What is the most collected "working man's" C&V name brand bike??
10-14-13, 12:23 PM
#51
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I own a Dawes Atlantis - very nice bike with excellent workmanship and components (Suntour Cyclone Mk2, Full Reynolds 531). While it may have been marketed towards a "working man", it compares very positively to the higher end bikes of the same period. Wonder how much they went for originally.
10-14-13, 01:17 PM
#52
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An old friend and riding partner finished his 1st century on one.
He was strong and finally tore the welded BB out of it......Replaced it with a Schwinn Super Sport.
I started riding a Schwinn Varsity when I stopped smoking at 27 years but I don't consider Varsity or a Huffy as a collectible bike just yet. A real collectible would be a lugged chrome moly mid range bike that was more affordable and Schwinn was the established dealer in my Texas panhandle hometown with a Trek dealer beginning to make some inroads by the time I moved to Dallas in the mid '80s. The Schwinn dealer also sold Raleighs and Univegas but the Schwinn Super Sport was the overwhelming choice, in my neighborhood, for someone who rode a lot of brisk miles.
He was strong and finally tore the welded BB out of it......Replaced it with a Schwinn Super Sport.
I started riding a Schwinn Varsity when I stopped smoking at 27 years but I don't consider Varsity or a Huffy as a collectible bike just yet. A real collectible would be a lugged chrome moly mid range bike that was more affordable and Schwinn was the established dealer in my Texas panhandle hometown with a Trek dealer beginning to make some inroads by the time I moved to Dallas in the mid '80s. The Schwinn dealer also sold Raleighs and Univegas but the Schwinn Super Sport was the overwhelming choice, in my neighborhood, for someone who rode a lot of brisk miles.
Last edited by Zinger; 10-14-13 at 02:56 PM.
10-14-13, 02:13 PM
#53
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Point taken. Of course I was posting partly in geste, but it is really a question of the social and economic environment, isn't it? In none of the social environments I've ever experienced is the term "working man's bike" applicable at all. Student's bike, recreational cyclist's bike, child's bike, yes. But the working man did not ride a bike. Not for fun, not for utility. There weren't no such animal. None.
Now if the term means a bike a working man could afford, that's a different beast. It means an inexpensive one. Someone might collect Schwinn Varsities the way someone would collect VW Beetles, i.e. for their ubiquity, for how they represented a certain portion of the bike/car culture in their day, for their sheer indestructibility, but not for performance per se. Someone might ride one with pride because he/she owned it for 30 years or because it was dad's. But that's not collecting.
Anyway, the examples you mentioned are certainly outside my experience from when that might have mattered to me. I've always ridden what I could afford, and now I'm fortunate enough to be able to ride what seems appropriate for the situation (such as my UO8 behind me at my desk as I type this). I suspect I am far from the norm. I sure am here at work. There ain't no other working men or women riding bikes here.
Like the white one behind me at my desk. It got me here, and will take me home again, or at least back to the train station, when the working day is done.
Now if the term means a bike a working man could afford, that's a different beast. It means an inexpensive one. Someone might collect Schwinn Varsities the way someone would collect VW Beetles, i.e. for their ubiquity, for how they represented a certain portion of the bike/car culture in their day, for their sheer indestructibility, but not for performance per se. Someone might ride one with pride because he/she owned it for 30 years or because it was dad's. But that's not collecting.
Anyway, the examples you mentioned are certainly outside my experience from when that might have mattered to me. I've always ridden what I could afford, and now I'm fortunate enough to be able to ride what seems appropriate for the situation (such as my UO8 behind me at my desk as I type this). I suspect I am far from the norm. I sure am here at work. There ain't no other working men or women riding bikes here.
Like the white one behind me at my desk. It got me here, and will take me home again, or at least back to the train station, when the working day is done.
10-14-13, 07:11 PM
#54
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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That's because I should have typed "jest". I can tpye but I cant always spel. Or pick the write word.
