by Scott
I've never been a collector of stuff. OK, I had a small stamp collection as a kid and I had some rocks, due to my uncle being in the mining industry up north, but nothing where I collected lots of something or anything of a specific interest. As a teenager, I got into cycling in a serious manner. I had two bikes - one for getting to high school on and one to race/train on. I raced semi seriously for a year as a 16 year old and then said, nope, that's not for me. I got more into touring and eventually, sold one of my bikes to raise money for my first overseas cycling trip. I worked in a bike shop while going to university and bought and sold a few bikes that I got through the shop. At most, I'd have two bikes on hand - a road bike and a mountain bike. Fast forward a few years and I reached the point where I just had the mountain bike with road tires on it. When my wife graduated from her Masters program in 2001, she promised me a bike, "one that you'd have forever" with the first pay check. So I dug about, did some soul searching of what I wanted and got myself a proper touring bike with all the racks etc. I've had that bike ever since.
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| not a forever bike, but a "right now" bike |
This comes up when I saw an article the other day on
Outside Online about a forever bike. I think the author nails it right on the head in terms of changes in bike design and such being the reason your ideal bike at any one time won't be ideal in X number of years. My bike is a classic in the sense of a lot of VO customers bikes - 1 inch steerer tube, canti brakes, and 135mm spacing in the rear. There will always be parts out there for bikes like this. It's more I think a matter of being able to ride a "retro/vintage/classic" styled bike compared to what my fellow riders are riding. For me, who rides alone or with my wife mostly, comparisons to other bikes isn't an issue. Perhaps if you always rode with folks who swapped bikes around, had multiple bikes for different needs, or such, I'd have more issues.
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| Pretty close to perfect forever bike |
Do you have one bike, that if the house/apartment/yurt was on fire you'd grab? Is it the one bike that you put above others, simply because you've had it forever or is it something else?
Posts
31 comments:
I've churned through a lot of bikes trying to find my forever one. Several cyclocross, old premium Fuji's, Bridgestones, a Trek road bike, several Bianchis, a VO Passhunter. And my sad, almost anti-scientific revelation is that it all comes down to (after getting the fit right) how my body weight makes the frame feel. I'm fit and weigh around 190lb at 5'9" and really enjoy torquing the pedals.
For light and fast, the 1997-2002 Lemond Zurich 853 steel frames are basically perfect for me. I have two, one custom painted to clean up the rust. For everyday, I've put about 6,000 miles on a SOMA Pescadero fully dressed in VO stainless fenders, panniers, wheels, cranks and chainrings and even VO Grand Cru Long Reach Brakes that I ground out to extend a further 7mm. I'm usually carrying my daughter and 35lbs of work gear on 32mm tires. It's the first forever feeling touring bike I've ever ridden.
For many years my favorite was a Raleigh Super-Tourer that I took on a dozen rallies and hundreds of club rides. More recently, my favorite is a Surly Cross Check frame that I built up with an Alfine internal geared hub specifically for riding rail trails. The front hub, headset, stem, clock, fenders, and Grand Cru brakes are all from VO. I'm still using the original 1973 Blackburn rear rack that I bought for the Raleigh. Both bikes are documented on my website www.twofootartist.com
I bought my forever bike with the vacation time cash out when I left my last job. It's a Norther Klickitat Pass, the very first of the "production" version and the first bicycle Norther built in 2018.
While I did splash out for some of the brass Honjo fenders, it does carry (and color match!) my favorite piece of VO gear- The old canvas randonneur bag (and the canti rando rack with integrated decaleur) . It's covered in patches and pretty sun faded but I love it, not least for it's ability to hold all my tools/random crap, a jacket, and three pounds of coffee with room left over.
I've had the bike a little over a year now and logged lots of miles on it. I'm looking forward to a hell of a lot more.
Definitely my Campeur, nicknamed "Grey Ghost" for obvious reasons: https://www.instagram.com/p/BaP3rxsFU5F/ .
