Are old (70's 80's) Road bikes any good?

[Sam Kennedy]

I'm thinking of getting a new road bike, and maybe an older one just because I don't have too much to spend on a bike.

I was wondering if bikes from the 70's and 80's could still be of any use now?

What would be the pros/cons of riding an older bike compared to spending £200-£300 on a brand new road bike?

Cheers,

Sam

 

[peanut]

frames from the 70's and 80's are likely to be steel and some of them can be excellent. many are still sought after by collectors to build retro original spec bikes so their price has risen in the past two years.

Provided the frame and forks are straight and true, sound without cracks or dents and of a good tubeset, ie Reynolds 531 or 531c or better then you can't go far wrong.

More importantly you need to look at the age and quality of the bike's components.
If these are 20-30 years old they are likely to be worn out and unreliable.
I would suggest you go for a bike that has at least 8 speed gearing preferably 9 speed and get someone that builds and maintains their own bikes to check the bike over for you before you buy.

 

[I am Spartacus]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Classic-Light...s_GL?hash=item33563c4b6a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Have a look at that one... very tidy.. owner has the sound of an enthusiast as well..
compare it to an inferior new bike in that really low entry level mark

 

[jimboalee]

So what's this baby worth???

Full 531 Pug PX10LE from 1974.

Brooks cutaway Pro.

6 speed screw-on block.

10.25 kg with quills, clips and straps.

 

[peanut]

not sure what you are asking here Jimbo ?
Are you offering your bike for sale to the op ?
or trying to advertise it on his thread ?
or just fishing for an evaluation ?

OP is asking if 70's and 80's bikes are a viable alternative to purchase as apposed to a new bottom of the range bike .

So what's this baby worth???

Full 531 Pug PX10LE from 1974.

Brooks cutaway Pro.

6 speed screw-on block.

10.25 kg with quills, clips and straps.

 

[Davidc]

I can't add much to Peanut's post, but...

Be aware that many but not all bikes from that era have steel wheel rims (in the wet you may as well cut the brake cable!)

Watch out for rusting.

If you're after cheap cycling I'd say go for later 80s with alloy 700c size rims. If you do as Peanut suggests and look for 8 speed or higher at the back the width of the hub means the chainstays are wide enough for current kit, and there's a good chance the wheels are already 700c.

That looks a nice machine Jimbo. In the 70s Pug made some good machinery. I rode one for 20 years and never once regretted buying it.

 

[wafflycat]

The answer is somne are, some aren't. If you know what to look for you can get a decent bike.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

....width of the hub means the chainstays are wide enough for current kit, and there's a good chance the wheels are already 700c.

You can always widen the chainstays if they aren't wide enough, levering them apart gently and evenly with a length of timber. I did and it works!

 

[beanzontoast]

You can always widen the chainstays if they aren't wide enough, levering them apart gently and evenly with a length of timber. I did and it works!

I did too, but you really have got to be careful not to distort the frame geometry.

All told, it may be better for the OP to look for a bike that doesn't need this doing.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I did too, but you really have got to be careful not to distort the frame geometry.

All told, it may be better for the OP to look for a bike that doesn't need this doing.

probably right - maybe I'm just showing off!!

 

[swee'pea99]

The answer to the OP is an emphatic yes. You can get some wonderful bikes from that era - and certainly at the £200-£300 level you're talking about, you'll do infinitely better with a well-chosen 2nd hand bike than new. Use google to checkout any likely candidates. Oh, and no offense Peanut, but it's simply not the case that 20-30 year old components will be shot. It depends what they are and how they've been used/stored. I have 20-25 year old Shimano 600 and 105 gear that still runs sweet as you could ask.

 

[Liddington]

+1 swee'pea 99. A little patience is required but there are some bargains out there. I got one from ebay that had only done 1000 miles and then sat in a shed for 30 years. Price - £73. OK it needed a stripdown, lubing and new tyres and tubes but what a superb result. So what if the spec is way out of date, 10 suntour gears is pretty good and the frame is outstanding. The only bind is lack of tyre choice for 27 1/4" wheels but I can live with that.

 

[Garz]

Show off!!

 

[bigjim]

There is some good stuff out there. I got this in mint virtually unused condition for £50. Beautiful 12 speed campag equipped ride. Will run forever.

 

[wafflycat]

There is some good stuff out there. I got this in mint virtually unused condition for £50. Beautiful 12 speed campag equipped ride. Will run forever.

That is a beautiful bicycle..