caea1_c_d.jpg

and a couple of Chris Bishop's bikes.....
https://live.staticflickr.com/898/41...795fd1_c_d.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/1735/4...05b16f_c_d.jpg

Steve in Peoria

Pretty much everything Steelbikeguy has, especially that primo International. Ever since losing my International to a vehicle collision I've pined to replace it. Those sublime chromed Nervex lugs and fork crown speak to me, even though the typically sloppy Raleigh finish on them is not up there with the finest makers. An orange one would be ideal. I regularly search for one but have had no luck finding anything that is both in great shape and my size. I will continue. Another desirable (though perhaps a bit less attainable) for me would be an Alex Singer or similar French touring bike. This would have to be a rider with suitable gearing for a tour, not a wallhanger, something like this...
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6195406ea6.jpg

A Raleigh Team Professional of Reynolds 753 steel.

Not in the market for any bikes at the moment. Wife wants me to liquidate some. Gasp! But anything with chrome lugs in my size would be worth at least looking at. Everybody has that one little thing about bikes that floats their boat and for me it is chrome lugs. And of course I'd gladly take polished SS lugs, which would be even better.

I think I may be done with C&V. Technically, at the very least. My partner has a Chapman city bike, I'd like one to match. And I'd like to try Ekar 13 on something for the WI north woods.

The current Chapman.

https://live.staticflickr.com/4399/3...540a1623_b.jpg02 Chapman by iabisdb, on Flickr

I got too may bicycles. Sure? Yes. Is there something what I'd really like to have?
Yep.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...779bd4c184.jpg

Aldo first forgot it but there were made five of these. Aldo? Check the rear fork end.
But it has to be attainable?
Probably this isn't that too. But maybe ..

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...87644f83d5.jpg

I am really only looking for/at 2 bikes at the time...but as always this could change

Torpado Super Light, I had a Torpado super strada and it really rode really well, so I have really wanted to see how cool the top end superlight would be. these are pretty rare so not sure how attainable they are.

Dave Kirk custom. I set a number of personal goals a few years back that when completed a deposit would be made. down to meeting the one last goal

Davidson
Jackson
Gios Torino
I think I have the rest covered.

I'll preface this by giving the "why" and a photo of the latest play toy.

I was able to stumble across and purchase this colorful Klein Quantum ---- I couldnt resist, buuuuuuuuuuut - i am flush with road bikes. Have a lifetime supply so dont need any more

https://i.imgur.com/HamcvAv.jpg


Sooooooo --- If i can make some room in the budget by selling a few things, i will be on the lookout for a matching Klein Rascal

https://i.imgur.com/M2CVxpq.jpg

And an Attitude or Adroit in this famous paint scheme would probably satisfy my Klein urges for now - do not need a tension disc like this one has, but would be a nice bonus !

https://i.imgur.com/Tu7EURr.jpg




Some race pics of Tinker Juarez on these wildly painted critters (Boy, those Etto helmets were sure ugly werent they?

https://i.imgur.com/7Iw5z6v.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dc1Sk2o.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/T0JkarM.jpg

So many bikes, so little time, you can only ride one at a time, blah, blah, blah. :twitchy:

Early PDX builders, Merz, Newlands/Strawberry/DiNucci, check, check and check. ;)

But no bikes actually built by Andy that fit me yet, or by Dinucci on his own. :wtf:

So with 9 total combined from the 3, I still have a couple to go. :D

Well I'm a sucker for red, white, and blue bikes. So for one I want another one of the Raleigh Team USA bikes in my size and in great shape like I had. This time around I go stupid and put really good parts on it.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dfa1b54107.jpg
Needs great paint and to be a 55/56cm.

​​​​I'd also love one of the Gianni Motta's painted in the U.S. flag scheme. There was a 57cm one local a few years ago but I need one to fit me.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1cc949a6e3.jpg

If you were more local, and this thread was a month ago, you would have had your 2nd wish. Frame has been stripped, and components used to replace lesser ones on my other rides.
Tim
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...79f0708ad.jpeg
92 Series 5, 60cm

at some point we get our hands on something that ends the quest for the ultimate. I've been a watch collector for years, and when I got one particular watch, it ended my collecting.

The same can be said about bikes. When you get the one that really does it for you, the quest is over. In my case it's the Dinucci. There's nothing like it. Not so much about obsessive lug filing and details, it's about how it makes you feel when you ride it. I still ride other bikes, but the Dinucci has scratched the itch. I'm done.

/markp

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5ac18eef17.jpg

Is this one big enough?

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/d...412222905.html

Wow, yeah something like that. A heck of a deal.

International and/or Super Course, Peugeot PA60 in the olive color (attainability in the states debatable), A 70's or 80's sport touring Trek.

As for classic but not vintage? A Brian Chapman.

Brian Chapman
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...57bd5bcae2.jpg

​​​​​​​PA60
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a9d1da6b9e.jpg