Sunday, August 31, 2008

I've become a Cycling Freak

Ever since I've begun cycling more and more regularly starting early this spring, I've come to love and search for non-domestic old school road bikes (1970's/80's) like Fuji, Peugeot, Motobecane, Raleigh, Bianchi, Nishiki...

I see so many old Schwinn bikes around (Varsity, Continental, World, Traveler, Suburbans... and they tend to be very heavy) that I've stopped looking for them. Euro/Asian bikes have a little more mystique I guess. Anyway, here is a smattering of the bikes I own (or have fixed up and sold) this summer:

Blue 1980 Fuji Royale (super tall, 66cm!!!) a CraigsList find for $25 (currently at the bike shop to get the seat post unstuck, its frozen in place).


Red 1981 FUJI Gran Tourer SE (62cm)
The other Fuji I got from the same CraigsList purchase, also for $25. Downside here is the back wheel has a busted spoke and thus rim is bent/unridable as of now, but frame and everything else is decent.

Silver 1980's PANASONIC Sport 500 (62cm), I got off of Ebay for $65, ended up selling for $100.


Yellow 1972 SCHWINN Continental (54cm) I got on Ebay for $32 and sold for $200 after a few adjustments and some new bartape.

Tan 1990's GIANT ATX 750 mountain bike with front suspension. A beautiful find at the MSU Surplus Bike Sale for $15 !!! After changing out the run-over front wheel and a tune-up, I sold it for $200.

White BERGAMO Sport (52cm Italian made) that I bought on Ebay for $37 and did a tune up and converted it from a geared 12-speed into a single-speed, with new red bartape, sold for $150.

1987 Baby-Blue PEUGEOT P8 Avoriaz (62cm) I found on CraigsList for $100 I think. Sweet looking colors! New white bartape, changed out old tires with cyclocross tires, converted to single-speed (still have to change out the cassette freewheel for a BMX 16t freewheel). In VERY nice condition, my favorite right now!!

Silver 1983 PEUGEOT PF60 (60cm) also from CraigsList for $100 including nice frame pump. Was hanging in some guy's barn for last 15 years, in mint condition!! Changed out the old gum-wall tires for nice blue Maxxis Detonators (700c!!), replaced saddle with some black English cow (Brooks B17). My main commuter bike right now, +/- fenders when it gets rainy.

Tan 1980's FUJI Allegro (48cm) that I found on CraigsList ($85) for my wife Courtney to ride. She now cyclommutes to work about 3 times a week!

(My Baby)
Brown 1986 SCHWINN Sprint (62cm) that I converted into a SS.
Brooks B17 saddle, Planet Bike Hardcore Road Fenders, Specialized 170mm crank/chainring 42t, ACS Claws 16t freewheel, Red Ritchie SPD clipless pedals, flopped/chopped handlebars with red Bontrager bartape. I got this bike at an MSU Surplus Bike sale for $45 and put a lot of work into it and ended up selling it for $200.
So yeah, finding, refurbishing and selling bikes has become a serious hobby of mine. VERY enjoyable.