Mark D.
I've have a steel road frame for about 8 years, that I bought used then. Initially it was for training & commuting & dabbling in triathlons. Then the gravel bug bit, and a bit of randonneuring; all told I've put probably 15000 miles on it. Now I have a "gravel" bike that fits wider tires. And don't do the tris, or the randos. The roadie has fenders, so is mostly back in commuting duty when it might rain. And dang it if, every time I get back on, I think about how it's still a great bike. 2x9, bar-end shifters, 'only' fits 28mm tires under the fenders. I wandered over here because it could use a rack for light touring. A constructeur perhaps?
I have used heavily modified 26inch seatpost length Schwinn Varsity bicycles for decades. Yes the heavy Chicago made kids bike. The only Schwinn left on it is the frame, fork, headtube badge, kickstand and until recently the seatpost. The bike is now a 1x10 Shimano/Microshift with VO hubs and pedals and Velocity Chukar Rims. S and M BMX handlebar with BMX stem. Profile 180mm cranks, yes I'm 6ft 5in and love a longer crank arm. I use 700c x 40mm tires. Schwalbe Marathon Plus. This bicycle does it all including the latest gravel road craze which we used to call dirt road riding. I guess this would be as close to a forever bike as I've had. I ride daily and it has thousands of my miles on it. It was an unaltered used bike when I got it and had lots of miles on it at that time. Other bicycles have come and gone during the decades I've been riding these beasts. I've owned 4 and presently 2.
Early on after meeting my future wife she asked me, "If you won the lottery what bike would you buy?" At the time I had a Specialized Comp mountain bike that I used for everything- getting groceries, for sport rides with friends, loaded touring, everything. My response was immediate, a Rivendell Atlantis. It would fit my riding FOREVER. So, as it turned out I didn't have to win the lottery. A friend found a frame set in my size and I bought it and built it up. That old Specialized was stolen and between it and the Atlantis, I've had several bikes, Bridgestone X-01, and RB-1, Miyata 610, 618, & 1000, Panasonic Pro Tour there's a KHS John Howard all Campy tri bike in the garage and an Alpina Uno that is waiting for a rebuild, and probably some others I'm not remembering, but the Atlantis is GOLDEN. Recently I've started doing fast rides with a local club, and the Atlantis always gets looks. Meeting up with that group for the first time, one of the ride leaders came up to me and my steel bike with upright bars, racks, and VO fenders and tried to steer me to the slower group that was also riding from the same start. That old steel bike climbed just as well as all the carbon on the ride. So as I've gotten ridden myself into a better level of fitness and ride faster I've been wanting another bike. I recently bought a Rivendell Roadini. It's all steel, a mix of lugs and fillet brazing and perfect for the club rides. They still look at me slightly askance, cause, well steel. I still occasionally ride the Atlantis for the club rides. I also just finished a short tour with friends on it. If I ride to the store , that's the bike I take. I have the wherewithal to indulge myself in whatever bike I want, but the Atlantis just makes sense and fits me and my riding in so many ways.
There was always a bike I identified with as “my bike”. There may have been multiple bikes in my stable, but only one was ever “it”. Since 1990 I have ridden mostly custom bikes due to my size and proportions. Each one was an attempt at the ultimate bike. Each was a failure: too stiff. With each new frame I chose tubing that would make it half as stiff as the last one. 4 iterations on I have that bike. I have 6 bikes I could ride today if I wanted to, but there is no point. An allroad rando bike with wide tires, fenders, lights, and handlebar bag, and most of all, that lively tuned flex feel, just feels more joyful to ride than anything. Even that Peugeot I borrowed from my brother back in 1978 that made me fall in love with the road in the first place.
