Best bike ever!

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Just had a bit of a catch-up on this thread to find myself having lots of nostalgic thoughts.
When I started with the CTC in '78 as a teenager, I rode with their easy rider section, which was basically an adult leader taking a load of teenagers out into the peak district. I remember lots of the bikes from this thread
A Raleigh jubilee, but in black, not silver
The orangey red BSA tour de France
Raleigh Europa's
A blue Raleigh (?) that had a SR chainset and suntour gears, but all the components were Raleigh branded
Then there were vikings - a purple Vision and a blue European. Helen Sharman, the astronaut, rode with us on a viking warlord
Viscounts- I had the Sebring, there was an aerospace sport and an aerospace pro
There was a falcon Majorca
I remember a Vindec. The lad got the nickname Vindec
Then there were better bikes. The lad I befriended had a 60s Carlton pro
One had a custom Woodrup with sprints and tubs

Great times and every Sunday was an adventure 9am-7pm

Great story Chris, this was my thinking behind the thread. To me the best ever bikes were the ones that turned me from a wheezing asthmatic kid into a fit and strong young man. They got me into the country from east London and were my escape from a life you couldn't pay me to go back to.
My first bike was a 24" wheel Coventry eagle with a curved top tube. It was stolen, being a kid I didn't lock it. It was in the secure compound for the motor boats in the park. They just let the oiks take it.

Do you have any pictures of the time or bikes? If you do and you don't mind please share them.

Edit, the blue Raleigh sounds like a Stratos.

 

[pigman]

No photos sorry, I wouldn't have even owned a camera then.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

No photos sorry, I wouldn't have even owned a camera then.

Me neither. Something we almost take for granted now. I miss proper photography. That said my phone camera is very good.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

@pigman Did the blue Raleigh look like this? Top one is later with revised graphics.

 

[pigman]

Can't quite remember for definite. Components like the top one, but short mudguards and no rack.
It's nearly 50 years ago ....

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Can't quite remember for definite. Components like the top one, but short mudguards and no rack.
It's nearly 50 years ago ....

Where does time go? I've been grey longer than brown haired

 

[3wheeler7]

This Tour of Britain I revived a few years ago was gorgeous, bog standard and it rode really well. Sadly we can't keep them all but this one was museum quality (whatever that means!).

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

This Tour of Britain I revived a few years ago was gorgeous, bog standard and it rode really well. Sadly we can't keep them all but this one was museum quality (whatever that means!).

That's beautiful. Basically the same bike, colour and equipment as the 10 speed Raleigh Arena. Apart from the Shimano Positron rear and Altus front. The Arena had Huret eco back and front.

 

[3wheeler7]

I've got a pretty good purple Raleigh Nimrod frame and forks that's been hanging around for a while. I just Googled the Nimrod and they appear to be really rare, couldn't even find a picture to copy!

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I've got a pretty good purple Raleigh Nimrod frame and forks that's been hanging around for a while. I just Googled the Nimrod and they appear to be really rare, couldn't even find a picture to copy!

I know the Nimrod, please post some pictures if you build it.