[CR]Super Sports and snobbery

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 13:13:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Jay Van De Velde" <jaysportif@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <86260-2200563151456893@M2W110.mail2web.com>
Subject: [CR]Super Sports and snobbery

"kohl57@starpower.net" <kohl57@starpower.net> wrote:
> A Schwinn Super Sport on the road is worth 20 Masis hanging on some wall. Anyone who reduces a classic lightweight to an "investment" to be dipped in aspic and shoved in a safety deposit box should be forced to cycle behind 48 roller bladers for 5 hours. Assuming they even ride a bike, that is!

Peter Kohler Washington DC USA<

Peter, You should spend an afternoon revisiting a few of the Smithsonian museums there on the Mall. Take a look at the Douglas DC-3 in the Air and Space Museum. It's a fairly common plane, in that there are still hundreds in flying condition out among general aviation buffs. Is that DC-3 and others in private static collections worth significantly less than some Piper Cub flown on weekends by a recreational licensed pilot? If the answer is no, then why would a currently unused vintage Masi be worth a fraction of some mass produced lugless gaspipe pavement cracker like a Schwinn Super Sport currently being used? If the answer is yes, well I don't know what to tell you.

Who here has said that the infrequently ridden bikes in our collections (wall hangers) are seen as investments? These bikes are enjoyed by their owners in ways you apparently can't appreciate. These wall hangers represent the passion for the bicycle many of have had for decades. They are looked at daily with fond remembrances or seen with an admiring eye to the craftsmanship of well known or anonymous artisans. We choose not to be selfish and look to preserve these bicycles for another generation to discover. The conceit that only a bicycle ridden is a bicycle valued is wrong.

Rather than risk damaging or destroying a prized bicycle on our routine excursions, we ride our appliance bikes and save the bikes that have special significance to us for those meaningful rides with like minded friends. (ask me if I regret riding the '73 PX 10 I destroyed in a crash in Rock Creek Park in DC rather than the '72 Masi I left at home that day). I'm counting down the days to one of those meaningful rides with like minded friends where I'll bring down a wall hanger and hammer on it like I was a kid again. Jay Van De Velde Seal Beach,CA

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