Current Classics Update: Lucky Seven on the Seventh

It's really gratifying when the randomness of submissions line up with the tenets of the Cyclofiend.com galleries.  Back in 2005 (the waning dour days of dialup?) when these Galleries started coming together, one of the ideas was to highlight the really well designed but reasonably unappreciated bicycle frames which seemed to be fading from people's perception.

While I certainly love the continued expansion of new builders who understand that the strength of a bicycle design stems from its simplicity, I've always said that reinvigorating an older model was an honorable task.  The bicycle which landed at the Milestone spot of 800 seems to epitomize that.

Current Classics #800 - Mike Hauptman's Trek 614
Mike has taken a really nice frame design from probably the golden age of Trek steel and set it up with the parts and accessories which really compliment it.

From the superb coverage of the Honjo fenders to the classic art nouveau of the font on the seat tube, it's classy and useful, yet Mike's not afraid to use the shifting system he prefers.  Best of both worlds and a wonderful addition to the gallery!

Updates to the Current Classics Bicycle Gallery

#798 - Rudolph Luciani's Dave Moulton FUSO FR-1
#799 - Byron Kerr's Surly Long Haul Trucker
#800 - Mike Hauptman's Trek 614 - Milestone!
#801 - Tad Broussard's Jamis Aurora
#802 - Tad Broussard's Schwinn Tempo
#803 - Tony K's Curtlo MTB
#804 - Bob Stoltz's Rivendell Custom

Doug in Seattle's "Redbear" Camping Bike

Rough and ready setups really tend to catch my fancy.  Don't be me wrong, I enjoy finely detailed, well crafted cycling art.  I can spend way too long looking at the delicate thinning of a Brian Baylis' finished lug at a bicycle show.

But when you see a bike that gets used a lot, and can tell in a myriad of ways how it's been adapted to the specific use of its owner, that resonates with me.

Doug in Seattle had submitted this Jamis Aurora -

Current Classics Gallery #778

It's not a terribly expensive frameset, and it lacks the lugwork that so many bicycles are using.  But, I really appreciate the build.  The basket set up on the front rack, the simple, proven components in the drivetrain, the mis-matched water bottle cages.  I also really like the very real image of his drivetrain.

As he says in his description, it's a bike that will let him go where ever he wishes, whenever he wants.

And wasn't that the whole promise of the bicycle to begin with?

Today's additions to the Current Classics Gallery:

#775 - Robert Starkey's Schwinn Tempo
#776 - Cook Watergood's Jack Taylor Super Clubman
#777 - Frank Kanauz's Italian Masi
#778 - Doug in Seattle's Jamis Aurora "Redbear" Camping Bike