Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Last weekend I drove the 35 miles down to Marina, California to do the second annual Monterey Peninsula Vintage Bicycle Ride. It was my first time on the 50-miler. I learned about it on the leading website devoted to vintage road bikes and cycling, which is classicrendezvous.com They have a free-to-join and very active Google group about all things vintage road cycling.
I’ve told you about vintage road rides in the past, like the California Eroica event in 2016. That was a big, well organized weekend event and as such there was an entry fee – plus lodging required since I spent the weekend there. The Monterey ride was a much more low-key event. No entry fee and just show up at the appointed place and time and join the fun.
From what I’ve seen on the Classic Rendezvous group posts there are vintage rides like this held in different parts of the USA and other parts of the world too. Some even happen monthly. They’re a wonderful way to get together with other classic road bike lovers and enjoy a nice ride too. Plus, if you’re looking for your first vintage bicycle (or to add to a collection), you’re likely to find some for sale at these events. In fact, I learned about a magnificent Alex Singer up for grabs – one of the great French constructeur bikes.
Joe and Rich who with a few other clubmates put on the Monterey ride are actually from the Camellia City Vintage Lightweight Cycling Club, which is in Sacramento, California, a 3 hour drive from the start of the ride. When I learned this I asked why they’d host a ride so far away from home and they said it was because it’s so much cooler pedaling along the Monterey coast and spectacularly scenic too. Joe and Rich have a YouTube channel about vintage bikes and other things they collect. Here’s a a video about why we old bike nerds love vintage machines so much:
The route they chose kept us mostly on car-free bike paths, light traffic roads and enjoying ocean views of the famous Monterey/Cannery Row/Carmel 17-Mile Drive area the entire way. We stopped for lunch at the amazing Pebble Beach Golf Course.
While most riders at these get-togethers participate on vintage road bikes (and wear vintage clothing too), it’s fine to use whatever bicycle you have. Most rides are no-drop so that no one gets lost or left behind. That’s important because things can go wrong when you’re aboard a 50-year-old beauty that may spend most of its time collecting dust on a display stand now.
Here are a few photos. The three gorgeous bikes in the truck are a Jim Merz (after being a framebuilder he went on to head up Specialized’s engineering team), one of the earliest Italian Masis, and Greg Davis of Cupertino Bike Shop’s all original Peugeot, which I’d guess is from the late 1960s. The group shot was taken on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. The last photo is my 1975 Rene Herse. It was a thrill riding it with all these other bike lovers. The biggest challenge riding an old road rig like this is getting in and out of the toe clips.
If you’re interested in trying a vintage road ride, join the Classic Rendezvous group and keep an eye out for upcoming rides. If you’re new to the collecting hobby let me know if you have any questions about finding rides or vintage road bikes and getting them ready to go, I’m happy to help.
Jim Langley is RBR’s Technical Editor. A pro mechanic & cycling writer for more than 40 years, he’s the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop in the RBR eBookstore. Tune in to Jim’s popular YouTube channel for wheel building & bike repair how-to’s. Jim’s also known for his cycling streak that ended in February 2022 with a total of 10,269 consecutive daily rides (28 years, 1 month and 11 days of never missing a ride). Click to read Jim’s full bio.
My 36 year old vintage steel beauty is still a top of the line bike.
I’ve had newer bikes since but still keep going back to that custom-built beauty, It was my first good bike, and it is still my best bike. The only part I can’t easily find for it are brake hoods, I’m going to need to buy another old bike just for the brake hoods lol.
I stopped riding it for a decade and when I rode it again at the end of that period it was like “Hello old friend, welcome back!”
Most hoods have been reproduced and are usually available on eBay. $40 should get you a pair.
Bob
Thanks a lot for sharing this tip Bob, appreciate it!
Jim
Great article. I restore vintage bikes as a hobby (as well as more modern bikes)….currently have a vintage Raleigh, Olmo and Tommaso, the latter two with Campy components. I have my eye on a couple more but due to some unpopular rules that my wife has set, I will need to sell a couple of these first.
Thanks for the tips on vintage rides and will have to check them out and join some.
I’m familiar with those “unpopluar rules” Walt! Thanks for the laugh ?
Nice to hear about your little collection!
Thanks Walt!
Jim
Have a 73 Raleigh International I am restoring. trying to find the correct color paint. The Chartreuse color. Do you know of any supplier? Thank you.
