Mike748
11-23-2007, 09:15 AM
After posting about my CSi the other day, I got the idea to show my 5 decades of bikes to you forumites. Well, 4 decades, as the 70's are MIA.
1962 BSA Golden Clubman (Raleigh made)
My oldest brother got this for his 12th birthday in Feb '63, right after I was born. Its seen hard use in the family for 45 years now. It probably been to Spain, India, Holland, NJ, NC, and now TX. Well traveled. Both my brothers and I rode it extensively (like every day to high school and my job at the bike shop 15 miles away). My middle brother broke the fork around '72 and the only replacement we could find was the red Phillips. Probably when the stem got bent too. We never got the S-A adjusted right until I learned how from my Zen-master bike shop supervisor. Been perfect since. Mostly original parts, although I replaced the brakes and levers when they wore out. Still has the original chain thanks to the full chaincase (we're from Holland). I use it around town, although she's still good for a 20-40 miler any time... weighs 40 lbs though.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Mike748/IMG_1804.jpg
1977 Raleigh Gran Prix (green)
Rode the heck out of it, sold it to my brother to start cycling on... he outgrew it and gave it away. Too bad. Maybe I can find a Raleigh Pro or Int'l to replace it.
1981 Miyata 710
I was working at Whippany Cycle in NJ during high school. The owner made me a really good deal on a previous years model... I think I paid $300 for what was then a $400 bike. Rode this one for the next 20 years. After I bought a modern bike in the early 2000's and found Sheldon Brown's website, I converted it to a single speed using the original wheelset (redished the rear and installed a 16t freewheel). Frame/fork/wheels/seat are original (boss gave me the Brooks B17 Narrow as a bonus), other parts were upgraded over the years. Frame is double butted Tange Chrome Moly with nice lugs. As I remember the 912 model had even nicer lugs but I couldn't afford it.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Mike748/IMG_1803.jpg
1996 Serotta CSi
You guys know more about this one than I do. Its got history, but not mine. I bought a few months ago, took it apart, cleaned/lubed/obsessed over it and now its on the road. Low mile original. Only thing I really had to do was rebuild the rear wheel as the original Chorus hub had gotten water into the inboard bearings and rusted. I rebuilt it with a Veloce sealed hub. Also have a second wheelset with Chorus hubs and different gearing. Brooks Pro was an anniversary present from my wife.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Mike748/IMG_1780.jpg
2006 Serotta Fierte Ti
Just got this for my 45th birthday. Hopefully I'll have a lot of history on it going forward. Go ahead and make fun of the orange bar tape. I like orange and blue. Heck, I have an orange car in the garage too, part of my 70's collection (actually my wife reminds me its her car).
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Mike748/IMG_1786.jpg
1962 BSA Golden Clubman (Raleigh made)
My oldest brother got this for his 12th birthday in Feb '63, right after I was born. Its seen hard use in the family for 45 years now. It probably been to Spain, India, Holland, NJ, NC, and now TX. Well traveled. Both my brothers and I rode it extensively (like every day to high school and my job at the bike shop 15 miles away). My middle brother broke the fork around '72 and the only replacement we could find was the red Phillips. Probably when the stem got bent too. We never got the S-A adjusted right until I learned how from my Zen-master bike shop supervisor. Been perfect since. Mostly original parts, although I replaced the brakes and levers when they wore out. Still has the original chain thanks to the full chaincase (we're from Holland). I use it around town, although she's still good for a 20-40 miler any time... weighs 40 lbs though.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Mike748/IMG_1804.jpg
1977 Raleigh Gran Prix (green)
Rode the heck out of it, sold it to my brother to start cycling on... he outgrew it and gave it away. Too bad. Maybe I can find a Raleigh Pro or Int'l to replace it.
1981 Miyata 710
I was working at Whippany Cycle in NJ during high school. The owner made me a really good deal on a previous years model... I think I paid $300 for what was then a $400 bike. Rode this one for the next 20 years. After I bought a modern bike in the early 2000's and found Sheldon Brown's website, I converted it to a single speed using the original wheelset (redished the rear and installed a 16t freewheel). Frame/fork/wheels/seat are original (boss gave me the Brooks B17 Narrow as a bonus), other parts were upgraded over the years. Frame is double butted Tange Chrome Moly with nice lugs. As I remember the 912 model had even nicer lugs but I couldn't afford it.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Mike748/IMG_1803.jpg
1996 Serotta CSi
You guys know more about this one than I do. Its got history, but not mine. I bought a few months ago, took it apart, cleaned/lubed/obsessed over it and now its on the road. Low mile original. Only thing I really had to do was rebuild the rear wheel as the original Chorus hub had gotten water into the inboard bearings and rusted. I rebuilt it with a Veloce sealed hub. Also have a second wheelset with Chorus hubs and different gearing. Brooks Pro was an anniversary present from my wife.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Mike748/IMG_1780.jpg
2006 Serotta Fierte Ti
Just got this for my 45th birthday. Hopefully I'll have a lot of history on it going forward. Go ahead and make fun of the orange bar tape. I like orange and blue. Heck, I have an orange car in the garage too, part of my 70's collection (actually my wife reminds me its her car).
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Mike748/IMG_1786.jpg