We each own two bikes, a proper touring bike and a custom randonneur bike. All have steel frames. In the 80's we rode as a group on club rides which were no-drop rides and enjoyed the ride. Today, it seems club rides are training rides for the "tour de france". Club rides are posted based on speed, i.e 18 mph plus, 16-18 mph 13-15 mph. What happened to the joy of cycling? Perhaps I am just old and behind the times. I don't think so, Stores such as Velo Orange and Velo Classique are doing very well. Lenora likes to ride her VO Campeur and I own a 1987 Miyata 1000 LT, which is a joy to ride.. The randonneur bikes are based on classic designs, mine is based on a 1952 Rene Herse and Lenora's is modeled after mine. Perhaps, I am trapped in the era of steel frames and the joy of cycle touring.
Oh man, having worked in shops and run a non profit shop for a few years I have 8 bikes all with various specialized functions and uses. I realize I do REALLY like "designing" and spec-ing out new bikes, so many I built for the shop and ended up keeping ha! A VO pass hunter, a Soma Wolverine fixed gear, All City Space Horse loaded touring, Jamis Dragonslayer touring MTB, Torelli Corsa Strada city single speed with coaster brake, and a few others. Debate selling them all to fund a Crust Evasion with multiple wheelsets (I like fixed gear in the winter time) but I dunno, I do like my collection of scalpels vs. one big old chainsaw : ] I suppose if I ever have to move to a smaller living space I'll trim the fat.
My first bike as an adult was a 1988 Diamondback Ascent - http://www.bikeman.com/attic/catalog1988diamondbackmtn.htm. I used that bike for everything during college and beyond, really wish I still had it.
My 2008 Surly LHT is probably The One at this point. In many ways it feels similar to my old DB - simple, rugged, versatile. Current setup is an old 8 speed MTB drive train with Nitto Albatross bars, it's a relaxed, fun ride.
I have just the one bike: a 1987 GT Timberline Al Terra that I found abandoned years ago and, by dumb luck, was my size. I've kept it going for nearly 15 years, three drivetrain overhauls, about 5 sets of fenders, and who knows how many sets of tires. It's presently shod with Compass - err, Rene Herse - Rat Trap Pass tires and it goes everywhere that I need it go go, and that includes daily commuting and errand running. I see no need to buy another bike.
Raleigh 3 speed
Aaron
1977 Peugeot PX-10LE, I have rebuilt it several times, but after 42 years it still puts a smile on my face. Surprisingly fast, and very comfortable. I still have that old Brooks saddle, one can see the imprint of my sit bones on! It is a classic French road bike, after all of the hype is said and done it looks like folks knew how to design a bike for riding long days! My "Steed for Speed" still gets it done!
Easy, my Velo Orange Camargue, super versatile and a joy to ride. Shame it was only produced for about a year before the Piolet stole its spot in the VO lineup.
Jack Taylor Tandem. Why? Becuase it rides like majic. I can enjoy it with my son or daughter or wife. Its a 1972 so it has maxicarr including rear drum hubs, Lyfol fenders, internal wired generator lights and Jack taylor racks. Right now, I'm running a phil wood rear hub with arai drag brake and Velo Orange racks. Did a 6 week ride with it last year in France with my Son. We towed a Bob trailer. In order to protect the paint on such an adventure, I wrapped the whole thing in pipe wrap for the trip duration. Made it easier to pack the bike without scratching it etc. looked ugly but paint stayed nice. I highly recommend this to anyone taking a nice frame on trip.
Other nice rides I have are a 1983 Moulton AM7 but now 9 speed, a Harry Quinn, Fat Chance Wicked-an amazing bike on the road- beleive it or not! then i have a few more rigs but the Quinn Chance Moulton all ride super. I have a specialized Expedition too 1983 - a super bike to run studded tires up here in New England winters. Still The Jack taylor is just majic. And it's nice to share with someone i love too.
In 2012, I got hit, getting out with a hip replacement. After I recovered, I bought a VO production Rando. I spent a few years messing around with it, but now it's done, and has been for about four years (OK, three years ago I replaced the QR skewers with bolt-ons for parking peace of mind). The only thing that changes on it over time is the particular 28mm tire, and that's a consequence of what's available.
