I now have four bicycles. I was up to six counting an old racing bike I bought for $10 at a yard sale. I was however able to make it usable. The stem was stuck. The seat post was stuck. The stem would normally be the hard part. Fixed it, Seat post forget it. I tried everything. Donated it to the local bicycle shop. One of the young folks there could probably got the post out. It was an excellent canidate for one of those one speed fixties they like. The bike itself was a made in England Viscount. The parent company made aircraft or things for aircraft. It was very large (too large for me). Made out of the aircraft metal, with an aluminum fork I thought it quite rare. It was fairly. I found all this information on Sheldon Brown's website. Although he has passed away his website lives with the help of some freinds. I would recommend this site for anybody that has an interest in bicycles. Everything you would want or need to know and more. I hope that this bike was put to good use or at least recycled properly.
Another bicycle was an Azuki. This was another sport/tour bike that I bought on Ebay. This was a really nice bike. All top end parts including the bar end shifters that only one makers produce now. The bar end shifters are at the end or bottom of the handlebars as the name suggests. A must have of vintage touring bikes and a few today. I think that the DuraAce brand is the only one who makes them now. Again this bike was too large for me. See I didn't know this before. I did ride it. Had was spotless. Everything worked well. A pretty sharp 1972 bicycle. A young man that I worked with wanted to buy the bike. His father rides bicycles and offered me $200 for it. I told him that I couldn't take that for it. But I would take $120 if I could throw in an extra set of tires that I had for it. I think that we settled on about $140. Another good bike has a home.
Next in line is a 1984 Raleigh Record. The old Records were English made. This one is made in Tiawain. It is a nice bike. I traded an old Mongoose moutain bike for it. It was pristene. I let my neighbor ride it. He wrecked it and ruined the rear wheel. I tried as I may to true the wheel. This is an ardent task. A skill that bicycle mechanics pocess. I tried and tried. Got it right somewhat. But the first bump wrecked it again. This bike is actuly my size. I wanted to keep it. Under the either of an oral surgurey I bouhgt 700cc wheels for it,. I took the gearset from the Viscount and put them on the new 700 wheels. Gave the old gearset to a buddy who needed one. This is my fastest bike. It is chromoly. ETC. I first took it to the Trek (and) Raleigh dealer. They basically laughed at the bike and said this is your speedster. While displaying many if not all bicycles of name brands made in Tiawain and China. Go figure.
My baby is a Schwinn LeTour. It is a 1974. Who knows how many miles that it has on it. It is made of high tensile steel and strong as can be . It weighs about thirty pounds. Who cares. With the exception of redoing the headset bearings everything is original. The chain, wheel bearings, wheels, seat, shifters and most everything else is orininal. I also replaced the shifter cables. Tough bike. These were made by Panasonic. I guess they make eveything. As good or better than the Varsity. And only weghts 3 pounds heavier than the Paramont of the day. Someone in Louisville Kentucky is trying to get $800 out of one of these in super condition on Ebay.
My daily roller is an old Trek 800 moutain bike that I put BikeNashbar 26-1.15 street tires on .It has turned out to be a very venerable bike. I have loaned this bike out before. It has always came back intact. I do not know how. But it has. One of the users was a son of my neighers that rode it about 20 miles a day,
The newest bike is a Trek 7100 hybrid. Nice bike. Got over $800 in it with everything. It is a good bike. Made in China I think. Not like that old Raleigh made in Taiwain. See this is new and so it's OK if it's made in the China, becuse all the name brades are made there now.So is the 1984.Iit OK that's it is an imported bike? Only time will tell. Where is your Reileigh made? And I guess who cares.
All the bikes together wouldn't be worth $200 in trade at a bike shop I'm sure, I have added parts and tires etc. A lot of sweat equity that is not equity at all. Just a bike that you can ride. The eight years or so that I have taken an interest has been good hands on lessons about bicycles. Being able to fix and change tires will save you time and money. Also do you own maintaniance. It is also something to do that will not cost much when you have the basic tools. Instructions are availible on the internet and from books from the library.
I made a lot of mistakes as far as size and types of bikes. That's how I ended up with so many that I have put a lot of time in and can never get that back. But it was a learning experience. One or two bikes should be enough. The simpler the better. Good used rather than cheap new. Although I started out with a cheap new that fell apart.
I do not load up my bike to take it somewhere to ride. I just ride it where I want to go. The store, work, and etc. The bus system has a rack to put bikes on. So you can put the bike on the bus and get closer to where you are going if it is farther than you want to ride.
If you commute after dark as I do you will need a front and rear light. Also most bikes already have reflectors instatlled. Local bike shops, most Walmarts and Ebay can supply you with what you need. I mostly use back packs for carrying the stuff I need. I do have racks mounted on two bike that with the bags let you carry a lot. So if you can get out that old bicycle. Or get yourself an old bicycle. Tinker with it and go for a ride.
