The interesting thing about the best bicycle of all time is that it depends so heavily upon the year. The 1980 bicycle was way ahead of the 1970 bicycle. And in a year like 1972, your bicycle (which would retail for >$500) should have included the following device shifting the gears on the back end ...
Suntour VGT derailleur, $12.95
However, nobody would sell a $500 bicycle with this deailleur on the back. It's hard to say what was "best" because it's so subjective a judgement. It's better to ask what was "lightest" or "most durable" or "lowest friction" because these things are possible to quantify.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA