"I saw this deal, and thought someone might like it" thread.

[DismalScientist]

@dasgeh 59808 wrote:

Thanks. I think you get what I’ve been looking for… Any suggestions on how to know what’s a “higher quality vintage touring bike”?

When I say touring bike, I’m talking mostly frame dimensions, with additional features as brazed on rack mounts and triple cranksets.
Vintage frames were considered as sport; sport/touring; and touring, with touring being the most relaxed and with the longest wheelbase. Whether you want a commuter bike of any of these categories as largely a matter of personal preference.

No matter what category of bike, “quality” typically depends on frame quality and component quality. While many low-end bikes were made of “pot” steel, better bikes had CroMo tubing and even better frames had name brand steel like Reynold 531 or Columbus tubing. Butting (i.e. the ends of the tubes are thick than the middle of the tubes) is a good feature.

For wheels, you want to have alloy rims rather than steel rims. Generally, bolt-on wheels were of lower quality. Touring bikes would have wider rims to accommodate 27×1 1/4 or 700C x 28 tires than sports bikes.

What constitutes higher quality components varied over time. SunTour derailleurs, particularly the VGT and even better Cyclone, were often considered best until the early 80’s. Once Shimano invented indexed shifting, SunTour was toast. 600 derailleurs were the top of the Shimano line. Touring bikes would get mountain derailleurs after that time. Generally, cheaper bikes would have shifters on the stem and higher quality bikes would have downtube shifters. Bar end shifters are considered a plus.

After the demise of centerpull brakes, touring bikes would get cantilever brakes and sport bikes would get sidepulls.

Besides custom bikes, the best mass produced touring bikes include the Miyata 1000 and Miyata 615 (and other 600 bikes) and the Trek 720 and 620. Cannondale made a good Aluminum framed touring bike. The Schwinn Voyageur is, I think, under-rated. Many Schwinn bikes of the 80’s were made with Columbus tubing.

[vvill]

RE: grades of steel, I’ve always thought this was a decent and concise overview:
http://www.wabicycles.com/steel_tubing_info.html

[jrenaut]

@vvill 59857 wrote:

RE: grades of steel, I’ve always thought this was a decent and concise overview:
http://www.wabicycles.com/steel_tubing_info.html

Are you sure you didn’t mean [ATTACH=CONFIG]3399[/ATTACH]

[JustinW]

Had to share this – appropriate topic. Happy Friday! (Click the link for pics)

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/nyc/3796206422.html

Oh my god. Oh. My. God.

best of craigslist > new york > Oh my god. Oh. My. God.
Originally Posted: Fri, 10 May 08:15 EDT
Grab a paper bag, breathe into it and calm your ass down. You’re hyperventilating because you ain’t never seen a deal like this before. Now collect yourself, then keep reading this incredible description that barely serves to do justice to my 2010 Felt Gridlock 3 speed fixed gear bike. Yes 3 SPEED FIXED GEAR. Also known as the greatest bike the city has ever had the privilege of existing around.

What makes this bike so much better than every other bike that has ever been pedaled? Glad you asked. It starts with the paint scheme. It looks like Iron Man if Iron Man were a bike. That’s bold, son. Curb appeal. It’s probably also why some piece of trash stole the front tire that originally came with this beauty. Why didn’t he steal the whole bike? Because he knew he wasn’t man enough. That’s ok, I replaced it with something that looks even more boss. The next thing is the genuine leather seat. My taint has had a love/hate relationship with this particular bit of the machine. But it’s got those swanky brass rivets so I can’t stay mad that it smashed my prostate and has likely rendered fatherhood impossible. But let’s face it, I’d rather have have a bike than a kid.

What else? Let’s talk about that three speed in-the-hub, fixed-gear transmission for a second. It’s as gnarly as it is exotic. Like the tropical, saw-toothed platypus. Which is a species that does’t even exist. Fortunately this crazy ass hub does. It offers 3 speeds, as the name implies. It also offers a terrific chance to introduce that dome of yours to the asphalt if you sleep for one single second on this beotch. So don’t trip. Ride safe. Get a helmet and if you’ve never ridden a fixed gear bike, maybe it’s time to move along, young sir because this back tire doesn’t flip flop and it doesn’t offer any respite. What this bike does offer is a one-way ticket to legits-ville. Find a bowling ball. Then find another one. Your nuts must be at least that big to even consider making this whip the dreamiest object to ever take up too much space in your tiny ass apartment. But you’ll be filled with joy once you throw a leg over this flawless piece of American-made* cycling excellence.

