Old Ten Speed Gallery » Street Seen

Bob H’s Street Seen Beacon 10-Speed

Cameron — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 02:53:35 +0000

It’s been quite a while since our last Street Seen entry, so what better time than a weekend bonus post to lay one out there. This is a low-end Beacon 10-Speed spotted by Bob H in Madison, Wisconsin.

Cameron

This little OTS was for sale at the local Goodwill, for $9.99. I believe it’s only the second Beacon to be submitted to OTSG. I know nothing about the make but this bike appears to have been a low end model. Components are mostly Suntour apart from the rear derailleur. The frame looks lugged but I suspect it’s not. Nice head badge though!

I posted it to Velospace as well.

Bob

Thanks Bob

Street Seen: Morrison Jacksons

Cameron — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:47:24 +0000

More today from Peter R. Spotted in Timaru NZ.

Morrison ‘Jacksons’ Ten Speed seen in Timaru behind a Caltex gas station

Thanks Peter

Street Seen: Zach Spots Huffy Strider

Cameron — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:00:48 +0000

We’ve been on a roll of Huffurrays the past few days, so what better way to wrap up the week than with a little Street Seen action. Zach spotted this Huffy Strider at his local thrift store with a $20 price tag. That is a hellofa deal! Zach, please tell me you bought it!

huffy strider seen at a thrift store. what do you think for $20. classic ots, doesnt even have a chain.

Thanks Zach

Street Seen: Shogun Heavy Hauler

Cameron — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:11:46 +0000

Shaking up Japan(ese) week and occupying more that its fair share of the bike lane is this Street Seen Shogun sent in by Ben S. Never has there been a more prime candidate for my most favorite of DIY accessories—Cat Litter Panniers! A 30 pack of High Life is nearly unmanageable on a rack, I couldn’t imagine what this thing is like on the road!

Cameron,

Spring is back and so is a new crop of beater ten speeds. Note the 1920′s Touring Car luggage system and the locking job that admits no one is going to take this bike.

Hope things are well with you.

Ben

Thanks again Ben

Street Seen: Bob H.’s Huffy Omni 10

Cameron — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:53:27 +0000

It’s been a while since our last Street Seen, so thanks to Bob H. in Madison, WI, for treating us to some primo Huffy step-through greatness.

This here Huffy starts our Themeorific May Madness. I have assembled all my submissions according to a theme. This weekend is Good Ol’ American Plumbing-Pipe-Turned-Bicycle, followed by England Week, Japan Week and so on. This should be fun.

A vanishing breed photographed in its natural habitat – an off-campus bike rack. This bike meets all OCTS criteria. It’s definitely old, (bike boom era), definitely crappy (i.e. a Huffy) and definitely a ten speed. Or on this case, an “Omni-10,” for riders who like their prefixes!

I spotted this just a block from my office near the UW Madison campus. It’s a vanishing breed because more and more students are ditching the trusty OCTS in favor of not as old, but far crappier, “mountain bikes,” usually department store purchases that weigh a ton, and with knobby tires are not the greatest on pavement. I know because even a middle aged desk jockey such as myself can zip past kids laboring to push these POS up the slightest hills . . .

But I digress. Back to the great features of this OCTS. It’s got it all: step through frame, welded on kickstand, three piece crank, ultra-comfy mattress saddle, those unique perforated grips and of course the “marque de crap,” the Huffy headbadge! Would it surprise you to know this bike was not locked?

Thanks again Bob

Street Seen Morrison – Dunedin, NZ

Cameron — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:15:40 +0000

Here is a Street Seen from Peter R. in Dunedin, New Zealand. A womens Morrison 10-speed.

Owner unknown: but dont be fooled by the aftermarket Avanti seat. This bike is a New Zealand built Morisson step through frame for the ladies market. Many older men use these now as the hips get worse ( : Bike was spotted outside the Sayers Building of the Dunedin Medical School near the Dunedin Public Hospital in New Zealand. Just look at that rust on the fenders/ guards brimming with character Looks like an everyday rider ( : There was a Raleigh Equipe Racing bike farther along but it has more than 10 speeds so cannot be exhibited here.

