New (Vintage) Bicycles?

Me too - and nice to see someone namechecking Il Campionissimo. Coppi is surely the greatest rider ever. Not as succesful in terms of victories as Merckx, but considering the era and the equipment his career was incredible.


Have you seen the film of the 1973 Giro d'Italia Stars And Watercarriers - there's a scene where Ole Ritter's mechanic is preparing his bike for the time trial, and it's cyclo-porn at its best - loving closeups of every inch of the bike in its Celeste Blue glory.

 

Anyone else ride a vintage bike on a regular basis? I'm still scooting around town most every day on my late-50's vintage Schwinn Hollywood, which is still as solid as the day it was built. I got third-hand, and aside from replacing the tires and having the paint freshened up, it's required no major maintenance other than a squirt of oil in the springtime!



Plus, it does wonders for the calf muscles!

Lizzie from Maine

 

i've got this AMF roadmaster. i don't know the exact date it was made but its somewhere between 1939 and 1959. it's great for cruising along the seafront, but you can forget about steep hills.

 

I realized that I never posted pics of our Electra cruisers, so here they are:

This my RatRod which I have modified with a springer fork, seat rail, rear mudflap, flame tread tires and "ape hanger" handlebars.


Here's look at the springer forks and the flame treaded tires. (I also added the Coop devilgirl decal on the fender.


Here's my wife's Betty that has been modified with springer forks and seat rail. She's been thinking about added some streamers to the handlebars too!


This last bike is The Flying Sue. It was explained in the catalog as an homage to WWII flyers. This bike isn;t being manufactured anymore.


Here's a look at the George Petty knock-off "nose art" on the tank plate.
PBG

 

Columbia Bicycles MG



Bicycle, Military, Universal c.1942
"In 1943 the War Production Board allocated 60,000 bicycles for the Armed Forces. They were principally used for transportation" (So says the sign.)
-dixon cannon

 

I want one of each. Everyone has such great taste.
It really makes me wish that I lived in a city more condusive to just owning a bike.I'd get rid of my car in a heartbeat. What a great idea. Fun and exercise!

 

We just bought a pair of Schwinns on sale for $129.99 at Sport's Authority.
Actually the men's bike was priced higher,but hubby talked them into giving us the same price.
They're not fancy,but just in case they ended up only collecting dust in the garage I didn't want to splurge on something more deluxe.

Hollywood:


Typhoon:


If we ride them enough I'll start adding upgrades,such as the bullet headlight,a backrack or just a wire basket for me,different tires,and fenders.

 

Lauren-
I forgot to mention that you can do a google search for beachcruiser bicycles to get more ideas. There is quite a few inexpensive ones out there to be had.
I definitely recommend the Schwinns,they feel sturdy,but I'm sure it's an old model since I couldn't find them on the Schwinn website.
One place with good prices and a decent selection was chubbyscruisers.com.
Hope that helps!
-Ruby

 

The Real Thing, English-style

Finally got round to taking a picture of my 1955 Raleigh. Slightly odd; hadn't thought of it as "vintage" until I hit the Lounge. (Hadn't thought of myself as vintage, either, come to that; but there you go.)

 

Ah, good old right-wheeled British bikes!

 

Columbia Bikes...

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&hl=en&lr=&rls=SUNA,SUNA:2005-48,SUNA:en&sa=N



They're not cheep but, the best repro bikes you'll find! They're made to exact specifications as the original 1941 Columbia's!

=WR=

 

electric bike

I tried out the electric bike from The Sharper Image. It's nifty for level ground but refuses to go uphill. Very cool looking though.

 

I've seen some nice repro bikes out there, but you can get the originals for around the same price on ebay or craigslist for the same price if not cheaper. We got these bikes on ebay for less than 200.00 apiece. The red is a 51' Colson and the blue a 53' roadmaster. Please forgive the over exposure.

 

There is another firm in the UK selling Indian repro '1930s British designed' bicycles

India Rubber

Personally we bought 1930s cycles and made them suiutable for road use again. Home Guard bicycle patrols are always popular at the re-enactment events we attend.

Below is a picture of my friend Jonathan, patrolling the Buckinghamshire countryside.



Pip pip

Warden 'Harry'

 

coker

I found this guy online on the coker tire website. It's got wicked huge tires, and looks great (at least I think so). Maybe not exactly "vintage" but it's got the look

 

they've also got this one

 

1940's BF Goodrich, made by Schwinn

I have an original 1940's era BF Goodrich balloon tire bike, which was made by Schwinn for the BF Goodrich tire stores to sell. It has a rack on the back, spring leather seat, clanger bell and is painted correct Khaki OD ala AAF of WWII. Best thing is the balloon tires are the old red style ones. Haven't had a chance to take it to a show or Fly-in yet, but it will be fun to ride when I do.

SGB

 

Lauren,

In Alameda, CA, just off of the Webster Street Tube on Park Street there is a place called Alameda Bicycle. The old cats in there make anything, and they LOVE making the vintage bikes. Some of them, they actually have on the rack and their prices are pretty good. I bought my father's Schwinn there and I might buy one for myself. If you'd like for me to take pics, let me know.

Jon

 

Park street is on the other side of the Island from the tube. I'm pretty sure that, Alameda Cycle is done with old bikes. They'll fix'em, but their oldest bike is a Dyno and the rest is now mid to high end road/mountain bikes.
In their defense, they are a nice bunch there: http://www.alamedabicycle.com/