I submit that Eddie has it right.
We may like bikes of a certain era, but every generation or so the new stuff
eats it's predecessor and a whole new classic theme begins for someone.
High-wheelers gave way to safeties.
Hard tires gave way to Pneumatics.
Fixed gears started giving way to multi-speed.
Wood rims to alloy.
Track bikes gave way to road bikes.
Steel frames to alloy, alloy to titanium, titanium to carbon fiber.
Then the new era clik stuff and all the other nouvelle riche design and
function equipment
Etc., etc.
Each genre of change is a classic in waiting for some seniority to give it
credence and provenance.
So don't mock.
Enjoy and keep/collect your heart's desire, stay in the "golden age" of your
pleasure and have fun.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA
inVeloSniper.com
> Dale,
> As I am sure you know I respect both you and your "living room" but the
> notion that the "golden" era of anything, be it bikes, art, cameras,
> furniture, cars, etc, begins and ends at some arbitrary date is simply,
> sorry for this, absurd. Life and the world change. For better and for
> worse. But, that's life. What Bicycling Magazine said it in July 1982
> means nada, nilch, niente, zero. They also told us to grow sprouts on our
> racks as we ride and have run the same how do do this or that for the last
> 25 years.
> Always yours in the Vintage Bike Life, and riding my Cervelo R3 SL
> Edward Albert
> Chappaqua, New York, U.S.A.
> On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 6:41 PM, Dale Brown <oroboyz@aol.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> ? While looking at the coverage in http://velosniper.blogspot.com/
>> Ray
>> Dobbin's wonderful photography, I see?the author reminiscing while
>> looking
>> at a July 1982 issue of Bicycling magazine:,
>>
>> "1982 now seems like the end of
>> the golden era of classic racing bikes. No click shifting, no funny
>> bikes. Brake cables looped upward in the open breeze. Colors and
>> graphics were pure and simple. Wool jerseys, crochet gloves and leather
>> hairnets proudly appear on the cover of the country's biggest cycling
>> magazine. Within just a year or so, all of this would be hopelessly
>> passe."
>>
>> Hmm, sound familiar??? :)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Dale Brown
>> Greensboro, North Carolina USA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----