The latest issue of Bicycling magazine arrived today. There is an interesting article about a man who came upon a Raleigh International on the side of the road. It bore a note saying that it only needed a bit of tender loving care. The rest of the story tells of the restoration process. Although the author spent most of the article describing rubbing down the frame with steel wool until it was to the bare metal and then the repainting (without telling of parts restoration, nor the decals, nor the other aspects such as chasing down parts on Ebay), the article is still worth a read. I think there are very few International level bikes to be found lying on the side of the road awaiting pickup. ...At least I've never seen one.
Another article talks about the horrendous consequences of car-bike crashes. The details are difficult to handle. All in all this latest issue of Bicycling sums up my conflicted psychology about cycling. I am torn between wanting to cycle more and my fear of those horrific encounters with cars. I hope I don't end up like some of the listmembers who restore, display and reflect on old bikes, but for one reason or another don't seem to use them.
Garth Libre in Miami Fl USA