In September, senior tech writer Simon Smythe took part in a taster event for the Eroica Britannia ride at the Goodwood Revival Festival where only only pre-1987 bikes could be ridden. As a classic bike fan, Simon was happy to pick out his seven favourite retro-rides and, perhaps surprisingly, they aren’t all steel race machines! Which is your favourite and, more importantly, what classic bike would you want to ride at an event like Eroica Britannia?
0:00 Intro
00:33 1982 Colnago Mexico
01:40 1979 Flying Gate
02:49 1953 Ernie Clement Mixte
03:51 1940 Westfield Compact Sport Tourer
05:01 1948 Raleigh Record Ace
06:15 1965 Bianchi Team
07:28 1905 Tapon
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38 Comments
The Raleigh record ace had me drooling
First bike weighs 24 lbs? Why so heavy? My 531 Kessels TDF frame #32 only weighed 20.5 lbs
HELP!!!!! I’m a 80s baby and I can’t remember my favorite bike. It was a 2 or 3 gear, It was grey in color spokes and I vividly remember the shifter is red.
Bianchi! Cannot resist that color:)
I have to say the Super Record Colnago had always been my dream bike way back in the 80's, but the RRA is just sublime.
Viscount Aerospace Pro. Weird and I love them. My first production “racing bike” bought new in 1978. $229. I found the exact one I had, $75 Craigslist. I did a preservational resto and it’s bad ass! Replacing the sealed bearings in the BB and hubs was a chore but now I cruise in style!
This looks nice i want to make a motorized from IT and Hit a Number of Speed thats insane
my best friend had a Raleigh. i had a schwinn. was hoping the Schwinn Conti would be here.
it must be great to rip your pants or shorts I have a schwinn le tour 15 speed I bought in 1971 I think it's a great bike hope you guys across the pond have as much fun as I have in the u.s
I love my 1984 Matsushita Electric Co. (Panasonic with Schwinn badge) Super Sport with Tange tubeset.
Sell my collection of real rare dream bikes
original team bikes – origininals – no replicas
1954 Raymond Impanis Mercier, !955 Eugene Tambourlini Gitane, 1977 Jacques Bossis Gitane, 1983 Bernard Becaas Gitane ,
1982 Christian Jourdan Motobecane, 1984 Alain Bondue Motobecane, 1986 Francis Castaign Meral,
and a lot more like Helyetts from 1951, 1952, 1962, Legnano Gran Premio, and and and…
Selling my complete collection – like autographed posters from Francesco Moser, autographed Magazins from Louison Bobet
original Cycling Shirts – World Champion and Olympic champion – and a lot more
a lot of real rare cycles ….
selling all of my love – for race history – no fakes – no shit
All classic beuts that need to be walked up the long mountain climbs of the actual L'Eroica ride. I didn't see one bike here with lower than 37 gear inches.
That French 1905 bike looks like a modern gravel bike with its generous tyre clearance and long wheelbase.
The classics are adorable! They are way better than the unrecyclable carbon fiber ones.
Bianchi is dope
OMG Eye candy and a wave of nostalgia. Watched this twice so far.
I have a vintage bike, but I hate cycling.
The raleigh record ace is the ace of the pack.
will it feet man 6'1''?
They're all nice bikes.The Raleigh is a Masterpiece! All this steel bikes probably will outlast all the new aluminium and carbon ones.
I love the Raleigh. I own one of its modern versions that must have been inspired by this bike. Mine is a 2011 Raleigh International though my modern version doesn’t have the decals it is painted black with chromed fork and stays and it’s made from Reynolds 853 and is tricked out with Campy Athena Carbon.
I love the old classic bikes I always wanted a ten speed bull handle bike when I was a kid in the early 60's I thought those bikes was awesome , i brought my first bull handle ten speed bike in 1973 all white I don't remember the brand name but I use to love that bike , living in NYC going to Central Park with my brother with I think he had a 1972 Raleigh 10 speed bull handle bike, those was the days.
Wow, great selection.
Wait, that hub is called Sterling Archer? LANAAAAA
2:50 That's fabulous looking bike. The relaxed geometry looks more relaxed for upright riding. But I would call it a semi-mixte, since the top tubes don't continue to the rear drop-outs.
My bike is a new one. A 1974 Benotto mixte from the Mexico factory. With fenders, it should be ready for a proper eroica run. Sand and gravel calls for full randonneur equipment.
Beautiful bikes, every one. But that Bianchi! Oh My!
Bianci Rally.
For me the Bianchi is the winner, absolutely stunning bike!
The 1974 Schwinn varsity.
I don’t think as many of today’s modern carbon fiber bikes will survive as long as these have. I still ride 59 year old steel without any problems.
Guy shouldn't have ridden with that saddle, you can just see it will put all the pressure on your butt hole, i question the guys cycling experience making that mistake, i had to replacs one shaped like that with a wtb devo and a Thomson seat post, thomson makes a nice titanium gravel bike and hardtail sold as a kit, wiah i had money to throw around because they look striking
My bike is a circa 1978 Raleigh Grand Prix. It was made in England (Worksop, I think because the serial number stamped under the bottom bracket has a "W" by it.). It has "gas pipe" steel frame, Sturmey Archer steel rims, Raleigh Weinmann 610 centre pull brakes and a 10 speed Suntour derailleur.
I bought it for $120 circa 2012 and I love it!
I’d rather buy a retro bike than modern ones whose production was moved to China and only names remained from the brands. I have nothing against China, but I'm sick of the hypocrisy
This bike was really easy to assemble https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and required very few adjustments out of the box. The wheels did not require any truing/adjustments. The frame had some small scratches, but nothing major.I did replace the seat though – the seat it came with was very uncomfortable. The tires need to be re-inflated every 4-5 days, but this appears to be quite common for the narrow 700×25 tires.Overall, in my opinion, this bike looks and rides like a much more expensive bike.
thank you, i just bought an Azuki Gran Sport 12 speed, 56cm, it is like a couple of these in this video, the first one Colnago is really close, and the Bianchi. makes me appreciate this bike even more after watching this, mine is a deep red and gold, french atom rear hub, sugino crankset, diacompe brakes, so many nice parts. very smooth light weight.
I would love the Ralegh RRA. But in my size, with better hoods, and cork tape.
I know someone who collects special cranksets and chainwheels: this would kill them, but they'd die happy.
good job.