So, more or less--
VO Rando frame, leather saddle, aluminum fenders, front and rear racks, dynohub lighting system front and rear, drop bars, downtube shifters, caliper brakes. Comparatively low-geared double crank and 9-speed cassette. Handlebar bag always stays on, panniers go on when needed.
I'm 61, and I don't see any reason to change anything else. So long as it survives, I expect it'll be my last ride.
It's nice not to be obsessing over the bike. Now I can spend my time riding it.
My 1970-vintage Gitane Interclub. Well, parts of it, anyway. The frame, hubs, brakes and handlebars are original. Switched sewup rims for high-pressure clinchers. Velo Orange sealed bottom bracket, Sugino triple chainwheel. Suntour V/GT derailleurs. Brooks Professional saddle. Six-speed freewheel out of my local shop's junk box (only one he had that would fit the old hub after the first replacement froze up). Bought the bike while I was in college, still ride it on Scout outings and the odd time I have a couple of hours to burn on a weekend or when I'm not working (retired, still working part time).
It suits me. We're both antiques and we get along well together! I also have my son's last Trek mountain bike but I need to rebuild the front brakes on that (broken cable fitting) before it's rideable.
Great topic! At the present I have a Moots Mooto X YBB 29er I originally set up as my forever mountain bike. But I failed to see the advent and return to touring / retro styles I grew up riding (tho to be honest as a kid I couldn’t afford the high end Raleigh’s I coveted - so I muddled along modifying what I had)...
Recently I’ve become a sort of bicycle Santa Clause - I keep building bikes that have a high lust factor, then hiding them to my sons (I have 4)... today I’m working on my first gates carbon belt drive bike - a Soma Juice. It’s Baja Blue, which lets face it, that’s ‘French Blue’ and it’ll have a host of gorgeous components, with the intention it can be used as a ride anywhere bike. So, depending on that build, I’ll either gift if, or keep it. If I keep it, I’d want to sell that Moots, but it’s not practical, because the bling level is outrageous- and I doubt anyone would cough up the $10k plus ������
I’d still like to ride the Maah Daah Hey trail, and do some campours exploring the rails to trails systems.
I’m old, so hucking drops does not spark joy anymore.
I have only owned 3 multi-speed bikes in 45 years of cycling (I guess I like what I pick). I am very satisfied with my current Bianchi Volpe, and would still like to have a custom bike built-up in the classic style (silver components) on a steel frame.
However my forever bike is my 1973 Peugeot UO-8 that I bought new while I was in college. Its only upgrades have been alloy rims, and an alloy cotterless crank with English threads on the pedals (I hated cotter pins! They never would be a tight after removal.) Both were done while in college. I still ride the Peugeot for a reality check, but even when I do not, it is wall art in my rec room due to its classic look that screams vintage bike boom French and its mint condition.
I've owned an admittedly embarrassing number of bikes - literally hundreds. The good thing is that the sample size for my personal data set is huge. And while there've been quite a few that I've loved in one way or another, only one qualifies as my "forever bike" ... a Boulder Brevet frame and fork that I built around parts I specifically planned for this bike: Ultegra rear mech with a 600 front, VO 48/34 crank, VO rando bars, VO stem, Cambium C17 saddle, VO fenders, Compass 32 tires, and hand built wheels. But all of that is purely the sort of information I might share with an insurance agent, it doesn't begin to describe why this qualifies as my "forever bike." The thing about it that it's all designed to meet my personal needs and fit perfectly. No other bike is as comfortable mile after mile after mile as this has proven to be. Even after a long day in the saddle, climbing a long, steep hill is seldom the chore it can be on literally any of the other dozen and a half bikes I own. Regardless of whether I'm out for a long ride, or stopping to lean it against the pub wall, this is the bike that always makes me WANT to ride. And despite my flirtations - you know what I mean: a couple days riding fixed on a '66 Paramount or rough riding gravel on a 70's era Carre 'cross bike, my Boulder always welcomes me back.
