My new wheels

...Only two of them for now.

Picked this up after work today. Vintage NZ-made Healing road bike, probably late '70s ~ early '80s. A bit creaky from disuse but in pretty good shape overall. It wasn't "cheap", but by Auckland standards I did pretty well, and it's in light years better condition than the rusted hulks the second hand dealers are trying to flog for $350+. It needs a thorough tune but I rode it home and it seemed to be in good working order. Fortunately the local hipster bike shop is on my way to work so I'll drop it off there for servicing later this week. Once I get the brakes and gears adjusted it'll be my around-town commuter.

I love these oldschool road bikes, they're light and easy to throw around without any complexity that doesn't need to be there. A Peugeot or Raleigh would have had more "name appeal" but this one does what I want and was in my price range. Of course I've got a bunch of upgrades rattling around in my head. I'll probably start with a pack for the parcel shelf so I can carry a change of clothes to work, and sort out something better than the useless mini-fenders which aren't even tightened down right. Eventually new shifters would be nice and maybe more modern handlebars to go with them (still have to be ram horns though!) but that'd be a ways off.

Anyway, happy with it so far!

my dad has an old schwinn that looks really really similar, same colors too. It doesnt have all those sweet bolt on mods though. Steel frame so its heavy but I am hoping to snag it someday.

This can all be summed up with one word. Classy.

Cool. If the shifting and brakes seem a bit tired from lack of use, replacing the cables and housings should bring them back.

In reply to Jay:

New cables, tires, chain and brake pads will have it up and running like a new bike. Rewrap the bars if the foam is deteriorating. I flip the occasional old bike and that's usually what they get.

Old road bikes never die. Their simplicity keeps them running forever.

I dig the high-flange hub on the front wheel. Oldschool cool right there.

I'd probably get a flat,cruiser, or sweep/riser bar for a more comfortable and more controlled riding position. I never cared for riding in the city on drops unless the bike had disc brakes and 700x32 or bigger.

I really wish I would have kept the Peugeot that I got when we lived in Germany. It was my first new bike.

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: I really wish I would have kept the Peugeot that I got when we lived in Germany. It was my first new bike.

Strange. My '86ish Peugeot was bought new by a serviceman in Germany, then brought to Ft. Bliss, TX, then here to Louisville, KY where I bought it from him at a yard sale. I've had it for a few years and still love it.

awesome stuff. those old steel steeds are starting to bring better money around here, but i can't imagine $350+. That's rough.

I bet the gas mileage on that thing has got to be at least in the 30's!

In reply to Powar:

My '80 Pug PH8 and I are jealous of your Pug's awesomeness.

Powar wrote:

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: I really wish I would have kept the Peugeot that I got when we lived in Germany. It was my first new bike.

Strange. My '86ish Peugeot was bought new by a serviceman in Germany, then brought to Ft. Bliss, TX, then here to Louisville, KY where I bought it from him at a yard sale. I've had it for a few years and still love it.

That Pug is sleek & sexy as all get-out. So is the Saab for that matter.

I was looking at one a lot like that (the bike), same colours & graphics even, but the bidding went over $650. Pass.

I need to snap a pic, but Ive got a old AMF (The bowling people) road bike. It would be back on the road, but its got a really nasty 3spd gearbox that is a PITA.

Powar wrote:

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: I really wish I would have kept the Peugeot that I got when we lived in Germany. It was my first new bike.

Strange. My '86ish Peugeot was bought new by a serviceman in Germany, then brought to Ft. Bliss, TX, then here to Louisville, KY where I bought it from him at a yard sale. I've had it for a few years and still love it.

That is strange. I think you could get them through the PX over there at a good discount. Mine was a light metalic green with white tape on the bars.