Recent content by Coalfield

The 'top' stuff is always going to come back. Agreed - however, the number of collectors of classic bikes is declining, and the 'top' stuff definition becomes smaller and more exclusive. At least from my observation near Seattle, if it was mass produced...

What a beauty! Stay in good health and ride it regularly. The smiles will always come easy. It's the swinging of the leg that gets tougher.

You are good - in larger sizes and with some bag-gage removed, there are 6 I would love to ride. 'Bout the only thing missing is enough patina - or maybe a credit to 10ft pics cropped.

Congrats. Stopped going to BikeWorks = let's just say, at times, I loved them too much. ;) But I never bought a frameset.

As an aside to the 'lightest frame' discussion = I had the opportunity recently to ride a light bike with a lightweight fork and ~74° head tube angle with 23-25mm tyres pumped hard - and the first few minutes of riding were scary. Adjusting direction, avoiding small potholes, etc was an...

I know BtB is looking for used not new, but in the interest of defining what HYBRID means within today's market (including e-hybrid) - according to Bicycling editors. And Yes, Trek, Cannondale and Giant (Liv) are in the mix - as always in magazine reviews. No Specialized. [Aside: i think hybrid...

I think the issue of 'rolls better' for 622 ETRTO over 559 is 'generally' true. And may feel more natural to tall guys seeking XL. However, I would submit that tires and gearing are not to be underestimated when making comparisons. The smaller diameter rim can be more responsive in tight...

It seems to me that rigid mtn bikes would come very close to meeting your needs. Maybe a change of handlebars? Tires without knobs? You have one = What am I missing? OK, maybe not every rigid mtn bike fits the need. But upright riding position, shifters on h'bars, slack angles, etc.

Here's a Carabella from the Mexican company Acer-Mex. They exported Windsor & Carabella (lower priced) bikes. It was the SemiPro model - emphasis on 'Semi'. I hated the way it handled. Tried new wheels, etc. Didn't delve too deeply as I had other bikes of equal frame size that rolled much...

A vintage expert modified a NR for me - I can pass-on my experience that it isn't the greatest solution to achieve a lower gear range. Works, butt.... not quite as good as one might hope for. (And Yes, I know this isn't what is being considered; however, it is very CampaFranken!).

28mm tyres, with air pressure safely above pinch flat range, still allow for frame qualities to shine thru.

Will it take tyres wide enough to offset the frame deficiencies? Given the trend toward fat tyres and low pressure frame quality is almost irrelevant, if it is straight.

Without attaching C&V photos - C&V favorites worth "growing old with" (from the perspective of a purely pleasurable 1day ride) have been: In no order of preference - Austro Daimler VentNoir&Olympian, EM Corsa Extra, DeRosa Pro, MondiaSuper, Peugeot PX10, Holdsworth Special, Hugo Rickert...

At 74 years completed, I have given this topic (best last bike) some thought and action. Briefly: bought myself a 50th birthday present of a custom CF racer and it was so much fun that I knew I wanted that when I got much older. So,... a few years later, in 2003, I imagined - maybe a shorter...

I would love to ride a R531 Professional tubeset. I've ridden 531, 531SL, 531c, (+ a Trek version) but not Professional. It should be a bit more lively than the other variations. The spec sheet (post #1) lists weight at 22 pounds, so without pedals and a tubular wheelset this build might be...