RE: [CR]Approaches to Bike Collecting?

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Campagnolo)

In-Reply-To: <993670.86109.qm@web82211.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
References: <993670.86109.qm@web82211.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:15:42 -0800
To: CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: RE: [CR]Approaches to Bike Collecting?


I don't really consider myself a collector of bikes, but a collector of rides. It all started when I wondered what a Cinelli would be like. Nobody was willing to lend me one in my size, so I had to buy one. As a child, I dreamt of a top-end Peugeot, so a PX-10 joined the stable. Then I was intrigued by the Campagnolo Cambio Corsa. That was before the Internet, and took a while to find, but was worth it. A 1976 Masi G.C. added to the "ride" collection. Some of these bikes moved on when I was done riding them, others stayed because I like them a lot.

Herse and Singer were on my list for a long time before I was able to ride them. As the editor of Bicycle Quarterly, I have been lucky lately that people have let me ride things like an Herse from the Technical Trials, a Bi-Chain, a Retrodirect, and a 1930s Schulz, because I never could find one, nor afford it if I did. So my collection is growing without cluttering my basement. A 1939 Oscar Egg with Super Champion derailleur also has added to the collection (of rides, not bikes), and left very fond memories. The list now includes many names, and they all are different, most are nice... it's fun to explore the rides.

I have found most fascinating to figure out why these bikes were designed and built that way. Many old bikes make a lot of sense, once you realize how and where they were ridden. In fact, we've been rediscovering 1940s and 1950s geometries and other features that worked better for some applications than more recent ones.

However, I have found pretty much the ideal bike for me, and as a result, my curiosity has waned a bit. I now ride one bike, my ca. 1973 Alex Singer, 99% of the time, and enjoy it greatly. It's not quite ideal (the 30 mm tires are a bit narrow), but it's the best I have. If I had a regular tandem partner, my old Herse tandem might see more action. I have ridden both machines in Paris-Brest-Paris, which adds to the memories attached to them.

I still lust after trying one of Fausto Coppi's Bianchis and one of Eddy Merckx' De Rosas (both are my size!), or one of the wacky Integrals with a floating chain:

http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/INTEGRALBIKE.jpg

In fact, just playing with these machines during photo shoots was fun.

And if given a choice, I gladly would have given that Herse from the Technical Trials a home... so I cannot claim total immunity from the collecting _bikes_ bug.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.bikequarterly.com