Listers,
This is a terrific thread. I think I'm gaining more insight into more list members by reading about their bikes in this thread than I have in any other....
I haven't ridden my late-1990s Eisentraut (lugged steel, 52 ctt seat x 54 ctc TT; Campagnolo Chorus 9-speed triple) since we moved into a tiny apartment last year, but it was a terrific ride on two AIDS rides (SF - LA) and elsewhere. LOVE the way it descended with the steel fork installed. (I installed a used 1" Serotta CF fork on it to dampen vibration for my hands but the front end is not as stable/secure compared to the original steel fork.)
My still-in-shakedown-mode 1970s Allegro (52 ctc seat x 55 cm TT: 531, original paint, miscellaneous period-ish parts, not finished) is promising but the rainy and cold weather - plus the lack of stable wheels to try on fast descents - means the promise is still mostly hypothetical.
My daily rider and steadfast companion is my mom's 1970s white Peugeot UO-18 mixte (53cm ctt x 55 cm effective TT,103 Carbolite, w/ 1975 Phil hubs, Weinmann 750 CP brakes to match the Mavic Open Pro 700 C alloy rims. My 1970s-Blackburn racks (Low-rider on the front) usually support front & rear panniers every week for farmer's market runs and used to haul remodeling supplies when we were retrofitting the house. Unloaded, she rides really lightly and is great fun, as I was reminded the other day when riding over to pick up the infernal combustion Ford Taurus (1998, 32V V-6, white, TT length not applicable, off-topic original drive train and air bags) from the auto shop.
Linda has a similar UO-18 (blue, 53 CM) with miscellaneous parts and upgraded to Weinmann 750s for her 700C rims.
Some day I want another Nervex-lugged 53 CM (ctt) PX-10, which may be my favorite ride ever. (Mine was crunched twice, the second time by a nephew, and is probably now in tin cans some place...) Reading the lists of others' favorites, I can envision riding many of the older, longer-TT'ed bikes or having a custom (Bruce Gordon, JP Weigle, etc.) but most of this is pure fantasy until the economy recovers...
Jon Spangler still seeking work in Alameda, CA USA
Writer/editor
Linda Hudson Writing
TEL 510-864-2144
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JonSwriter@att.net
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