Re: [CR]Anyone Remember ...

(Example: Events)

Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:24:20 -0700
From: "Dan Kehew" <dan.kehew@gmail.com>
To: "Robert Clair" <r.clair@cox.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Anyone Remember ...
In-Reply-To: <000c01c8a006$e093ce10$0202a8c0@Leo>
References: <BAY103-W450B809F5EC1FEFC02BD9C90EA0@phx.gbl>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

> ... those lycra seat covers, from among some long lost vendor in the
> mid-'80's. and also those "frog" strap things that keep your glasses on.
> the ones we saw were mostley pink, red, slight blue, etc.

Sorry for the lenght, but I had the odd experience of responding to a local Craigslist ad on the Fourth of July a couple of years back, with the little photo showing a terribly grungy mens "ten speed" bike in my size for a whopping $25. Sometimes, you have to go see....

The machine in question turned out to be a (slightly past the 1983 cutoff, but in all other ways on-topic) Miyata 912. The ID was only apparent after the seller let me turn a hose on the bike, as it previously had be dirty to near-invisibility. Regarding the subject prompting this message, the saddle was the most atrocious eruption of filthy day-glo synthetic materials I have ever laid eyes upon. Seller said the bike had been handed down among the UC Davis students in this particular condo for maybe a decade, but nobody really wanted to touch it now -- especially that toxic saddle.

Turns out that the crust on the bike had made an effective barrier to deterioration. Aside from some downtube decal damage, the bike looked great once cleaned. I passed the frame along to a UCD Bike Barn student mechanic who converted it to fixed wheel and made a profit. I've kept (hoarded), and will find a nice use for, the surprisingly sweet Shimano 600 groupo.

That rotten saddle, though, is the punchline. After the first hose-down, I could see gel, foam rubber, some kinda plastic, and battered lycra -- a total loss, I was sure.

Nope. Three different combos of lycra and gel, synth-leather and foam, and lycra, one layered on top of the other as each was ridden into submission. Once the three covers were pried away from one another, the seat underneath looked pretty much like it did leaving the shop floor on the new Miyata. Beautiful -- top, bottom, and rails. Some fine retailer had made a couple extra bucks selling a colorful lycra cover to the Miyata's buyer, and that underlying saddle never saw the light of day.

Used to hate seeing those things on a bike -- why not just buy a proper saddle? Now I love 'em.

Dan Kehew
Davis California USA