[CR]Those Were The Days

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

From: "Doug Smith" <douguk2007@hotmail.co.uk>
To: "classicrendezvous@bikelist.org" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 21:41:26 +0000
Subject: [CR]Those Were The Days

The subject words of the of the song made famous by Mary Hopkins Quote ,"Those were the days my friend , We thought they'd never end"

Now after reading copy of the book ,The Young Cyclists Handbook, they certainly did end with cycling and bikes heading for the complicated and shoddiness as with the bikes we have today. It sets out an era of clubmanship , simplicity of bike and rider , machines which were made to last , equipped with a range accessories to which riders could obtain spares instead of throw away and replace the whole item as is the practice today.

Although the book was only written in the early 1980's its illustrations go to show how quickly things changed because it was about this period that we experienced the last of simplicity and real genuineness in bikes and their manufacturing. The days of exposed brake cables , friction down tube gear changing , toe clips and straps , the shine of chrome parts and so the list could go on! No one is is to blame , its all supposed to be in

the name of progress is the answer, or so I'm told!!

We the collectors/restorers and riders are indeed fortunate in choosing a pastime in which we can still enjoy the feeling of a by gone era. Just a thought ,perhaps Dale selected his on topic cut of dating correctly when looking back its when man and machine changed for good and for sure not for the better!

Doug Smith
North Dorset
UK