Hi,
It is pretty funny that I am finally posting to this group, after lurking for quite a while, with some input to a thread on a Sears Free Spirit. I happen to own both a Sears Ted Williams signature edition Free Spirit 10 Speed and a Steyr Bergmeister frame. Very similar frames indeed. I took some quick photos for reference:
http://albums.photopoint.com/
These are relatively light bikes. The Free Spirit might make a good sleeper on club rides. I must admit, I would not have even listed these bikes in a list of bikes I ride or like to collect. I just never get rid of anything, which explains why I have accumulated about 60 bikes, plus frames and parts. I could go on and on about them all but that would be a long post for sure.
I'm 41 and worked in bike shops, part time, from '73 to '81. I love the type of bikes this list is about. I toured in '74 on a lugged Lambert with the death fork and lived. I have some nice Atalas, a Ron Cooper (a favorite), Paris Sports (one, a tipo Limongi), a Rossin, a Colnago, Paramount P15, Shogun Alpine, Nishiki International, Diamanti, an Alan Carbon, a LeJeune, Windsors, Raleigh Lenton Sports Reg Harris Racing Special, 3Rensho tandem, many 3 speeds, some 40's Schwinns, a Shelby Airflow, a few mountain bikes: Bridgestone, a Cunningham and a Ross HiTech. There are lots more. I almost forget them all. My basement is packed. Shed too. I keep telling myself that I am not a collector, that I just like to experience a lot of different rides.
And then there are my wife's bikes. '85 SR equipped Vitus, Motobecane Grand Jubilee (now fixed gear), '65 Record equipped woman's Atala, modern Ciocc, MB-2, MB-4 etc. Small bikes: hers. Big bikes: mine. We share the tandems. I am VERY lucky that she is supportive of this hobby and likes to ride.
OK. I just wanted to say Hi and contribute my two cents.
Regards,
Paul Lee
Long Island, New York