Thanks Peter

At the Bike Swap

Cameron — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:27:34 +0000

I loaded up Mrs. Ten Speed and little baby mixte Ten Speed on Saturday and headed out to a bike swap happening near us.Â They called it a bike swap, but it was really more of a LBS closeoutÂ emporium.Â Needless to say, there was not a lot of old crappy 10-speed stuff just lots of new crappy 11-speed or higher stuff.Â Swaps of any kind are a hit or miss endeavor.Â When you’re not looking for anything specific you will often just wander around looking for something to justify the time and expense of attending.Â As is what I did.Â I picked up little something for myself, and I picked up a little something all of you too.

Here are two of the notable OTS I spied:

1983 Puch Alpina – $200

1985 Panasonic Team Europe I – $600

The prices are listed for reference only, please do not contact me regarding the sale of these bikes.Â I only snapped the pictures and did not take down the seller information. Sorry.

Street Seen: Bob’s Virginia Beach Free Spirit

Cameron — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:50:34 +0000

Our old friend Bob sent us this true “Rat” Free Spirit which he spotted in Virginia Beach recently.Â In his message he mentions that he was, “..kind of surprised it was actually locked!”Â Bob, I can tell you from my own recent expirience, that there are people out there that would steal wet toenail clippings if you don’t secure them with a U-lock and cables.Â As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I ended my unemployment streak and took a job in down town Chicago.Â I have about a mile and a half trip from the train station to the office, so I decided I would take a rat bike in to keep at the station for that portion of the commute.Â I was leery of taking any of my nicer OTS for fear of theft,Â luckly, I recently purchased a yellow, 24″ Magna mountain bike on craigslist for $15.Â I decide it would be a perfect commuter—heavy, uncomfortable and small—plus, it wasn’t an old 10-speed or a fixed gear, so what possible market value could it have that would motivate anyone to steal it? Labor Day, my wife and I hauled it into the city and parked it at the station.Â Convinced no one would even look at it much less steal it, I only locked it with a Schlage cable and a good size Master padlock. I arrived at the station the next morning to find my bike locked up safe and sound right where I left it—or so I thought.Â I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary until later that afternoon.Â Someone did try to steal my bike, but for one reason or another failed!Â The cable (10mm thick) was cut, leaving about 2-3mm of the cable uncut.Â I’m not sure what foiled their plan—cops, passers by or their own better judgement, but I was impressed and relieved to see that the cable was at least good enough to thwart their efforts in that circumstance.

After that expirience, I realized no bike is ever safe, no matter how small, ugly, heavy or un-10-speed it is.Â I decided to beef up my security—my $15 Magna now has $50+ worth of lock securing it! And every morning I pray it’s still there.

Cameron,
I spotted this classic Free Spirit in Virginia Beach, VA this weekend. I was kind of surprised it was actually locked!
Bob

Thanks Bob

Street Seen: Triumph HTF

Cameron — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:30:22 +0000

This classic English Triumph HTF 5-Speed, spotted by Ben, reminds me of one of my favorite British car/motorcycle jokes, “Why don’t the British make computers? Because they couldn’t find a way to make them leak oil.”Â ha ha ha ha ha ha

Yet another old and unusual bike behind the library. While not quite Ten Speed, but OTSG is a pretty open culture.Â A real Triumph bike with rubber bulb horn, top tube shifter and bar end brakes.

Thanks again Ben

Street Seen: Takara Mixte 10-Speed

Cameron — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:41:35 +0000

Today we have another great OTS sighting from Ben. This may be the third Takara Mixte to grace the Gallery, but this is certainly the first with a skyward pointing Brooks. This Takara also sports the stylish bare bars like one of our early entries in the gallery. It is also nice to see some many bikes in the rack!

Cameron,

The Library seems to be an attractive rest stop for odd OTS. This Takara (a make I’ve never heard of) showed up today. The Brooks saddle must be as old as the frame and the tilt must make for a very interesting riding experience. At least at some point it got new cables and housings in bright red. Still has the stem mounted shifters too.