rBoTM RBotM December 2024 - Theme Month - Your Best or most loved! Entries now open

[Jamiedyer]

Welcome to RBotM December 2024
The theme for this month is 'Your Best or most loved'
This means enter your best or most loved ride, the one you really love riding, or maybe the one you love looking at hanging on the wall.
I am hoping this means many things to many people and will hopefully bring a very wide range of rides to the competition.
It could be the one you love riding but maybe isn't anything to look at, it could be that Tom Simpson Peugeot you have hanging over the fireplace, the one you always think would be the last to go! They're not your kids so you wont hurt the others feelings by picking one
A couple of snaps and a brief couple of lines saying what it is and why it's special. A link to some more information, readers ride page, website etc is helpful too.
Now lets see what beauties, or beasts this brings to the mix.

Jamie

My 1983 Jack Taylor Super Tourist - Autumn Favourite
Untitled by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[27motorhead]

Stunning bike & location!

 

[Harvo]

I'll stick my Banana in the mix again.
Means so much to me. Gifted to me by my parents back in 1988 when I was 14 and into racing with the Barnstaple Imperial Wheelers club. Loads of memories racing with by best mate Stuart too, the kind that'll never leave you.
Anyway, 36 years of ownership and I still love riding this one.

 

[Spokesmann]

One of my most go to rides, as well as being a machine Ive upgraded gradually over the years is this Worksop Sun, badged as a Snipe Prestige, the frame was originally a Massed Start 100 model. Progressively updated over the years, it currently runs a 15-speed set up using a modern Sugino triple up front, with a Duopar Titanium at the rear. This was my Velo Retro ride this year and has always been a favourite mount.

 

[dutchie]

In that case, I nominate my Caballero 60/70's replica teambike which I made in living remembrance of my idol and friend Cees Zoontjens (NL) which passed away in 2011. His 1970 in Tour de France worn jersey is still hanging in the hall...

 

[Foreigner]

My most loved, 1950 Claud Butler Olympic Path. Simple and intricate, all in one. Lovely to look at and equally lovely to ride. Just perfect.

 

[Christoph2.8i]

This is my 1970 Frank Lipscombe. Lipscombe Cycles, Markhouse Road, Walthamstow, East London.

My Dad bought the bike second hand in 1974 from a shop in Gidea Park, Romford (Brian Wilkins) - he took over Lipscombe cycles. Dad used to ride it to work until someone stole the wheels!

It sat in the loft after that… fast forward 25 years to year 2000 and I myself bought a racing bike, Dad and I got the bike out the loft, put some period sprint rims with tubular tyres on it so he could go out with me for rides.

It went back up in the loft shortly after and this year Dad gave it to me to restore and here it is.

Original paint and decals, Cinelli Bars, il Primo Di Lusso Stem, Mavic Montherly Route Rims, Campagnolo hubs, Vitorria Tubs, Stronglite Cranks, Mafac Brakes, Lyotard Berthat Pedals, Original GranSport rear mech (not fitted), Campagnolo downtube shifters.

Chris

 

[non-fixie]

I'll play. Although this is a bit like picking your favourite child, I suppose. Difficult!

Anyway, arguably the best bike I've ever put together is this Méral. As it is mrs non-fixie's favourite bike, and by some margin. The first bike she actually started taking her own pictures of, and her default choice for longer rides and vacation trips.

Not as high-end as some of mrs non-fixie's other machines, but apparently Francis Quillon did a great job with this frame design:

On the Ligurian coast, near Portofino:

 

[Psimpson]

My oldest bike, most ridden and loved.
1939 Claud Butler Super Arrow, still work in progress looking for older parts for her.

 

[canny colin]

Another blinking Claud Butler , My 1951 Avanti~Coureur Special . I bought this just before lock down , on the promise I would keep it and ride it as a trike . She was a bit scruffy , been rubbed down with a house brick and painted by a five year old in white dulux non drip gloss . But after a paint job and a few component swops it is a luverly ride . With the 1" 1/8" top tube , bi~laiminated lugs and low trail geometry its the best frame . I have ever had a conversion axel on . Head tube is nice and stiff ,easy to change line mid corner and lift a rear wheel ,brakes are a bit pants though . But as I always say you don't have to be mad to be a Barra boy , but it really helps .