Hi Michael,
The first question when repainting a vintage bike comes up is: should it be repainted in the first place? Because original paint is always preferred and an original bike usually more valued than a restored bike by most collectors.
But if it’s lost most of its paint and rust is setting in you might have to paint it to save it. You should be able to find a body shop that can match your paint color. Some bicycle painters could probably do this too – with the same tools to find a match.
To find the same color Raleigh used, you could try reaching out to the classicrendezvous.com group. Someone there might know, or it might have been asked & answered in past posts.
A vintage bike guru who might have repainted some Raleighs is Ed Litton. He’s in Northern California. Maybe he could help?
Jim
I agree with the beauty part in the video. Bikes were a lot more flashy in the 80’s in my opinion. Engraved chainrings, stems, cranks are a thing of the past on modern bikes.
Thanks Karl, me too!
Jim
One benefit that wasn’t mentioned is how smooth the ride is! After I had a Carbon frame get cracked, it’s only been Steel for me! (preferably vintage) I spent this entire video just staring at these beautiful bikes!
Great meeting, riding and talking with you last Saturday, Jim! Now that it looks like Eroica, California may be a thing of the past, it’ll be up to the small clubs and rides like this to keep the “vintage flag” flying.in the U.S.. And that Rene Herse is a thing of beauty! Hope to see you at the October Classic Rendezvous event in Davis, and since I know you love climbing, at the second annual Mt Hamilton vintage ride which should be taking place near the end of next April. Thanks very much! Joe P Giannone
Yeah, it was great meeting you and joining your rolling party Joe. Thanks for leading the way and making sure we all stayed on track. I’m glad you enjoyed my Rene Herse, thanks for the kind words. I will try to make it to Davis, not sure yet but hopefully.
I have had some epic and disastrous rides up and over Mt. Hamilton. It’s a tough test of rider and machine. I’ll see if I can make it happen. I was sorry I missed the first one.
Thanks Joe!!
Jim
I rode both the 2015 and the 2016 Eroica California great events and had a fun time I was 81 then and now 91 in 2015 I rode to keep in the spirit of the ride my 1953 Rotrax way under geared but it was as we used to ride them those times I did 82 hard miles and finished last! But I had fun and that was what to me counted
Hi John,
I believe I met you at the Boulder Vintage Bike Show about 10 years ago. You had a beautiful accessory on your bike that let you carry a spare pair of wheels along to an event or race. Each spare attached to elegantly simple devices attached to the front axle. I forget what bike you were riding but it was probably as special as the wheel holder!
91 and still riding strong! You’re an inspiration John. Keep it going!!
Jim
I have a Talbot, made by the Green family at Carleton Recreation in Vancouver 70’s and ’80s (or earlier). Mine is from ’78 and has a Champion #2 frame and is all Suntour Suoerbe or Superbe Pro. I once owned four, and did Rando rides for 30 years on one, as well as touring. I also had a 531 but prefer Champ 2.ba
I’m not familiar with Talbot bikes but it sure sounds like a winner Barry. Thank you for sharing.
Jim
This Classic & Vintage sub-forum at Bike Forums is extremely active (friendly, too!) with folks that love “period correct”, and plenty of us that appreciate and build modern-ish upgrades on classic frames. Lots of participants can offer useful advice on every aspect of these beauties.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/
Thanks for sharing this David, appreciate it!
Jim
wish I’d been along. Some great riding, have done the trail many times. Nice looking RH @JimLangley !
You’ll have to make it next time Mark! Glad you enjoyed seeing my Rene Herse, thank you.
Jim
I’m a bit biased, because these vintage bikes were new when I was getting into the hobby. I enjoy the bikes because they are simple, but good enough. No worries about shifters wearing out, batteries to charge, or brake fluid that needs to be bled. You do need to overhaul most of the bearings, but it is simple to do, and requires just a few basic tools. To my surprise and relief, most of the consumable parts are easily available, with modern equivalents being produced for a lot of them. Folks on the Classic Rendezvous list can help guide you to the parts you need, or info on the parts. As for vintage events, definitely check them out! For established vintage folks, don’t forget that you can throw together a simple vintage ride too! I’ve been doing a simple vintage ride in the fall for about 8 years now, and attract the local folks mostly. This is an excuse to get to know the other vintage bike fans, as well as a chance to introduce new folks to this niche of our hobby. Lots of fun for everyone!