Greetings, Classic Rendezvous.
I came upon the Classic Rendezvous website recently while searching for information about the latest addition to my small stable, and have found it to be a most informative and entertaing resource. In the spirit of furthering the collective knowledge base, I would like to introduce myself and, more to the point, my classic bikes.
I've been reading "classic" bikes since way before some of them were classics. My number one keeper (I think they're all keepers, but my wife begs to differ) is a 1971 Raleigh Super Course, metallic brown 24" frame, that I have owned since new. It's in A-1 condition (maybe A-2, it's seen quite of bit of use), though it went through a bit of an upgrade around 1980. I've still got the original parts, such as the chrome, cotter pin type Stronglight cranks and the Brooks B.15 saddle, still in pretty nice shape. If anyone wants the Raleigh's serial number, I'd be glad to post it when I find it.
I'm thinking about putting the Brooks saddle on my latest acquisition, a Peugeot I recently got on the road again after rescuing it from a neighbor's outgoing trash. The bike is pearl white with chrome forks, and appears to be a tall framed 1981 PXN10E that has been rode hard and put away wet many a time. Once I cut off the rusted solid chain, removed by various means a whole lotta rust, and lubricated the daylights out of everything that moves, it (she?) turned out to be a lovely piece of work that has since proven to have _lots_ of good miles left in her. In fact, she's usurped the daily driver position, replacing my 199x (?) Gary Fisher Avant Garde hybrid as my preferred mount. Oh la la, I had almost forgotten how much fun I could have on a road bike!
The serial number on the Peugeot is G B1029550. Many original parts are intact and in good shape, including the Peugeot badged rear derailleur and handlebar stem. The hubs say "ACS Thailand," so I wonder about them. The rear wheel sports a six-gear Heuret cluster, and the brakes and downtube shifters say "Spidel." Deviations from original include hybrid bike tires, high density foam rather than tape on the bars, and a Nuvola Anatomic saddle (very comfortable) - actually a great setup for the uneven bike path nearby in Rock Creek Park.
The rest of my so-called stable consists of a 197x Raleigh Grand Prix (Series II, I think) and a pair of Giant Sedona mountain bikes that I also rescued. Hanging on the wall are two frames, a 1975-ish Proteus and a Rudge of unknown age.
Last but not least, when I tire of pedalling myself around, a 2002 Triumph Speed Triple, Nuclear Red, rounds out the two-wheeled collection. Until recently, a 1975 Norton Commando was the jewel in the crown, but that's another story.
I look forward to getting acquainted with the Classic Rendezvous gang, and maybe providing some useful information along the way.
All the best,
Greg Robertson
Rockville, MD, USA