Is A Vintage Bike Right For You?

Bicycling is a very adaptable sport. You can ride on the city streets or up in the mountains, you can race and ride professionally or just for fun, and there are countless different types and styles of bikes to pick from. The options are endless when it comes to bicycling and if you take the time to do a little hunting you can find a bicycle that suits your very needs but the real question is whether or not a vintage bicycle is right for you.

Owning a vintage bicycle has some differences to it than if you were to go out and buy a regular bike from the store. A regular bicycle that you might be able to find at any brand name store is made in a factory, with replaceable parts, and is one of many. If anything goes wrong with it their is usually a warranty or a return option. You can buy bikes that are built for trails, bikes that are built for roads, racing bikes, children's bikes, bikes for certain heights or weights, and many more options. These are all designed to be mass produced and easily fixed or replaced. They usually don’t have much maintenance done on them (aside from obvious things like filling tires) unless you invest quite a bit in a high end bicycle and for the most part the prices are pretty affordable.

A vintage bicycle is an entire different playing field when it comes to the world of bikes. When you decide you want a vintage bicycle you’re looking at a lot more in the investment of time and upkeep but the upside is that you wont have a bike that looks like every one else's and you’re investing in a bicycle that will last much longer than a mass-produced one you can get in any store. Vintage bicycles also have a certain amount of charm and if you like the look of them its something that really can’t be replicated anywhere else.

A vintage bicycle can also turn into a bit of a hobby. I know many bicycle enthusiasts that started out just purchasing and older bike for fun and the learning how to fix and maintain it themselves eventually getting hooked on the whole process. If bicycle maintenance isn’t something you’re up for and you don’t think you’d enjoy it or be able to keep up on it then a vintage bike may not be the best idea for you simply because of the amount of time and patience that is required to keep a bike looking nice. If you want something low maintenance you might be better off getting a newer bike simply because it’s going to be a bit less work to keep it looking good.

It’s important to be aware of how you want to use your bike as well. If you’re looking for a heavy-duty racing or off road bike then a vintage bike probably isn’t your best bet simply because many of the bikes weren’t designed for such rugged use and this can wear them down easily and even be dangerous. So keep in mind what your intentions are for your bike.

If you decide that a vintage bike is right for you then go ahead with choosing a make and model or refer to one of the many articles on this site for help deciding what you want. If you decide to get something else that’s ok too - and have fun with your new bike!