Re: [CR]re: Second Tier Bicycles worth mentioning

(Example: Racing:Wayne Stetina)

From: "cmontgomery" <cmontgomery15@cox.net>
To: "Peter Brueggeman" <pbrueggeman@ucsd.edu>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <006301c7969e$31d106d0$6b01a8c0@PC9960>
Subject: Re: [CR]re: Second Tier Bicycles worth mentioning
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 22:19:32 -0700


re: Second Tier Bicycles worth mentioning I enjoy riding these second-tier straight-gauge Reynolds 531 tubing models 1953 Claud Butler New Allrounder 1954 Sun Manxman Not at all like riding my Reynolds 531 double butted Hetchins or Bates bikes, which feel lively and racier by comparsion, but these lower range models are so comfortable to ride. They look cool too. Peter

I've got a straight guage Bates that's as stiff as my old dead granny and it's a wonderfully comfy rider (70 degree seat angle if it's a day) with a surprisingly sprightly front end. I guess you could call it second tier as it was a poor man's custom. They probably knocked it out during their lunch hour. If second tier is essentially a production frame then Ted is right, there's production then there's production. Something tells me that some "production" frame builders could put together some sweet machines if they had a mind to. My '52 Viking is a case in point. I'll match it to any low volume frame for crispness of lugs (Oscar Egg) and performance. Put's a smile and a dream-like gaze on my face just thinking about riding it. Come to think of it, my plain ol production Holdsworths, Mistral and Special, do to, but they're not quite the same.

Craig Montgomery
Tucson