The verdict is in...or is it? The cumulative list of our favorite/best bikes...
01-24-23, 06:36 PM
#76
The Huffmeister
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Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande
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01-24-23, 06:44 PM
#77
The Huffmeister
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Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande
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In the interest of full disclosure, I was a little saddened that there was only a single, lonely Super Course mentioned. I really enjoy my '73, and riding it for the first time was enlightening, coming from mainly a Fuji S10-S. It was lighter, springer, like it was just happy to go, and had great road manners. What they say about those bikes is true, that they punch above their weight class.
However, on the flip side, I first turned down buying that '73 Super Course because right before laying down the chunk of change for it, I noticed it had a big gap in the chainstay/BB braze connection. I thought about that bike about 8 months later, and decided 'oh what the heck' and went back and it was right there where I left it. I paid the same as I was going to pay before, and it turned into a nice bike and now I just laugh about the ultra sloppy contruction.
01-24-23, 08:25 PM
#78
Señor Member
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Haha, well! I haven't added them yet, but I don't think we'll see any big changes, maybe a couple a smaller names, and yes mmmmmmaaaybe another Raleigh
In the interest of full disclosure, I was a little saddened that there was only a single, lonely Super Course mentioned. I really enjoy my '73, and riding it for the first time was enlightening, coming from mainly a Fuji S10-S. It was lighter, springer, like it was just happy to go, and had great road manners. What they say about those bikes is true, that they punch above their weight class.
However, on the flip side, I first turned down buying that '73 Super Course because right before laying down the chunk of change for it, I noticed it had a big gap in the chainstay/BB braze connection. I thought about that bike about 8 months later, and decided 'oh what the heck' and went back and it was right there where I left it. I paid the same as I was going to pay before, and it turned into a nice bike and now I just laugh about the ultra sloppy contruction.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was a little saddened that there was only a single, lonely Super Course mentioned. I really enjoy my '73, and riding it for the first time was enlightening, coming from mainly a Fuji S10-S. It was lighter, springer, like it was just happy to go, and had great road manners. What they say about those bikes is true, that they punch above their weight class.
However, on the flip side, I first turned down buying that '73 Super Course because right before laying down the chunk of change for it, I noticed it had a big gap in the chainstay/BB braze connection. I thought about that bike about 8 months later, and decided 'oh what the heck' and went back and it was right there where I left it. I paid the same as I was going to pay before, and it turned into a nice bike and now I just laugh about the ultra sloppy contruction.
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01-25-23, 12:19 AM
#79
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01-26-23, 06:34 PM
#80
ambulatory senior
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Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
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I have had several treks and my current 720 is an outstanding bike but it doesn't get ridden much. My view on treks is that the early stuff captivated me when I couldn't afford a decent bike. They were to me, the Volkswagen camper van of bicycles and I really wanted one. Their promotion and defense of a big time cyclist later on made me not care for them but what really knocked trek down for me was the quality of bikes I had to assemble after 2000. They just got worse in the low to medium range and then like most marks they got stupid on the high end. That was my take anyway. Really what do I know. My only indexers are sturmey archers.
02-20-23, 05:15 AM
#81
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Some other random thoughts I had about the list...
- No vintage Specialized Allez (as another poster mentioned)...very surprising! There was an Allez listed, but it was the new (2014?) Allez
- I thought there would be at least one Hetchins, but nope! They must ride terrible.
- No Confente, or Singer. There was a Herse, but I'm not sure how much it was ridden.
- PX-10 and UO/UE-8 were tied at four each, very interesting! Both were beat out by the TdF/Super Corsa framed Gitanes
Some of the highlights were the stories, or the details. The one mentioned previously about the guy who owned 750 bikes. I saw a post from Frank the Welder from back like 10 years ago. His personal choice was the UO/UE-8.
Someone help me...I seem to recall a story (maybe told by @gugie) about a famous framebuilder, whose personal ride I think was some old beat up black Raleigh? I tried to find that story but I couldn't. Chalk one more up for team R.
- No vintage Specialized Allez (as another poster mentioned)...very surprising! There was an Allez listed, but it was the new (2014?) Allez
- I thought there would be at least one Hetchins, but nope! They must ride terrible.
- No Confente, or Singer. There was a Herse, but I'm not sure how much it was ridden.
- PX-10 and UO/UE-8 were tied at four each, very interesting! Both were beat out by the TdF/Super Corsa framed Gitanes
Some of the highlights were the stories, or the details. The one mentioned previously about the guy who owned 750 bikes. I saw a post from Frank the Welder from back like 10 years ago. His personal choice was the UO/UE-8.
Someone help me...I seem to recall a story (maybe told by @gugie) about a famous framebuilder, whose personal ride I think was some old beat up black Raleigh? I tried to find that story but I couldn't. Chalk one more up for team R.
02-21-23, 12:08 PM
#82
Newbie
Thanks for this
Very interesting stuff, thanks for putting it together. I agree with the sentiment that older frames really come alive with newer components. I have experimented in stages, first putting a good wheelset and nice tires - this transforms most of those decent old frames. Then adding a hyperglide cogset if possible and some indexed shifting even if you stay with 7 speeds is really an eye opener. Even a modest frame becomes very fun to ride. Knowing this cannot always overcome the desire to have a classic looking bike, as bikes from the 70s and 80s just look so "right". Anyway this study is all part of geeking out over that.
02-21-23, 01:59 PM
#83
Le Crocodile
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Objectivity is no fun when it comes to vintage bikes. I have been burned too many times when expectation meets reality.
02-21-23, 02:29 PM
#84
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Can I stop wishing for a Specialissima or Colnago Super?
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02-21-23, 03:19 PM
#86
Le Crocodile
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The Italians are like a Monet. Gorgeous from afar.
Still love them.
EDIT- When I say 50+, I have been repainting bikes since I was around 14 years old. Since I have developed the hyper critical eye, the number of frames is around 20 or so. So to be fair, It's not a huge sample size. But, that being said, I only repaint the "high end" stuff, so there is that.
On the other hand..........this frame once in the flesh, was completely amazing. From the perfect mitering, flawless brazing, and just how straight everything was, had me in awe. There were zero corners cut. The tragedy? I ride my Colnago Master more. Serotta is a better bike, no question.
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02-21-23, 05:22 PM
#87
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Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
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I have repainted a lot of vintage frames (50+??) and really got to see the construction relevant to brazing/straightness/reaming etc.
The Italians are like a Monet. Gorgeous from afar.
Still love them.
EDIT- When I say 50+, I have been repainting bikes since I was around 14 years old. Since I have developed the hyper critical eye, the number of frames is around 20 or so. So to be fair, It's not a huge sample size. But, that being said, I only repaint the "high end" stuff, so there is that.
On the other hand..........this frame once in the flesh, was completely amazing. From the perfect mitering, flawless brazing, and just how straight everything was, had me in awe. There were zero corners cut. The tragedy? I ride my Colnago Master more. Serotta is a better bike, no question.
The Italians are like a Monet. Gorgeous from afar.
Still love them.
EDIT- When I say 50+, I have been repainting bikes since I was around 14 years old. Since I have developed the hyper critical eye, the number of frames is around 20 or so. So to be fair, It's not a huge sample size. But, that being said, I only repaint the "high end" stuff, so there is that.
On the other hand..........this frame once in the flesh, was completely amazing. From the perfect mitering, flawless brazing, and just how straight everything was, had me in awe. There were zero corners cut. The tragedy? I ride my Colnago Master more. Serotta is a better bike, no question.
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02-21-23, 09:07 PM
#88
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02-22-23, 03:05 PM
#89
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