Why do you collect retro bikes?

[Black_puma]

Because I used to race BMX's when I was younger and moved to Mountain bikes in the early 90's. University, then work and kids took over, but I always rode. I am lucky enough now to be able to (just about) afford to buy some of the bikes that I dreamed of when I was 15/16/17, so why not. Plus I love the restoration and build process, it is a distraction and quite different from my everyday job, it creates balance in my life, if not in my finances

Like yourself, I started with BMX racing in the Netherlands, then later I got a job and spent my disposable income on bikes in my 20's.
I was very fortunate that despite having lost (stolen from me) a few bikes in the early 90's ( My first MTB, My Dawes Tracker and my first two GT's), that the guy (Jules) from Broadribbs Cycles in Leamington Spa was very supportive of helping me learn to build my own bikes in his workshop. I know it was a mutual respect as I did spent a fair bit of money there, 4 complete bikes and the '93 Zaskar project.
Now 33+ years later I find myself wanting to relive those happy days but taking it a bit further by actually keeping more of the bikes I buy!
Also, I enjoy the actual process of building my bikes, it's a very tactile thing for me, very therapeutic in many ways. So it's a win win situation.
And I like to admire the bikes, even if they were bought nearly complete with very minor work needed.
I have owned many other bikes of different brands besides GT and enjoyed a few of them more than others.
My favourite bikes so far..
1992 GT Timberline (green, heavily upgraded before it got stolen)
1993 GT Zaskar (custom build)
Columbus Zona MTB frame with Ritchey rear dropouts (I believe it to be from Merlin Cycles) built up to replace my dying GT iDrive 4.0).
1992 GT Bravado

 

[DoNotEat]

Err... I blame it on my ASD.

My spin is fixing stuff and I've been a hard core cyclist since I was three, so it's a good fit.

 

[Antstark]

… honestly they are not mine.. I am just looking after them for a friend …

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I'm trying to stop. There are too many. The unfinished, and the unused are causing anxiety. However, I have never succeeded in selling a bike...

 

[Imlach]

I'm trying to stop. There are too many. The unfinished, and the unused are causing anxiety. However, I have never succeeded in selling a bike...

Only reason I collect bikes is because I get overly attached

 

[Imlach]

Oh and the riding. I heard some do that. I keep rubber handy just in case.

 

[Imlach]

Inner tubes don't prevent pregnancy. But why would you? Another lycra clad specimen at age ten is what the world needs.

 

[widowmaker]

Because I couldn't quite afford them when I was younger, always out of reach. Now they transport me back to simpler times, plus I can be a little bit different.

 

[Imlach]

I can't afford retrobikes nevermind new ones

 

[Black_puma]

Like yourself, I started with BMX racing in the Netherlands, then later I got a job and spent my disposable income on bikes in my 20's.
I was very fortunate that despite having lost (stolen from me) a few bikes in the early 90's ( My first MTB, My Dawes Tracker and my first two GT's), that the guy (Jules) from Broadribbs Cycles in Leamington Spa was very supportive of helping me learn to build my own bikes in his workshop. I know it was a mutual respect as I did spent a fair bit of money there, 4 complete bikes and the '93 Zaskar project.
Now 33+ years later I find myself wanting to relive those happy days but taking it a bit further by actually keeping more of the bikes I buy!
Also, I enjoy the actual process of building my bikes, it's a very tactile thing for me, very therapeutic in many ways. So it's a win win situation.
And I like to admire the bikes, even if they were bought nearly complete with very minor work needed.
I have owned many other bikes of different brands besides GT and enjoyed a few of them more than others.
My favourite bikes so far..
1992 GT Timberline (green, heavily upgraded before it got stolen)
1993 GT Zaskar (custom build)
Columbus Zona MTB frame with Ritchey rear dropouts (I believe it to be from Merlin Cycles) built up to replace my dying GT iDrive 4.0).
1992 GT Bravado

Finally found a photo tucked away on my phone of my Columbus Zona(l) framed MTB, the frame was bought to replace my poorly GT iDrive 4.0 as it had developed a crack in a weld near the bottom bracket. Fortunately all parts were easy to transfer except for the seatpost, but I found a suitable post(Titec branded) for free which happened to be the correct diameter. Either way, this bike was such a joy to ride despite it being bigger than what I'd usually have. From what I came to find out it was probably originally made for Merlin Cycles (Rock lobster brand for their steel bikes), I have only ever seen one the same for sale since. It did also come with disc brake tabs on the rear drop out, so it I guess it would have been a frame from mid 00's or so, maybe earlier. I bought this frame on eBay in 2006 for £55 which I thought was quite cheap for a nice steel frame like this.
One of those bikes I regrettably sold some years later!