alanbikehouston

Reading through threads in "Classic and Vintage", I see photos of bikes from 1950, 1930, or even back to 1910 or so. Some of those bikes have been nicely restored, and some look like new.

I was wondering how many of those older bikes get out on the road on a regular basis? My oldest bikes are only twenty or twenty-five years old, but I do get them out and ride them frequently. None of my bikes are valuable, so I'm not worried that riding them is going to hurt their value.

Do any of our members put their REALLY old bikes out on the road? Are there members riding his 1910, 1925, or 1940 "classic" on a regular basis?

Mos6502

I use it everyday. My only older bike has no wheels.

divineAndbright

My oldest is a '41 ccm, I love it and ride it all the time.

peripatetic

Get this man some cable management!

apw55

I frequently ride a 1967 Schwinn Racer, which, to my knowledge, is original except for the tires and tubes. I also ride a late 1940’s Schwinn Continental frame that I bought minus several major components (wheels, seat, handlebars, fenders). I built it up Clubman style, with vintage (though not necessarily ‘40’s) components. I also have a Paris Sport that I bought new in, to the best of my recollection, 1972. Presently, it gets less use than the two Schwinns.

When I ride to work (6.5 mi. ‘round trip), I use the Racer. I ride all three on recreational rides, typically between 12.5 and 25 mi. For longer or steeper rides, I use a modern road bike.

As a note: I’m sure that most are familiar with the ‘70’s version of the Continental which was build around one of Schwinn’s typical, heavy Electro-Forged steel frames. The ‘40’s version was quite a different beast. It’s most common form was that of the traditional English light roadster (sportster) with either a single speed hub or 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub. The frame is fillet-brazed, Chrome Moly tubing and is therefore considerably lighter than later Schwinn 3 speeds. In it’s current form (no fenders) mine is about 10lbs lighter than the Racer. There was also a Clubman version offered though I’ve yet to see one (and I have been looking).

Regards,
Alan

bluespenny

I regularly ride a 1954 Raleigh Sport to work, and have started to use my recently found 1951 CCM three-speed as a commuter.
I don't believe in what motorcyclists call "Garage Queens", ie. bikes that are tarted up, polished to perfection, and then considered too pretty or valuable to ride. There's nothing more pointless than a machine that's treated as a sculpture, because the owner's paranoid about getting a nick in the paint.

Jason Curtiss

I ride a 1978 Raleigh Competition GS on a regular basis.

Jason

HAMMER MAN

1980 razesa converted to a single speed

USAZorro

1973 Fuji "The Finest" (man it never gets less awkward to say that).

silversmith

My daily ride is a 1977 Fuji "the midrange."

alanbikehouston

I've seen the '40's Continental in old books and catalogs. It is very similar to the "tourist" version of the Paramount that was in the '60's catalog. A high quality light weight steel frame and fork. The "upright" bars many folks preferred for riding in urban traffic.

I've often thought such a bike would be ideal for the people who don't want a "racing" style bike, and don't want a thirty pound beach cruiser. If some company was making a Continental like that today, with light frame and fork, light fenders, lighting systems, rack, five to seven speeds...get under 25 pounds and under $400...they might have the solution to getting "Joe Average Adult" to consider riding a bike.

In some respects, bike companies were better tuned to what the general public needs and wants back about sixty years ago than they are today. Now, they think we all want to be Lance Armstrong. Which means they are wrong about 90% of the adult public.

a77impala

When I am home I ride my 79 every day. It's my going to coffee, run to the store, got to go to the bank bike.

powers2b

'72 Raleigh FG conversion.

Enjoy

top506

I ride my early '70s bike-boom Atala more than any other bike ever; was a gift from my dad new when I was 12.
On the other hand, only the frame, fork, bars, and wheelset are original. Just can't keep from tweeking it......
Top

spider-man

I often ride a '59 Raleigh Lenton. It is darn near bulletproof, very comfortable and practical.

ga_mueller

Just got back from a 45mi ride on a '78 Nishiki Superbe.

Im Fixed

1918's ccm coverted to a fixie.

serge

1950 Raleigh Sports (all original except for tires).

nlerner

My regular commuter is a '71 Raleigh Competition. My go-fast bike is a '71 Raleigh Super Course, but the two bikes I plan on putting on the road regularly this summer are a '49 and a '51 Raleigh Clubman. Oh, and my live-under-a-tarp, grocery-run bike is a '62 Raleigh Sports.

Neal

frameteam2003

I admit the bike i like to ride the most is a modified fixed gear 70s but We(wife and I) do ride the 1936 tandem regularly.

stronglight

Commuter bikes: For several years my primary commuter bike had been a scruffy looking 1973 Motobecane "Grand Record"- set up with Moustache bars and bar-end friction shifters. Now, I also use a 1999 Cannondale road bike (105 gruppo), which I truly hated until I ditched the drop bars and added a rear rack and fatter tires to regularly haul all of my groceries.

Regular Recreational rides (at least weekly): Another (beuatiful) Grand Record, circa '75... a '72 Motobecane "Le Champion"... A Japanese made Titanium bike from late 80s/early 90s... a 1971 Paramount P-15 (touring model, 15-spd, with fenders)... and, this years project, another beautiful high-end French racing bike from possibly late 1970s [nobody has ever heard of the make: "Valgan"].

Semi-regular rides (bi-weekly): 1958 Holdsworth "Typhoon" with 5-speed derailleur only... and a 1958 Holdsworth "Hurricane", 5-spd rear derailleur plus a Simplex front lever-shifter (47x52 chainrings)... early '70s Bob Jackson - full Campy Nuovo Record,... 1969-70 Frejus "Professional".


Really, I like to ONLY keep bikes which I can comfortably ride. ~ Problem with having too many old bikes is allocating enough quality time to spend with each of them.

Sadly, I think all of the rare classic French custom touring bikes, which were really built to regularly see thousands of miles on the roads (forever!), have now just become cherished "wallhangers"... in private offices... in Japan.

John E

Although the 1970 Peugeot gets most of the beater/transportation miles, I ride the 1959 Capo at least one or two days per week, definitely including this coming Friday, for Bike-to-Work day.

John E

Late 1950s bikes are cool. Here's a ca. 1959 picture of an Austrian Tour de France rider, Adolph Christian, riding a you-know-what.

John E

Another ca. 1960 racing photo, with Christian trailing another Austrian rider. Each is on a Capo Sieger upgraded with those then-newfangled Campag. cranks.

Rabid Koala

1972 Paramount. It is the oldest that I have right now.