Originally Posted by
sd5782
I like these lists in general, but would like to see this or another one with the caveat that the bikes were produced in enough numbers that one might actually have a decent chance of finding one. This list could be more useful to that mythical newcomer seeking wise advice into the vintage bicycles. Custom builders and rare bikes would be superior I suppose, but to the new person would maybe add to the confusion. One almost needs a basis with some good bikes to appreciate the great ones.
Your request is actually within the ethos of the original intent in which I started this thread, and even leaving room for that one-off ultra rare bike as more of a category (quest/grail bike) than an actual specific bike, as people and their needs/wants tend to be so different. Perhaps your post is the gentle nudge to bring things back to topic.
What got me started was thinking...If someone came along and said "hey I'd love to get into this vintage (road) bike thing. I've got room for 10 bikes - where should I start?" That would be the question. Purely hypothetical, as I don't know if there is a single soul on this earth asking it. However, I know that people come to this forum everyday and wonder about old bikes. The unanswered question is...what would or could be a somewhat collective answer? What is the quintessential sample set of bikes? "Oh, have you tried a Miyata 1000 or a Trek 720 for a tourer? Check those out! A relaxed old school racer? Try a Peugeot PX-10 or a Raleigh International." Something that when people think of a purely classic (and classy) vintage road bike...70s or 80s...___________ comes to mind. Something where the vintage road bike experience wouldn't be complete without - but staying fairly pedestrian and accomplish-able.
I'm painting with a VERY broad brush here, but I still think the list would look something like...
1. That relaxed but fast ride...French. Nimble yet comfortable (PX-10, Gitane TdF, Motobecane, etc)
2. That sleek and racy ride...a thoroughbred race horse of a bike...Italian (Pinarello, De Rosa, Cinelli, Masi, Colnago...etc etc)
3. That tourer to take you anywhere you want to go (Miyata 1000 or Trek 720)
4. Slow moving but cushy - the cadillac. (fillet-brazed Schwinn, Fuji S-10S)
5. The high end. Top-o-The-Line, production wise, and pick your poison! (Le Champion, Eddy Mercx, RB-1, Paramount, Opus III, Specialissima, etc)
6. The punch-above-its-weight budget ride (UO-8, Super Course, Trek Multi-Track, Specialized Crossroads)
7. The Custom. Rare, or individual and unique (Merz, Holdsworth, Bruce Gordon, Wizard, etc)
8. The Gentleman's ride...English (Raleigh 3 speed)
9. The Japanese tidal wave! (Ironman, 3Rensho, Cherubim, Fuji, Lotus, etc)
10. That old MTB hanging in the garage...convert it and ride! (Ritchey, Klein, Schwinn Cimarron, Stumpy, Singletrack, etc)
I can think of quite a few other categories...the city bike (Belgian), the old school (pre 1960s), the no-name, the bottom-of-the-barrel, the beach bike, the winter thrasher. But in thinking of my time here in C&V for quite a few years, I think there are many bike names that float to the surface (recommended) that are recommended by a lot of people (common and/or affordable). Doing a search on the top # of replies does lend itself to finding out some of these bikes.
And there are dozens of ways to do this...bike by the decade, bikes categorized by tubing set, by racing wins, by production numbers, by pocketbook, or any host of other things.
But if a newbie (of common sizing) came our way and said 'hey, recommend me a solid option for ________ ' I think there are some bikes that sort of float to the top, the bikes that speak to us, the ones that, if upon hearing of their final purchase, could allow us to nod our heads in solidarity...knowing that, yeah, someone steered them in the right direction.
All in good fun.