[CR]Richard Sachs 30th anniversary bike

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Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 18:55:30 -0400
From: "Grant McLean" <Grant.McLean@SportingLife.ca>
To: "'classicrendezvous@bikelist.org'" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Richard Sachs 30th anniversary bike

Hello All,

Hopefully most of you have now seen the "built up" picture of the Sachs 30th anniversary bike on Richards website. If you have not, stop reading this message and go right now to: http://www.richardsachs.com/rsachs30th.html http://www.richardsachs.com/rsachs30th.html

(But be forewarned, and plan to spend some serious time stationary in front of your computer screen, with your mouth hanging open)

I own some 'classic' bikes, but I am by no means a retro-grouch, as they say. I ride welded titanium, I even like the way it looks, in a 1920's Modernism kind of way. I ride ten speed ergo levers, aero rims with bladed aluminum spokes sometimes too. My top tube even slopes slightly towards the seat tube on my new Seven (gasp!). But I think this Sachs bike is way, way cool, IMHO. It exists, as if caught in a time warp, thirty years later, and is more appealing to me then almost 99% of what is sold in bike stores today.

Let me explain why I feel this is the highest compliment possible for Mr. Sachs. It is my job purchasing products for fairly large and successful retailer. I spend my days evaluating products based on value, features, performance, innovation, aesthetics, all the things that are supposed to drive the consumer to use the rational part of their brain to buy something. Why then is this 30th Sachs so shocking to me? Because it is striking back directly at my emotions. Wow, is this bike ever the "real deal".

I have beautiful things that are "too nice" to use. I don't want to scratch them or get them worn. Don't want them to get ruined. But I want one of these Sachs bikes to go ride the sh_t out of it. Every scratch or scar would only increase it's value to me, providing memories of all the great rides and adventures along the way. Components that require practice to perfect the action of shifting, or just freakin' stand up and pedal harder when it's not possible to shift down.

As a long time bicycle retailer, it's disappointing to be constantly selling bikes to people who don't (or can't) ride much. It's frustrating to see customers complain their 15 lbs bikes are too heavy on climbs, or their wonder gears don't shift smooth enough, or my favorite complaint, that their cassette makes "too much noise when coasting". It makes me want to commit the greatest retail sin, and tell them to just shut up and ride their bike. And that's exactly what this 30th anniversary Sachs screams to me: shut up and ride!

Grant McLean
Toronto,Canada