What else? Ryan, the paint’s a little dinged up. Yeah, well, that’s called real life. It comes at you fast, bro. Besides, you really want this glimmering, shimmering sex machine catching the eye of some small time thief? I already told you what happened to the tire. You really don’t want to be living your own version of PeeWee’s big adventure. Consider the lived-in feel a natural crime deterrent. If this bike were denim jeans, it’d be called “de-stressed” and you’d be paying extra for the privilege. I’m not gonna charge you extra for it, though. Cause I’m not trying to take advantage of you. But you should take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But, aren’t you sad about selling the greatest bike on earth? No. When you ride this bike once it permanently eliminates your ability to feel sad about anything ever again. Even for little puppies who are afraid to walk down the stairs, because the stairs…they’re so big, and they’re so little. Puppies who are young, but have already discovered the world to be a cold, unforgiving place. But you won’t give a shit about it because you’ll be on your awesome new bike living the dream.

Ryan, is that a toilet in the background? Yes. Why? Because this bike is the shit. And you’ve just learned something else about me. That’s right, my name is Ryan. And your name is lucky sonofagun if you make the best choice of your life and pay me cold, hard cash for this ridiculous ride.

*Felt bikes are imported from Taiwan. Sorry to burst your bubble, homie, but globalization has been restructuring the way products get manufactured and sold since the 80’s. Some believe it’s eroding the American middle class. If you’re the last to know, sorry for party rocking. Read “The World Is Flat.” Form an opinion. Join the dialog. By the way, the book is like 12 years old so this shouldn’t be news. Shit’s fucked up, but we didn’t start the fire. No we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it. Now buy this bitchin’ ass bike.
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[ShawnoftheDread]

42cm Surly LHT for $950

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/bik/3975858643.html

[Amalitza]

@ShawnoftheDread 59903 wrote:

42cm Surly LHT for $950

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/bik/3975858643.html

aw, man.

Somebody buy this please so it is not sitting there tempting me. ‘kthx.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@acl 59923 wrote:

aw, man.

Somebody buy this please so it is not sitting there tempting me. ‘kthx.

It would roll nice and smooth on Indian Head Hwy. Just sayin’.

[DismalScientist]

@ShawnoftheDread 59925 wrote:

It would roll nice and smooth on Indian Head Hwy. Just sayin’.

Bah. Save your money. Buy new instead: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/gran_turismo.htm

[ShawnoftheDread]

Focus CX 54cm, $850

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/bik/3976201979.html

Dismal will give you the nashbar/bikesdirect version shortly.

[DismalScientist]

Ok, here goes:
[URL=”http://http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outlaw_clearance.htm”]http://http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outlaw_clearance.htm[/URL]
This has disc brakes; I wouldn’t pay the $100 premium for a 10 speed cog over a 9 speed.
Or this: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cxx.htm
Or this:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_553817_-1___202339

[ShawnoftheDread]

@DismalScientist 59931 wrote:

Ok, here goes:
[URL=”http://http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outlaw_clearance.htm”]http://http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outlaw_clearance.htm[/URL]
This has disc brakes; I wouldn’t pay the $100 premium for a 10 speed cog over a 9 speed.
Or this: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cxx.htm
Or this:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_553817_-1___202339

Ooh, chrome frame…

[rcannon100]

Is this too good to be true? $800 58cm

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/bik/3975074455.html

[DaveK]

@rcannon100 59939 wrote:

Is this too good to be true? $800 58cm

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/bik/3975074455.html

Yes and no… Yes, it’s a full carbon frame for $800. It’s on the level with bikesdirect.com though, Tommaso isn’t a bike shop brand so the original price wasn’t what you might expect. Still I’m sure it’s a good bike and if it fits it would be a great deal.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dasgeh 59808 wrote:

Thanks. I think you get what I’ve been looking for… Any suggestions on how to know what’s a “higher quality vintage touring bike”?

This looks like a nicer Peugeot than the one you linked.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/3934595313.html

[mstone]

@DaveK 59943 wrote:

Yes and no… Yes, it’s a full carbon frame for $800. It’s on the level with bikesdirect.com though, Tommaso isn’t a bike shop brand so the original price wasn’t what you might expect. Still I’m sure it’s a good bike and if it fits it would be a great deal.

I’d go a bit further and call it a bad deal. You can get a whole low-end carbon bikes direct for the same money, and I knock off a lot for used carbon because you can’t really tell what kind of shape it’s in.

[Author]

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