Re: [CR]UPDATE! schedulinge/ Ride Your Bike!

(Example: Humor)

Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2003 12:25:28 -0800
From: "Brian Baylis" <rocklube@adnc.com>
To: LouDeeter@aol.com
Subject: Re: [CR]UPDATE! schedulinge/ Ride Your Bike!
References: <74951C73.7CD7D8E1.0269AA25@aol.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Lou,

I'd like to make a comment here about riding at these events. I made the mistake twice of not bringing a bike to ride during the Cirque. BIG MISTAKE! I had not realized this until this past Velo Rendezvous, but the rides are REALLY what these events are about! I'm now relating this information so that others can profit from my experience. Here we go.

First of all, if you are not a rider, I wonder why you collect bikes in the first place. The very purpose of the bicycle is for locomotion; certainly no one will argue that at least most of one's collection should be ridable bikes. So, if your machines are roadworthy, then they most deffinitely should spend some time on the road. And without a doubt, to fully appreciate what any given bike is, or is not, one must experience the bike under them for at least some reasonable time to get a feel for the bike. My experience tells me more every time I ride, that all bikes will probably give you pleasure to ride. Choose your properly maintained mount properly for the situation, and the cycling experience will most likely be fun. I have found that when cycling with a group of good friends, or strangers with simular interests, I can't imagine an experience that would be anything less than fantastic.

The opportunity to ride with an extraordinary group of people while in Greensboro is something that NO ONE should miss. Please don't make the same mistake I made TWICE! Riding with other people is one of my favorite things to do. I'm always much more familiar with someone after we have come in from a ride. We have wonderful, funny, and rewarding interactions with each other and our surroundings while on these death marches. I think the element of the fixed gear will also enliven our rides. Fixed gear types are a special breed by nature, it seems. After doing a ride with some guys this past weekend where there were several fixies mixed in with several regular road bikes; I think it would be no problem to ride with the regular guys. We didn't have any problems since all the fixies had at least one brake.

The thing about riding is that it also tends to bring out everyones' personality. I find that people generally ride the same way they act as a "normal" person. I really love to blend a small dose of socializing in with some serious riding. It makes for a great time. To sum it up, if you don't participate in the rides you are comming to probably less than HALF of the fun that will be happening. You will only meet the "surface person" unless you meet them on the road. You will have a greater knowledge and respect for your fellow collectors once you've turned a pedal with them. I promise you that. Why come to only a fraction of the event. Let's get out there and HAMMER, (or not.....but don't expect me to have a tea party while I'm out there) and see the countryside. One more promise; if you're not familiar with cycling "Brooklyn Style", then you OWE it to yourself to experience it first hand with the world famous John Pergolizzi. I got my 3 month dose if it and I'm hungry for some more. Only one month away! Trust me, THE circus will be in town! This is the ticket to funsville. You miss this and you will have NO worthy stories to tell your grandchildern. The spring of '03 will be historic. Be there!

Another point is that one does get a greater understanding and appreciation of and for the machine and its attributes if you ride it. DUH! Every bike should add to your base of personal experiences. Every time I get another bike on the road I'm always pleased with the results. How one rides may be somewhat dictated by the bike under your ass; but that is part of the "art" of being a cyclist. If you suffer from the "Princess and the Pea Syndrome" and you simply can't ride unless everything is "Just So" then maybe bike collecting isn't for you, unless all you collect are bikes custom made to your order. Otherwise one must adapt a little or be a different kind of cyclist for a little while to fully appreciate the bike. I enjoy it myself. I learn things about bikes I might not otherwise run into. I also find that I can make a bike work for me regardless of wheather it is an old bike that is slightly too big for me or has funky steering geometry or whatever, by responding to what the bike has to offer and working within that. Not every bike works perfectly bitchin for every application; but they are still fun to ride. Again, it is especially true that you will have fun if you ride with good friends. If you doubt me, come ride with us. I'll personally entertain you if neccessary. Let's see everyone on the road in Greensboro. I simply can't wait to ride with my regular friends, many of whom will be there, and all of the people I missed my not riding before. I WAS such an ass........now I'm a wise ass.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Get on your bikes and RIDE!


>
> There will be a few hardy souls who will get on our bikes about 0630 or 0700 for an hour or so and still have time to clean up, go to breakfast and be at the rec center for setup by 9. We will leave from the Battleground Inn parking lot. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL