Best of the "Worst" bikes? Bike Boom and BSO's
02-04-21, 05:07 PM
#26
Phyllo-buster
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Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
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Apologies in advance. Any 70's Peugeot UO-8. Crappy bikes with charm. 
Qualifier. I like 52 -54 cm seat tubes. Many venerable members have attested to the above-par ride of their UO-8s. I've never experienced that so frame size may be important.
Qualifier. I like 52 -54 cm seat tubes. Many venerable members have attested to the above-par ride of their UO-8s. I've never experienced that so frame size may be important.
Last edited by clubman; 02-04-21 at 06:05 PM.
02-05-21, 03:21 PM
#29
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Bikes: '72 Cilo Pacer, '72 Gitane Gran Tourisme, '72 Peugeot PX10, '73 Speedwell Ti, '74 Peugeot UE-8, '75 Peugeot PR-10L, '80 Colnago Super, '85 De Rosa Pro, '86 Look Equipe 753, '86 Look KG86, '89 Parkpre Team, '90 Parkpre Team MTB, '90 Merlin
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The "worst bike" I've fixed up is probably this petite Gitane mixte. It would have been nice for my daughter, but she was not even a toddler at this point. It was rusty and neglected, but I got it for a song and thought it was just too cute not to bring it back to life. It was also an excuse for my first experiment with oxalic acid. I'm not sure if these photos will show up. The only images I have remaining were sequestered by Photobucket, so I'm copying photos from an older thread. (Are these still viewable by others?)
02-09-21, 07:48 PM
#31
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Location: Ashland, VA
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Bikes: The keepers: 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix, 1968 Ranger, 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Tourist, 3 - 1986 Rossins, and a '77 PX-10 frame in process.
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This....potentially. While Made in France, and kind of a historical artifact to the Denver bike business (it was only sold in Denver), the drivetrain is shot due to the fact the plastic in the components ages quickly and the front derailleur already is cracked. However, the chromed fork crown I found out after getting it home is actually plastic. Cottered crank, but original bar tape, no rust, decals in mint condition.
So now I either need to try to keep is period specific, or just say screw it, and use modern components. Or - leave as is as a piece of history. If it were not for the pristine condition, I would turn it into a commuter, but something tells me this, while being a heavy Hi-Ten 10-Speed bike, there is something about retaining this for its condition at this point.
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Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Last edited by sykerocker; 02-09-21 at 07:52 PM.
02-09-21, 08:22 PM
#32
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Bikes: 1964(?) Frejus Tour de France, 1967(?) Dawes Double Blue, 1979 Trek 710, 1982 Claud Butler Dalesman, 1983 Schwinn Paramount Elite, 2014 Brompton, maybe a couple more
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I work on a lot of crappy bikes. This one embraces the crappiness:
I call it the Urban Assault Bike. I'm pretty sure it's an early 70s Murray Alpine frame. Nothing is original except maybe the handlebars. Rides pretty well, though.
I call it the Urban Assault Bike. I'm pretty sure it's an early 70s Murray Alpine frame. Nothing is original except maybe the handlebars. Rides pretty well, though.
