Your first "REAL" road bike?

[dsimon]

centurion lemond rs.

[k-mac]

A 1985 Trek 460. I had just started getting into cycling and had been riding a Puch Pathfinder for a couple of years. Saw the Trek at the LBS and dreamed about it constantly. My parents got it for me as my high school graduation present. Rode it and raced it for several years until it was replaced by a mid-90's Zullo SLX. Still in use today as my dedicated trainer bike. Also did some time as a fixie.

[numbskull]

1971 full Campy NR Torpado. Cost $425 (earned at $2/hr). A magical bike until I flipped it and buckled the top and down tubes. Couldn't find anyone who knew where to have it fixed in those days. Swapped out the components to a Raleigh Pro but riding it just magnified the pain of the ruined Torpado so I sold it off in 1981. Still had the broken Torpado frame in my parent's cellar until about 10 years ago when my father gave it away for scrap metal. I wasn't biking and didn't care then but oh do I regret it now.

[William]

Merged threads.






William

[callt5]

1977: Motobecane Super Mirage

First bike purchased from a bike shop.

My car broke down and decided to put the repair money into a new bike. Parked the car and rode that bike every where for over a year.

Didn't know anything about bike shop bikes. Many years later realized I was sold
a bike that was one maybe two sizes too bike. Years later give the bike to a cousin who was much taller than me. He got several years out of it too.

Heavy and too big but was a solid rider as primary transportation.

[thunderworks]

Answer to the heading: 1973 Fuji Finest. I bought it because I thought it was beautiful and in its day, it was light.

2nd good bike: 1974 Follis 672: I started to understand what differentiated bikes - what made bikes fast, comfortable, etc.
3rd good bike: 1975 Masi Gran Criterium: finally understood what size bike fit me

I owned my own bike shop by 1974 . . .lots of good bikes. The learning curve was steep, but exciting and accessible as a shop owner.

Answer to the real thread question: buy a durable bike that fits, with good wheels (36spokes), wide gearing.

[PaMtbRider]

First serious bike was a Colombus SL / SP frame from Palo Alto Cycles in 1985. I built it with Suntour Superbe Pro. Wish I still had it.

[Ken Robb]

What I got doesn't really matter but I have 3 Rivendell bikes and any of them would work for you. At any rate look at their web site for good info on tough, practical bikes and components.

[William]

I'm going to merge these threads since they cover the same topic. I would encourage our newer members to share what they would consider to be their first "real" road bikes.





William

[Brainbike]

Specialized Allez. Dad bought it for me in 1987, and I use it to this day to take the pooch for late afternoon runs before the sun sets. Still running Saturae rims which are perfectly true without me doing a thing to them...I now understand the feeling of Steel vs. Carbon.

[mhespenheide]

Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1989, I believe.

Thanks to the astonishing patience of my parents, it still hangs in their basement. I'm about 90% of the way done with resurrecting it so that I'll have something to ride when I visit them.

[SlowPokePete]

I was a married, college grad one year into the accounting world (made it through five whole years before career change), and wanted to start doing triathlons. Did work for ex-in-laws to raise money for the Cannondale I bought from Better Bicycle in Norwalk, CT.

Still have it, only Shimano 105 and bio-pace is gone, replaced by Campy 8 speed.

I just road it about a week ago. Stiff. Harsh. Feels good and solid for sure...

This is late 80's leaving Playland for the Westchester tri...Oakley's, Speedo, and Scott Tinley jersey like all the cool kids wore.



SPP

[SZWONDERS]

So just an update. I ended up going with 2012 caad 10 with 105 10 speed setup.

First thing to go will be the wheels. I hope to have many great miles on this bike.

Thanks for all the great info.
Get ready for many new questions:-)

[cnighbor1]

My first Drop handlebar bicycle was Rudge pathfinder
Back in 1949 my Fat tire Schwinn single speed got stole from were I parked it locked up
Living in Detroit than and living close to Mike Walden bicycle shop home of the Wolverine Bicycle club my Dad and I went there to get a new bicycle He sold us a single speed drop handle bar Rudge Pathfinder. I rode with the wolverine club for four years
nearly all men on the rides. club would ride out 40 or 50 miles and their wife's would be there with lunch. Mike and I were only one to ride home in high 90's

[Wayofftheback]

Originally Posted by thunderworks

Answer to the heading: 1973 Fuji Finest. I bought it because I thought it was beautiful and in its day, it was light..

Also my first good bike. I bought used from someone for whom it was too big and who had upgraded to a Crescent stainless steel Mark XX. Those were different days. I ought grew it and then bought a used all Nuovo Record equipped (except for the brakes) Falcon, then a custom frame.