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10-14-13, 08:39 PM
#55
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Point taken. Of course I was posting partly in geste, but it is really a question of the social and economic environment, isn't it? In none of the social environments I've ever experienced is the term "working man's bike" applicable at all. Student's bike, recreational cyclist's bike, child's bike, yes. But the working man did not ride a bike. Not for fun, not for utility. There weren't no such animal. None.
But from post World War 1 to about 1950 in Europe, almost all working men rode bikes. They certainly weren't driving cars. And as a matter of fact, a bicycle was a means for them to escape the working man's life in the mines, fields and factories. It is why cycling is loved so in Europe, the working man could escape that life with something as simple as a bike.
10-14-13, 08:50 PM
#56
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I'd bet anything that in the US, the three most collected brands are Schwinn, Raleigh, and Peugeot, because of the volume of bicycles that were in this market.
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10-15-13, 01:03 AM
#57
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The lugged steel Nashbar bike that I bought for my sister for under $300 in about '85 would be typical of the decent chrome moly frame with cheaper components.
Last edited by Zinger; 10-15-13 at 01:09 AM.
10-15-13, 02:15 AM
#58
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Yeah the Nashbar was handy for a mail order birthday gift to a different city but I thought it a decent entry level bike comparable to similarly priced LBS bikes. Don't know that I'd sink money into one though.
The Univega with the Shimano 600 group was the Gran Rally and the Schwinn would have been the Super Sport. Both went for about $500 in the '80s.
If I were looking for a decent low cost frame to upgrade one of the Japanese ones mentioned might be good and I'd certainly consider the Schwinn Le Tours after about '85 or so because they got a little upgraded in the frame materials right about then.....and competition from the Japanese imports before then is the reason why.
The Univega with the Shimano 600 group was the Gran Rally and the Schwinn would have been the Super Sport. Both went for about $500 in the '80s.
If I were looking for a decent low cost frame to upgrade one of the Japanese ones mentioned might be good and I'd certainly consider the Schwinn Le Tours after about '85 or so because they got a little upgraded in the frame materials right about then.....and competition from the Japanese imports before then is the reason why.
Last edited by Zinger; 10-15-13 at 02:56 AM.
10-15-13, 05:46 AM
#59
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I hit adolescence in the mid-to-late bike boom. The most common bikes I saw among 10-speeds were the Peugeot UO-8 and the Raleigh Grand Prix. Sure, there were Schwinns as well. The colorful electroforged Varsity and Continental.
My brother, 5 years my senior, was a working man who bicycle commuted for years. His bike: a deep red Columbia 3-speed with a stock matress saddle and chrome rear baskets.
Fast forward 40 years, and I'm riding a Fuji S-10S as a general purpose bike, which I describe to my friends and acquaintenances as an "everyman's bike". Sure the finish and parts are just slightly better than on the Peugeot or Raleigh, but it represents what would've still been accessible to every man, at least.
My brother, 5 years my senior, was a working man who bicycle commuted for years. His bike: a deep red Columbia 3-speed with a stock matress saddle and chrome rear baskets.
Fast forward 40 years, and I'm riding a Fuji S-10S as a general purpose bike, which I describe to my friends and acquaintenances as an "everyman's bike". Sure the finish and parts are just slightly better than on the Peugeot or Raleigh, but it represents what would've still been accessible to every man, at least.
10-15-13, 06:20 AM
#61
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I'm still quite confused as to the concept of this thread.
I work.
I'm a man.
I wish to collect a custom built Ellis tourer.
I work.
I'm a man.
I wish to collect a custom built Ellis tourer.
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10-15-13, 06:32 AM
#62
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I don't really get it either...
Are we talking about bikes that were blue collar and ridden by the working man "in olden times", or do we mean what bikes does today's working man collect?
Are we talking about bikes that were blue collar and ridden by the working man "in olden times", or do we mean what bikes does today's working man collect?
10-15-13, 06:38 AM
#63
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Topic-
So this thread sort of went in a different direction than what I had originally started it for. By a "working mans" bike,,,, what I meant to say is bikes that regular people with middle incomes could save to afford to buy to be ridden or collected.
