Worst Bike I Ever Had
- Thread starter Canuk
- Start date
Greenfingers1001
Dirt Disciple
but that example looks very nice, Silver colour looks good with lots of shiny-shiny going on, nice seat, cool how the crankset guard kind of matches the cassette/spoke guard (Chopper ? ) & I think the stem shifters always look great on any bike
edit - tell us the good & bad please ?
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georges1
Retro Guru
Decathlon were never quality bikes and even their so called high end bikes were far to be from the highest quality.
Canuk
Old School Grand Master
Early Peugeot aluminium road bike, can't remember the model exactly, might have been a 5000, but it had CLB branded brakes with the smallest pads you've ever seen: pretty useless in the dry, absolutely deadly when wet and then squealed like a Banshee till dry again. Last time I ever went near a French big box manufacturer.
Coalfield
Dirt Disciple
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 better (Raleigh SuperCourse and AD Olympian). Gave it to a tall friend I knew who rode hybrid bikes, as I knew he was not likely to ride with drop handlebars. He liked the overall appearance and chromed head lugs.
Years later, met a guy at a group ride who had a Carabella Semi-Pro (in a smaller size) that he claimed to love. He was with the very last group to finish the easy route, so I took his preferences as coming from someone who enjoys being last. One man's treasure = another's tasteless porridge.
Years later, met a guy at a group ride who had a Carabella Semi-Pro (in a smaller size) that he claimed to love. He was with the very last group to finish the easy route, so I took his preferences as coming from someone who enjoys being last. One man's treasure = another's tasteless porridge.
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Greenfingers1001
Dirt Disciple
those fixed upright handlebars killed it for me
The worst bike I had is also the bike that gave me some of my greatest bike related memories.
I can't remember the model name, but it was a bright red junior size Viscount road bike from the Universal catalogue. It was a present from my mum for my first birthday after my dad died, I was 11.
Up till then I'd ridden a battered old second hand chopper, which I learned to ride on and loved, but the viscount was a brand new bike. It wasn't that great as a road bike, the tyres were much wider than other road bikes I'd seen, it was heavier than my brothers and it only had 5 gears. It probably qualifies as a BSO and was all my mum could afford, I loved it.
I used to get up two hours early for school so I could take it out for a ride. I used to spend my pocket money on accessories, customizing it with new bar tape and stickers. I've never spent more time on any bike before or since. Whole days were spent exploring with my brother and friends. It taught me so much about bike maintenance too, I used to clean it once a week, learned how to change cables and brake pads etc.
Sadly I don't have any pictures of it, it was stolen from outside the corner shop when I was about 14.
Looking back I think subconsciously that bike inspired my 700c Pioneer build. It too is bright red, has wide tyres and drop bars, although it might be lighter
Never really made the connection before now, but I really do think it feels as close to that old Viscount as anything I've ridden since.
I can't remember the model name, but it was a bright red junior size Viscount road bike from the Universal catalogue. It was a present from my mum for my first birthday after my dad died, I was 11.
Up till then I'd ridden a battered old second hand chopper, which I learned to ride on and loved, but the viscount was a brand new bike. It wasn't that great as a road bike, the tyres were much wider than other road bikes I'd seen, it was heavier than my brothers and it only had 5 gears. It probably qualifies as a BSO and was all my mum could afford, I loved it.
I used to get up two hours early for school so I could take it out for a ride. I used to spend my pocket money on accessories, customizing it with new bar tape and stickers. I've never spent more time on any bike before or since. Whole days were spent exploring with my brother and friends. It taught me so much about bike maintenance too, I used to clean it once a week, learned how to change cables and brake pads etc.
Sadly I don't have any pictures of it, it was stolen from outside the corner shop when I was about 14.
Looking back I think subconsciously that bike inspired my 700c Pioneer build. It too is bright red, has wide tyres and drop bars, although it might be lighter
Never really made the connection before now, but I really do think it feels as close to that old Viscount as anything I've ridden since.Attachments
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