Hi Todd.
You did not say if you are looking for a old bike to restore, or a new bi ke to put miles on. Personally I'm a fan of the Rivendell Bicycle Works. There bikes are very much in the classic lugged steel tradition, there li terature is full of good information, and they are really nice people as well. Also, being a small company in a bad economy, some bike sales wo uld be really help them out.
Read more at http://www.rivbike.com
Safe Cycling in the coming year.
Tom Harriman.
San Francisco, Ca
> From: hudsonspangler@earthlink.net
> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:38:11 -0800
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> CC: wtgrantham@comcast.net
> Subject: Re: [CR] Recommendation-which CR bike to buy?
>
> Todd,
>
> The good news is that you can start almost anywhere and get a decent
> steel "classic." Jack Taylor, Peugeot, Gitane, Raleigh, TREK,
> Motobecane, Carlton, and a host of others are available at decent
> prices--ask here on the CR list first--if you are willing to wait and/
> or know what to look for. "Fixer-upper" bikes will be your best buys,
> assuming that the frame and components are in decent basic shape.
>
> More important, though, is what bike will best suit you personally:
>
> 1) What kind of build do you have, what kind(s) of riding do you want
> to do, and what is your pedaling style? Your individual physique
> makes a huge difference in what will fit you best. It may help to get
> a professional bike fit done first, to get a set of "ideal"
> dimensions for your bike so you'll know what to look for (or avoid).
> Make sure that you tell the fitter the kind of bike you will be
> looking for so s/he can take that into account.
>
> 2) Which bike(s) deliver the kind of "feel" that you love? Do you
> need a bike that feels quick in the front end? Stable at speed on
> downhills? Predictable? Forgiving for long days on rough roads?
> "Limber?" "Twitchy?" "Stiff?" Long top tube or short? There are
> endless arguments/discussions between cyclists (here and elsewhere)
> about the merits of different designs, tubings, and eras among frame
> builders, custom- and mass-produced. But only you will know which
> bike(s) are best for you after trying out lots of them. Ask your
> friends and other local steel-riding shops or cyclists what you can
> try out, and ride lots of different bikes.
>
> You have a great opportunity to "try out" a few at the NAHMBS, either
> by talking to frame builders or by trying out bikes that other
> attendees might bring along to the show.
>
> If you find some builders you like at the show, they may have some
> loaner or tryout bikes that you can ride at their shops, or they may
> have customers near you who might be willing to let you try their
> bikes. Ask nicely, and treat the bikes with care.
>
> Personally, I have ridden and loved Peugeots (PX-10LEs, 1971-75),
> TREKs (a steel 730 and a later, off-topic aluminum 2000), and my
> Eisentraut. I'm building up a Swiss Allegro to get a longer top tube
> and (I hope) return to a more 'continental" feel like my now-gone
> Peugeots. It's also a fitting experiment: with a 55 CM top tube, it
> will be the longest bike I've ever owned. (I ride a 51-53 CM c-top
> seat tube frame.)
>
> Whatever you do, take the time to find the right ride. Once you've
> found it, you will know it.
>
> Keep the rubber side down, whatever you ride :-)
>
> Jon Spangler
> Alameda, CA USA
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 24, 2009, at 5:24 PM, <classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.or
g>
> <classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org> wrote:
>
> >
> > Message: 8
> > Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:30:39 -0500
> > From: Todd Grantham <wtgrantham@comcast.net>
> > Subject: [CR] Reccomendation
> > To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > Message-ID: <0868EDA00D324DE0946D34CD9FBBAB61@workhorse>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> >
> > Just wondering (in your opinion) what would be the vintage bike to buy
> > that has the best balance of value, comfort, good looks and great a
ll
> > day rideability. I'm sure I will get alot of different opinions
> > but all
> > are valuable to me...so don't hold back!
> > Thanks
> > Todd Grantham
> > Fort Wayne, Indiana USA