I guess I could/should of asked "what bikes are most desireable to collect" by regular readers of C&V
I guess I could/should of asked "what bikes are most desireable to collect" by regular readers of C&V
10-15-13, 06:59 AM
#64
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10-15-13, 08:11 AM
#65
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A regular person with a middle income could afford a Paramount, Raleigh Professional or Cinelli SC if he chose to prioritize it...that's the beauty of bikes...they don't cost what a car costs.
As far as what bikes most of us collect...it's varied across eras, countries, and style of bike. The most popular are probably Paramounts, Carlton Raleighs, PX-10s and Colnagos. Raleigh Sports/Superbs have a definite following.
As far as what bikes most of us collect...it's varied across eras, countries, and style of bike. The most popular are probably Paramounts, Carlton Raleighs, PX-10s and Colnagos. Raleigh Sports/Superbs have a definite following.
10-15-13, 12:50 PM
#66
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Topic-
Originally Posted by squatchy
So this thread sort of went in a different direction than what I had originally started it for. By a "working mans" bike,,,, what I meant to say is bikes that regular people with middle incomes could save to afford to buy to be ridden or collected.
I guess I could/should of asked "what bikes are most desireable to collect" by regular readers of C&V
I guess I could/should of asked "what bikes are most desireable to collect" by regular readers of C&V
Squatchy is having a tough time relating to the common man here.
10-15-13, 01:52 PM
#67
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Charlie Chaplin defined the "working man" as such back in the 30's in his famous movie "Modern Times"......
And I think the definition kinda stuck in the modern world's psyche........
So,........what might a guy like the main character in the movie have in his garage and ride??....
Last edited by Chombi; 10-15-13 at 02:59 PM.
10-15-13, 03:01 PM
#69
~>~
=Chombi;16163221what might a guy like the main character in the movie have in his garage and ride??....
A streetcar ride if an urban industrial worker in 1936 when Modern Times was filmed.
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10-15-13, 03:05 PM
#70
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Treks were generally more expensive than most Peugeots and Motobecanes in the 80's, so I looked to them as "rich kid's" bikes when I was in college.....
10-15-13, 03:09 PM
#71
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Your're right, the most those guys might have had for a separate structure from their living quarters might be an outhouse, out back..... I guess the bike, if they had one, went against the rail on the front stoop then....
10-15-13, 04:25 PM
#72
squatchy
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Which doesn't really help (not your fault). The first part asked what "regular middle-income people" might have wanted (which makes sense, although it's not clear whether he's talking about then or now.) The last sentence discards that line of thinking and asks "what do you really want", and begs the question of which of us are the "regular readers" as opposed to... ?
Squatchy is having a tough time relating to the common man here.
Squatchy is having a tough time relating to the common man here.
Seems to me you have a hard time reading a working mans thread!
10-15-13, 06:17 PM
#73
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But they were a lot more affordable than the Campy equipped Italians were and that's what we saw when we rode with the guys from the other side of town. Nowadays they make a good collectible for someone on a budget too.
10-15-13, 06:29 PM
#74
Banned
Well, if you qualify it as narrow as "social environments I've ever experienced", you are correct.
But from post World War 1 to about 1950 in Europe, almost all working men rode bikes. They certainly weren't driving cars. And as a matter of fact, a bicycle was a means for them to escape the working man's life in the mines, fields and factories. It is why cycling is loved so in Europe, the working man could escape that life with something as simple as a bike.
But from post World War 1 to about 1950 in Europe, almost all working men rode bikes. They certainly weren't driving cars. And as a matter of fact, a bicycle was a means for them to escape the working man's life in the mines, fields and factories. It is why cycling is loved so in Europe, the working man could escape that life with something as simple as a bike.
Other: Some others here mentioned old Fuji's. Most certainly met my criteria as a working mans bike. You might laugh but for awhile I was turning wrenches on tractors and commute 40 miles round trip per day. In 1980 or 81 purchased a one year old 'used' S12S Ltd for ......... $400! That was a lot of dough for me back then.
10-15-13, 08:33 PM
#75
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Many working men and women ride these: https://www.worksmancycles.com/
Some people collect them, too.
Some people collect them, too.
