Best Road Bikes of 1981
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Best Road Bikes of 1981
I'm still trying to get myself familiar with some of the old bikes and am curious what would be some of the best road bike models from the various brands for 1981. I'll start with the Schwinn Paramount and Superior as two very good road bikes. What similar models did some of the other brands have in 1981?
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Fuji Professional
Team Miyata and Pro Miyata
Univega Superlight
Trek 750 and 950
Panasonic Pro 7000
Raleigh Professional
Peugeot Super Competition CFX10
Team Miyata and Pro Miyata
Univega Superlight
Trek 750 and 950
Panasonic Pro 7000
Raleigh Professional
Peugeot Super Competition CFX10
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I call it an '80, but this Bertoni Superlight might be from '81.
My Miyata 912 (with Champion fork) was actually made in '81 for the '82 market. The only frame difference might be the lack of shifter bosses on the '81 market model.
.
My Miyata 912 (with Champion fork) was actually made in '81 for the '82 market. The only frame difference might be the lack of shifter bosses on the '81 market model.
.
Last edited by SurferRosa; 06-30-21 at 03:05 PM.
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We like to argue all the time over what is "best" but pinning it down to one year (1981) doesn't make a lot of sense. What about what were the best road bikes of the early 80s? In the early 70s, road bikes were more or less do it all road bikes with eyelets and generous tire clearance for bad roads. By the early 80s, you start to get some differentiation between different road bikes (racing, touring, "sport"). Mountain bikes started to appear by the late 70s.
That said, the top end Treks need to be added to this list.
That said, the top end Treks need to be added to this list.
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Not exactly road bikes, but should probably include Centurion Pro Tour and Specialized Expedition, both available in 1981, Pics are from 2004 Don
79 Pro Tour 25 Y.O. Rain Bike Commuter
1984 Specialized Expedition Touring
79 Pro Tour 25 Y.O. Rain Bike Commuter
1984 Specialized Expedition Touring
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This question raises another question for me. How much better in terms of actual cycling were the 'best' bikes from 1981 than a 'good' bike? Probably made of the same steel, with similar geometries, kitted out with the same components. Would you actually notice a difference in performance?
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This question raises another question for me. How much better in terms of actual cycling were the 'best' bikes from 1981 than a 'good' bike? Probably made of the same steel, with similar geometries, kitted out with the same components. Would you actually notice a difference in performance?
Of lesser concern is nice frame highlights - perhaps chrome, better drop outs/fork ends, investment cast lugs etc. - and, with some of the models, a hand built frame rivaling the work of custom builders. Not that you'd necessarily notice this on a ride as you mention, but, who doesn't like quality and craftsmanship?
Last edited by tendency; 06-30-21 at 10:00 AM.
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Weight will be the biggest differentiator - and the next step up, or two, in component groups (which of course contributes to the weight).
Of lesser concern is nice frame highlights - perhaps chrome, better drop outs/fork ends, investment cast lugs etc. - and, with some of the models, a hand built frame rivaling the work of custom builders. Not that you'd necessarily notice this on a ride as you mention, but, who doesn't like quality and craftsmanship?
Of lesser concern is nice frame highlights - perhaps chrome, better drop outs/fork ends, investment cast lugs etc. - and, with some of the models, a hand built frame rivaling the work of custom builders. Not that you'd necessarily notice this on a ride as you mention, but, who doesn't like quality and craftsmanship?
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I was about to ask whether you'd notice the difference in a blind test between two bikes made with the same tubing, with the same geometry, but one has chromed fancy lugs and the other simple lugs and no chrome, when I realized that in a blind test of bikes you'd just crash.
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I was about to ask whether you'd notice the difference in a blind test between two bikes made with the same tubing, with the same geometry, but one has chromed fancy lugs and the other simple lugs and no chrome, when I realized that in a blind test of bikes you'd just crash.
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1981 Bianchi Super Leggera:
DD
DD
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Are you thinking of using a brand and model as a basis for choosing a bike? If so, you'll miss instances from the dozens of smaller makers from all over the world, especially Europe.
My bike was stolen on Labor Day, 1981, and I spent the next month looking for a new bike. I rode everything I could get my hands on, new and used, with double-butted tubes (531, Columbus, Tange, Ishiwata, Vitus,, ?) and/or that was recommended to me - Miyata, Raleigh, 3Rensho, Basso, Ciocc, Trek, Peugeot PX-10, Gitane ... I've forgotten much of what I rode. If I had relied on brands and models, I'd have probably ended up with something like a Miyata 912 or equivalent Trek model made with Reynolds 531 - and pretty much hated it, because they were the wrong bikes for me.
I recommend reading The Custom Bicycle by Michael Kolin and Denise De La Rosa, a free download apparently in the public domain. It surveys a dozen or so makers from GB, France, Italy, and the US and outlines each maker's process. When the book was published, very few people in the US knew a lot of the makers they mention; now a number of them are very well-known to cyclists.
My bike was stolen on Labor Day, 1981, and I spent the next month looking for a new bike. I rode everything I could get my hands on, new and used, with double-butted tubes (531, Columbus, Tange, Ishiwata, Vitus,, ?) and/or that was recommended to me - Miyata, Raleigh, 3Rensho, Basso, Ciocc, Trek, Peugeot PX-10, Gitane ... I've forgotten much of what I rode. If I had relied on brands and models, I'd have probably ended up with something like a Miyata 912 or equivalent Trek model made with Reynolds 531 - and pretty much hated it, because they were the wrong bikes for me.
I recommend reading The Custom Bicycle by Michael Kolin and Denise De La Rosa, a free download apparently in the public domain. It surveys a dozen or so makers from GB, France, Italy, and the US and outlines each maker's process. When the book was published, very few people in the US knew a lot of the makers they mention; now a number of them are very well-known to cyclists.
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Blue bike:
So far, Blue Bike is faster.
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This question raises another question for me. How much better in terms of actual cycling were the 'best' bikes from 1981 than a 'good' bike? Probably made of the same steel, with similar geometries, kitted out with the same components. Would you actually notice a difference in performance?
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Define best...
Fastest?
Most agile?
Most comfortable?
Most collectable?
Most attractive?
Lightest?
Most sold?
The list goes on and on. Put another way, in my opinion, there is not best road bike of 1981 or any other year, for that matter. There is no best bike at all, regardless of vintage. Needless to say, this is all my opinion or my two cents worth and two cents, in Canada these days, is worth nothing always being rounded down to zero cents, if that makes any sense.
Heck, I don't even know which bike in my collection of five is the best one but I do know which one I like the best, even though it is far from the best bike to ride.
Fastest?
Most agile?
Most comfortable?
Most collectable?
Most attractive?
Lightest?
Most sold?
The list goes on and on. Put another way, in my opinion, there is not best road bike of 1981 or any other year, for that matter. There is no best bike at all, regardless of vintage. Needless to say, this is all my opinion or my two cents worth and two cents, in Canada these days, is worth nothing always being rounded down to zero cents, if that makes any sense.
Heck, I don't even know which bike in my collection of five is the best one but I do know which one I like the best, even though it is far from the best bike to ride.
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I only have one bike that new! A 1982ish Medici Pro Strada, so that's the best one.