Who has the oldest bike?

Man, I'm jealous....I was drooling over a completely old skool peugeot at steelhead this weekend. White, with black checkers, 12-speed campy double, leather seat. My next bike will be old school. I can't wait.

Vintage 1980's Team La Vie Claire Look Road Bike. It is one of the very few production bikes made with Reynolds 753 and is pretty darn light. The bike is signed by Bernard Hinault and was produced during his run to win the Tour.

I bought it around 1987 new and have had it ever since. It came with Dura-Ace 7400 Components which have been absolutely bullet proof for the better part of 20 years.

I have raced 3 HIM distance and 2 Full IM Distance races on it in addition to 5 seasons of short distance Triathlons.  What made this bike a compelling ride back in the 1980s is still applicable today.

Unfortunately, my rear deraileur finally came apart during Ironman Coeur d'Alene and the cost to replace the components was just too much for such an old bike. I converted it into a single speed and just purchased a new Cervelo P2C.

There is just a bit of irony in all of this. Both bikes come in Mondrian Inspired Paint Schemes and both bikes have very close ties to winning Tour de France Teams. (Look La Vie Claire and Team CSC)

My frame is still in excellent condition I just need to make the single speed conversion complete with the purchase of a Dura-Ace Track Hub. (Fixed Gear)

Okay, in more seriousness, I do have an old Cannondale that I race on sometimes and ride in the winter all the time. It's a late 80s bike and it is converted from a 6 speed with downtube shifters (how I rode it for years) to a 8 speed. The wheel spacing is different and it's hell to change my tire if I get a flat on the back.

This bike is retiring as I am getting a brand new custom bike that is going to be made of steel (Columbus Spirit) so it may look old skool.

Jen

Torpado from the 70's Still trying to find the year manufactured.  It's the bike I race.  

Need steel for my fat A$$

Cool bike!

I still ride a 1983 Aero Miyata and a 1982 Miyata 710.  Cro-mo double-butted steel tubing, downtube shifters, and the 710 still has the ORIGINAL Suntour 7-spd friction shifter!  I have it converted into the kids' bike trailer hauler.

Here's my 70s Raleigh; I rode it last night on the Tuesday night fast ride (25 mph for 40 miles).  On flat rides, one gear's enough as long as you pick the right one. 

It's currently running a polished set of the same track wheels (Weinmann DP18s) and a 54 tooth big ring; I need to take more pics.

Here's my 70s Raleigh; I rode it last night on the Tuesday night fast ride (25 mph for 40 miles).  On flat rides, one gear's enough as long as you pick the right one. 

It's currently running a polished set of the same track wheels (Weinmann DP18s) and a 54 tooth big ring; I need to take more pics.

Sweet! Did it take much tinkering to make it a fixed gear?

No, it's pretty easy to do.  I've done several and posted about it here before.  Look for a bike with rear dropouts that are semi-horizontal, so you can get some chain tension adjustment, then just take off the stuff you don't need.  If you re-use the original wheels as I did on my first one, you can build one for <$50.

This bike is a bit fancier; I stripped and repainted the frame, bought (inexpensive) new track cranks, and traded my last fixie for the track wheels with flip flop hub that are on it now.  I love the brake levers; they're the very ergonomic and Campy-style Cane Creek units. 

Even with some new parts, I still have less than $150 in it.  It's nice to build an entire bike for, say, the cost of two new tubular tires.