Mark Alan Anderson
Liberty, Missouri USA
I have over 25, mostly vintage, bikes. Some are quite stunning, like my Jack Taylor Super Tourist or ’64 Merlin (British). But the one I couldn’t live without is my drab and well used ’85 Trek 720. If another one comes up for sale locally, in my size, I’ll buy it to have a spare, “just in case”.
Supposedly designed for loaded touring, with 47.5cm stays and supplied with low riders & 3 H2O cages. It could have been the best tourer of the stellar crop of lugged ‘80s touring bikes. BUT they made a couple of decisions that made it a noodle when fully loaded. “Competition Standard” gauge 531 instead of “Touring” (0.1mm thicker) and wimpy 1/2” seat stays. So what they ended up making instead, is the perfect, cushy riding “Day Tripper”.
The only bike that would cause me to desert her would be if I ever find time to build frames again. I'd clone the 720, but with an extended head tube, lower BB and clearance for 38mm tires.
Last year I spread the rear end to 135mm with 11-34 10 speed Shimano on XT hubs. I ran it for years with a 14-28 freewheel and 24/36/46 rings. Now that I have an 11t cog, I chucked the 46 in my lathe and turned it into a guard. I don’t go that fast these days and I can spin the 153mm Andels pretty well when I have to. So 36/11 is all the gear I need.
The next mod will be my favorite handlebar, VO’s Course, (which are on sale now, $40). At age 73, with neck, shoulder and hand issues, I need “taller than Technomic” stems. Which are hard to find in 26mm. But I just traded a pair of Albatross bars for a 26mm Dirt Drop stem.
It’s not bad off road either. Just yesterday I discovered that a trail Google Maps showed as “Paved”, wasn’t. At the start it looked “probably ridable” & would save me a couple of miles on a cold windy day. But it quickly turned to deep mud with stretches of standing water. The 720 was chugging right along till a branch intervened. A split second later I discovered that falling into deep, black, cold, stinking mud still beats landing on pavement.
BTW the 720 was given to me, by a woman who was touring on it in England when she was hit by a lorry. Bike was unharmed but she couldn’t bear to ride it again. Even though 34 years and 2 knee replacements later, she still rides her several lugged steel bikes.
I had something very similar--an '85 Trek 620, and it was a great ride. I set it up for winter with nice studded tires, wide fenders, dynohub, the works. I sold it went I moved out east ten years ago...but I do remember it as a nice soft ride. Like a Cadillac or Rolls...
I've built not only my forever bike, but my do everything bike. Barring a catastrophic accident, the frame and fork will outlast the wheel set (vo raid/pbp w/ Phil hubs), mixed group set (SunXCD derailleurs, dia-comp breaks, VO drillieum cranks), VO rando bars, and VO sprung saddle. Honestly the most important parts for me are the tires and saddle, most everything else compliments or builds upon them (and each other part). Now I ride year round in the midwest and in the warmer seasons, ride longer distance for fun. This requires a bike that can be quick, cary things and capable of multi terrain. My forever/everything bike is both understated, handsome/pretty (to the knowing eye) and super functional.
My Follis in Vitus 971. Custom built in 1981 when I turned 18. Equipped with the best French touring equipment TA, Huret Jubilee, MaxiCar, Ideale, Mafac Cantilevers, low riding front pannier carriers. Toured all over Europe on it in camping over several summers. Racked up 500 mountain passes, 24 hour rides... Upgraded the pedals to the first Look clip-ons when they came out and later drive train to keep it relevant. Today it has Fulcrum 3 tubeless wheels and Campagnolo Athena 3x11 shifters and rear derailleur (still with TA triple and Huret Jubilee Front derailleur). Still ride it as much as my other bikes... Can't sell it, it was made for me... 38 years and counting...
