agmetal

Last week, my mom and I went to visit my grandparents in South Carolina. I hadn't seen them in probably 2 years, and hadn't been to their house in something like 14 years - well before I got into bikes on any meaningful level (beyond just riding around as a kid). My gramma just turned 87, and my grampa is 86, and has been riding bikes for most of his life. I'd been told that he had some bike stuff lying around that he wanted to show me, and that perhaps I'd want some of it, but I didn't think too much of it because the shop where I work sees a lot of vintage bikes come through. I didn't really expect to see the kind of stuff he had...and on top of that, I got to go riding with him, a total of about 19 miles between two morning rides.

What an awesome visit that was - I got to ride on some awesome roads with my grampa, and listened to some of his stories about bikes he had when he was younger. I got to dig through his boxes of parts, and even found my gramma's 1966 Raleigh Sports that's been hanging from the rafters in their basement for at least 25ish years.

I took a bunch of pictures from riding, and also of some of the more interesting parts I found in the basement (many of which are being shipped up to me, including gramma's bike), and I brought the two leather saddles with me on the plane.

So, here we go:

Wednesday's ride, pictures by both me and my mom:




Thursday's ride, pictures by me:




Grampa's main bike, a Team Fuji of some sort. Looks to be late '80s-early '90s, and originally equipped with 600 Ultegra (Tricolor) components, then later updated with 6500 levers, derailleurs, and crank. Interesting bike, with True Temper CrMo frame and an aluminum fork...I think they got that one backwards!:

noglider 

Best thing I've read all day.

If you keep riding regularly for the rest of your life, it will have a huge impact on your health in old age. Just look at your grampa.

agmetal

Grampa's Fuji, continued:






I rode this Motobecane, but couldn't identify the model, due to the name being worn just enough to make it hard to read:

Bikerider007

You are pretty dang lucky to get to spend time with them like that, let alone get to sort through cool vintage stuff.

agmetal

Motobecane, continued:



Gramma's 1966 Raleigh Sports. This one will need tires, oil, and a good cleanup, but I don't expect it to need much mechanical work. It looks like it didn't see much use even when it was new, and it's been hanging in their basement since they moved to this house over 25 years ago, possibly longer before that. It's being shipped up to me:







There's also this bike that was hanging up next to the Raleigh. Grampa thinks it's English, but isn't sure what, says he got it at the same time as the Motobecane. The frame is rusted through where the top tube cable guides are/were, though, and apparently it has an integrated headset of some sort:

agmetal

Mystery bike, continued:



Wednesday night, I went through the boxes and took pictures of some of the stuff that caught my eye...a lot of it looked like it had never been used, and some is NOS:

agmetal

Box highlights, continued:






(This Brooks is a B17 Competition Standard, if you can't read the stamp)



This Ultegra FC6750 crank was bought as another upgrade (and to lower the overall gearing) for the Fuji, but never bothered installing it

agmetal

Box highlights, continued:



Thursday night, we pulled down some old wheels and tires from the rafters, and I laid out everything for easier viewing and picking through:

NYMXer

That was a sweet read, I went through it nice and slow. Thanks for sharing this with us

agmetal

Everything laid out, continued:












There was a bit more that I found after taking the picture...several old tools, including Campy stuff, a Park Tool CCP-1 (compatible with TA cranks, apparently), and a headset bearing press.

I brought the two saddles home with me...tried to ride the Belt yesterday, but it was horribly uncomfortable. This may have had to do with my saddle region still being uncomfortable from riding a friend's bike for a group social ride Friday evening (I went straight to that from the airport), so I'll give it another shot. In the meantime, I soaked and tied the Brooks, since it's slightly wider and seems like it may be a better fit. It's currently installed on one of my bikes, but I haven't had a chance to take it out yet.

DiabloScott

Nice.

I had a Cateye Solar computer, they were pretty popular. It was my second computer after PUSH, that one was junk.

Velocivixen

D@mn! Grampa looks hot (hope gramma doesn't mind me noticing that ). No, seriously he looks to be really fit. Good for him. You scored some nice goodies too.

Bandera

Grandpa looks good on the bike, obviously a well adapted cyclist regardless of age.

NOS Fiamme Ergals, a man who knew his WW stuff "back when".

Thanks so much for sharing.

-Bandera

markk900

I hope to be your grandpa for my (as yet nonexistent) grandchild some day! Respect the amazing stuff he has and how he trusts you to take on the legacy and things will work out all right.

squirtdad

very cool, need to get him to join C&V

agmetal

Yep! He was telling me about this pre-WWII Schwinn track bike that he got in high school for about $30, I think it was maybe a Continental? He said it was kind of a mid-level thing, which he eventually traded or sold for a '50s or '60s Bianchi, which a bunch of the parts are likely from. The Schwinn also got a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub at some point, and he did some pretty long rides in NY/NJ on that setup.

Pogliaghi

Wow the Ambrosio bars and stem with Universal levers are fantastic!

Warren128

Wow, fantastic story and pictures, thanks for sharing!

Sir_Name 

Grandpa likes the good stuff. Drool worthy pieces in the stash for sure. Great that the two of you were able to get a couple of rides in - time well spent!

Bicycle Addict

Safe to say that is one cool Grampa you have.
Very neat story with an awesomecollection of parts

HamboneSlim

Your Grandpa's probably pleased as punch that the parts are going to a good home where they will be appreciated.

The Lucas Cyclometer, Schwinn tube repair kit, and replacement shift rod and chain for the SA hub were a ride down memory lane for me. Thanks for sharing the pics.

bikemig 

This is a great thread; thanks for sharing. Those derailleurs in post no. 7 are pretty cool. The campy gran sport was campy's top of the line until I think 1963. That huret jubilee is pretty cool as well. Grandpa should spend some time on the C&V forum!

qcpmsame 

Thanks for sharing this with us, as said, your grandpa looks very fit and strong, do try to get him interested in joining in here at BF. That is an unbelievable haul of goodies you got from him, incredible stuff it look like. Stay close to them, the time will pass quickly of you let things go.

Bill

cb400bill

Great post. I hope I can still ride when I'm 86!

Based on the info in this link, I think Grampa's Team Fuji is a 1995.

1995 Fuji Team - BikePedia

cycleheimer

Don't give up on the Belt saddle. Probably from a mid-1970's Fuji. You may need to treat the leather, but worth keeping. They can be real comfortable after awhile. BTW, Cool "C&V" grandpa. Looks like he should be a member here...if he isn't already. My grandpa wasn't into cycling. He was into drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. Cycling is better!