"Found" Bicycles...

01-17-2005, 08:48 AM

I've been a lurker here for quite awhile. And I just wanted to post. I
haven't bought a bike since '71 when I got a new Peugeot PX-10E. Rode it
until '92 when I gave it to a friends son for college transportation.
Delrin derailers, dynamo light set, spring rack and army surplus saddle
bags. Maintained and kept inside.
Since then I've been riding 'found' rebuilts.
Currently I have 3. A 10s Raleigh Supercourse, so old it even has a
Brooks leather saddle. Found '91 beside apt. dumpster; flat front, baddly
aligned derailers. Came with flashlight clip; added $2 yard sale, new in
box, spring rear rack, & new tires. Recabled brakes and downtube shifters
at some point. Foam h-bar pads and shimano rear derailer off another found
junker. Favorite.
A 21s Huffy Techna, found 2000, spring trash day; brand new gel saddle,
Cooper Canyon rack and bags, front & rear detatchable lights; flat rear (bad
valve). Weighs a ton but fat tires so it rides good on trails and supports
my old butt. Recabled brakes, lubed all bearings and chain.
And a 21s Raleigh Technium Olympian, found Nov. 2004 suburban trash day,
Brooks foam saddle, 1" smooth tires, odometer, h-bar and seat bags, very
complete tool set, vertical 'racing' arm bar, twisted rear wheel. Ultra
light, and a bit too high tech until I get more practice on it next summer.
Professional lube, tune and wheel straightening; $45.
In each case I replaced a couple of parts, recabled the brakes or
shifters as necessary and off I went. They are all garaged. I guess I'm
lucky, but just wanted folks to know you can get fairly decent bikes for
next to nothing, and a little work. Good luck hunting.
twh