I've only had a few bikes over the many years. The one that's stayed with me longest is a 70's, Japanese-made Bianchi sport-tourer that fits. Bought for small money, refinished and equipped with mostly Suntour Superbe components in respect for its Japanese heritage and because those components are beautiful and durable. About 20 years on now, its still the bike I ride and enjoy. I get questions on how much it weighs from other roadies and why there's only 7 cogs in the back. Answers, "I've never weighed it, it works for me."
I think I just bought a forever bike - a mid-90s Novara Randonee. I need to swap the brakes (I can't stand low profile cantis), but it's otherwise delightful.
The one I'd pull from a fire? My Peugeot UO-8 singlespeed. It's my go-to bike more often than not, and it just works. Best of all, the geometry is all-day comfy, and the clearance is wide enough for any kind of tire I'd want to run. Currently, it's set up with XC tires for the gravel ride I took it on last weekend.
2000 Kona Jake the Snake, bought on clearance in '01.
I didn't buy it with the intention of keeping it forever, but that bike became such a part of my life that it's hard to imagine not having it around. I just did a minor refurb, and plan to keep riding it.
At first, it was a relatively budget bike that I was going to ride until I could afford something really slick. We got along so well that the 'slick' bike never happened.
Bought a Romic Model 25 frame 39 years ago. Built it up as a touring bike with the intention of doing loaded touring. After one accident and frame repair and a few paint jobs, it's still my trusty steed. And some day I will go for a bike tour...
Great article. For years my only bike was a Bridgestone MB1. I did everything on that bike except mountain bike. I used it for road riding, commuting and touring. In fact I road the perimeter of Australia with it. I have long since sold it and can't say I miss it because the more I got into biking the more I realized what a terrible fit it was for me. But I do miss the simplicity of having one bike. With age usually comes more income and with more income, more toys so now I have six bikes and that's pathetic. Two touring bikes; two MTBs, a road bike and a fat bike. But if I had to kill the quiver, I would keep my 2011 Salsa Fargo Ti. Standard everything and rides unbelievably fast on the road with the right tires. It can pretty much do it all.
Compared to so many others, I’ve lived a rather sheltered life, bike-wise. Maybe I’m cheap, or not very discerning, or maybe the three bikes I’ve owned over the course of adulthood have all just been that good to me that my eyes and heart haven’t wandered.
My current forever bike is a VO Campeur that I’ve ridden nearly 5,000 miles over two seasons now. It’s a luxuriously comfortable ride on 35 mm tires without being boring, perfect for my daily 8 mile commute. The kind of bike that disappears below you, it’s lovely and fun, responsive, quick, stable, and predictable. It has all the qualities I want in a touring bike that my other two loves lack. I won’t test that fully till next summer. But it lacks the beautiful lugs of my other two vintage bikes.
My first love is a ’76 Trek TX500 frame I bought brand new as an impressionable 20 year old, from Trek’s first year in production. Didn’t matter that it was one size too large, I could adapt. I built it up with a mix of new parts and components scavenged off my ‘71 Gitane Interclub - the only ‘real’ bike that I bought off the rack. That Trek took me on 1,000 miles or so of various tours around Wisconsin and Michigan, and the component mix evolved along the way. It got me through college and beyond, until age found me longing for a frame I didn’t need to stand on tip-toes at a stop. It’s waiting patiently for me to finish building 650b wheels that should lower the standover by nearly an inch. The lug work is clean, simple, and classic. It’s beautiful. Till death do us part.
I found my ’83 Trek 500 on ebay, repainted and tricked out in vintage mis-matched Campy Record gear. It was the next size smaller than the ’76 - a better fit. I transplanted parts from the ’76 along with new and NOS 80’s gear. I absolutely love this bike, it’s sporty and fast and responsive and sweet. The only drawback is limited tire size. But with the new 700c wheels I’m building I can squeeze 35 mm tires between the chainstays (without fenders), and it looks almost modern. Another keeper.
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