I am soon to be 50 years of age and my passion for the last 20 has been classic and antique bicycle collecting. I span the range of bikes from the early Wheelman days to the current production models. I estimate that I have around 50 to 70 bikes at one time or another. I buy, sell, and trade bikes and parts. I own a vintage 1880s Rudge Hi Wheel bike that I do ride around town on. I ride everything I collect otherwise what is the point. I also have a few lightweight bikes like a 70s Raleigh Competition with the Huret Jubilee derailleurs, a first year 1960 Schwinn Continental with rear Tour de France and front Simplex suicide shifter. I recently acquired a Schwinn Sports Tourer, how many of you has even seen one of these lightweights. Have an early Schwinn lightweight New World with rear Schwinn high flange chrome hub and single speed freewheel. One of my prides is the nice clean but used Campagnolo Cambio Corsa full set of hubs and shifters that I own. I have it currently framed and displayed and my hope is to one day find a bike to mount it one. You know the one with the serrated rear dropouts. I also have the great luck to have been given the opportunity to show my collection on a Cable TV show this weekend in the NY metro area. The show is called Finders Keepers and will be on the Metro One channel which is on CableVision and Time Warner systems. It will be this Sunday, January 13th at 8:30 PM so tune in and if the editors did not cut me too bad you will see some of what I mention above.
Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