I guess it depends what kind of collecting you're talking about. One of the things I have enjoyed about this hobby until recently is that it didn't take a lot of money to collect classic bikes, just an appreciation of the qualities that have become rare in modern bikes. I do have some concern that certain items, like Confentes, Herses, old Singers, and old curly Hetchins, as well as NOS Campy and even some NOS French components, are rapidly being priced out of the reach of a person of modest means. On the other hand, there are still millions of classic bikes in the world which remain very affordable, yet epitomize the virtues all of us on this list value. As long we enjoy the effort and dedication that went into old bikes and their value as social history, and don't fall into the trap of impressing each other solely with how much we paid, I think the hobby will thrive, even if some of us have to concede that a few of the items we find interesting are now beyond our means.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
-----Original Message----- From: Chuck Schmidt [mailto:chuckschmidt@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, June 18, 2001 4:21 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Confente "Scam" ends
Brandon Ives wrote:
>
> OK let's think in terms of "masters" Confente as Van Gogh and Mr. Sachs
> as Eric Fischl or Henry Moore. Sure anybody can buy a MFA project or
> "limited" print
> or they can buy a Canonndale. We're talking about the top 0.1% of
> "artists." By those standards the Confente is cheap, but I don't want to
> see the people that have made 5th state Rembrandt print cost $2000+, make
> ANY
> Masi cost $10,000. I never want to see the name become more important
> than the item. Maybe it's the fact that I'm looking at another 50 years of
> collecting so my view is quite long. I'm scared for the future of
> "lightweight" collecting.
> enjoy,
> Brandon"monkeyman"Ives
"Scared for the future of "lightweight" collecting. Jeeze Brandon, relax; it's only bicycles we're talking here.
I've been collecting racing bikes for 25 years now. Believe me and Phil... THE MARKET IS _VERY_ THIN!!! (sorry for shouting, but I'm serious about the emphasis)
I have said it before, there are many more bikes out there than there are people that _want_ them.
Remember, most never get past the "my butt hurts" stage of riding. Pitty for their health... great for my collecting, riding and health!
Chuck Schmidt
90°, breezy, clear
South Pasadena, California