In a message dated 5/21/03 10:14:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time, monkeylad@mac.com writes:
<< Well then Chuck let me ask this, what is more original and why; what's in the catalog, what's in the box that the dealer gets, or what the customer walks out with >>
I'd say what the majority of the bikes actually came through with. Most
changes by manufacturers were minor, like rubber or spokes or handlebar tape.
If the catalog was printed, then a supplier went out of business, etc., and
none or few of that model year came equipped with that component, would a
sensible person argue that the bike MUST have that stated component to be
'original?' Ummm...no. If Joe Consumer has to have an aerobioplus
whatchamacallit installed on his new bike because it decreases the
ergocoefficient of friction by .075% (as reported by a famous cycling
website/magazine/voice in his head) does that mean it is more original?
Ummm...no.
My unscientific, simplistic response would be that for 99% of bikes, the
catalog description would come pretty close to the other answers. If I felt
it was worth making a distinction, I'd first buy one size larger underwear,
then rethink the issue.
Sorry Dale,
Ed Kasper
Detroit MI