Re: [CR]More Bicycling magazine bashing

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

To: tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com
Cc: rabbitman@mindspring.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 11:00:29 -0500
Subject: Re: [CR]More Bicycling magazine bashing
From: "Richard M Sachs" <richardsachs@juno.com>


Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com> writes: <Has anyone noticed that most elite/professional cyclists ride welded aluminum bikes with oversize tubes? Yes, even the guys who have other choices.>>

I don't think the athletes are 'given' a choice. At the Pro level, it is a commercial endeavor and it wouldn't help the sales of let's say, Olmo 'AL' frames, if Oscar Freire won the World's 2 years ago on a nicely made frame disguised as one (the Olmo). I think it's a misconception to think that the Elite level athletes are that preoccupied with the 'stuff'. Sure, Lance may have a favorite bike for the Tourmalet and all the best guys have specific equipment for the time trials, but I don't think they agonize over which (brand or material) bicycle they race on once the contracts are drawn and they're part of a team. e-RICHIE (I race what they give me) _______________________________________

On Mon, 12 Nov 2001 06:50:24 -0800 (PST) Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com> writes:
> >I feel sorry for those of us on the list who must
> continue to sell Cadd 4 as if it is the product of an
> enlightened factory.
>
> Well perhaps not enlightened, but...
>
> Has anyone noticed that most elite/professional
> cyclists ride welded aluminum bikes with oversize
> tubes? Yes, even the guys who have other choices.
> Which company popularized this type of frame? Okay,
> okay, C-dale borrowed some ideas from Mr. Klein, it
> couldn't have been more obvious when their first bike
> was introduced (vintage content). But Klien bike were
> wildly expensive as I recall, while the early
> Cannondles were a poorly-aligned but low-cost
> substitute. The design sophistication and build
> quality of Cannondale frames has come a long, long way
> since the mid 1980's. Entry level Cannondales,
> OCLV's, Giant's are all very affordable and
> essentially perform as well as their higher priced
> cousins. I don't think the same could be said for
> inexpensive racing bikes back in the good old days. I
> think the big problem that most of us have with
> 'dales, Treks, etc. is the total lack of exclusivity.
> Even in the non-retro world this is evident by the
> number of Italian-built Cannondale-style bikes on the
> local group ride. Probably no better than a 'dale,
> but prittier, more exclusive and significantly more
> expensive. No doubt, OS aluminum bikes are not
> everyone's cup of tea asthetically, and there are no
> lugs to subject to functionless embellishment (no
> "canvas," so to speak) but they sure pack a
> significantly better stiffness/weight ratio. My 21
> pound SR and C equipped bikes are now laughably heavy
> compared to a 105-equipped Giant, and that's WITH the
> boat-anchor STI levers.
>
> Tom (all my bikes are lugged steel) Dalton
>
> P.S. Rodale, Inc. is the new name for Rodale Press.
> And with the new name and corporate image, they've
> somehow managed to suck even more.
>
> --- garth libre <rabbitman@mindspring.com> wrote:
> > This weekend, I was fortunate enough to be able to
> > re-read the Bicycling magazine issue from July of
> > 1982 ( at least the cover article). I used to swoon
> > over the gorgeous prose relating to the bikes of my
> > prime. In 1981 and 82 I remember the poetic
> > appreciation of the frame detailing and artistic
> > embellishments that were common among all the
> > superbikes of that time. The Bicycling writers were
> > all lug heads then, and knew that what they were
> > looking at was art, simply great art. The labors of
> > the men that built those bikes were not lost on
> > those that wrote about them. Every pantograph and
> > cable routing was considered for it's beauty as well
> > as its functionality. It seems that the 80's were
> > the swan song of the bikes that were worth loving,
> > and the people who could find an arena in which to
> > proclaim their love.
> >
> > In that issue of July 1982 (Japan vs. Italy), the
> > author concludes by saying that these $1,500 super
> > bikes were all fine statements, but that the author
> > could favorably compare his $400 bike to them in
> > terms of function. The ride or handling might be
> > only a small shade less, but the real difference
> > would come down to beauty according to both the
> > writer and Gary Fisher. That kind of honesty could
> > never be expressed in today's Bicycling mag. One
> > reason would be that $3,000 bikes are just as
> > hideous as $1,000 bikes nowadays. The other reason
> > would be that the editorial staff must be prohibited
> > from stating that a racer could win with Tiagra. The
> > message is that only Dura Ace or Ultegra will carry
> > you over the finish line for a win. This obvious
> > bull****, is believed by most all of the racers I
> > speak to. The brainwashing that Rodale press is
> > prone to has succeeded, and all the pod people are
> > out among the racing public. In the absence of any
> > real bicycle beauty, the only value that remains is
> > imagined speed. Rodale press (Road-dull) has become
> > a business whore, selling the first amendment
> > wholesale to welded well-to-do manufacturers.
> >
> > I feel sorry for those of us on the list who must
> > continue to sell Cadd 4 as if it is the product of
> > an enlightened factory. The only saving grace is
> > that a bicycle, any bicycle, is just as good a thing
> > that anyone can posses (lugged or coke canned).
> >
> > Your opinionated lad in Surfside Florida, Garth
> > Libre
> >
> >
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