Wow that's weird.
In the first part he seems to have nearly NO knowledge of bikes at all and promotes department store bikes that are often poorly made as being "better" because they have warranties? And are lighter than they were 10 or more years ago?.
Pompous blowhard barely covers it, but I'm betting the words I'd use would get me a quick vacation from the list
But then he follows it with a lengthy bit of advice that actually includes some decent advice for casual riders. Yes, there are things we like that the casual rider should avoid, but to claim that they're worse than dept store bikes is a big stretch.
And much of his views about old road bikes are just ill informed. Has he ever heard of Copake auction? or of any of the shows we have. Sure, it's a smaller hobby than cars, but not because the bikes aren't any good. And how many of us could use a real collector car as a daily driver? I mean- Parts for those old cars are hard to find, and the 20 somethings at the car fixit place probably don't even have a dwell meter -sarcastic irony there, old cars are just as easy as old bikes if you know the right people. And while many cars are worth more than they sold for new, the same is true for many bikes. He neglects to mention that the $20k mustang will cost at least that much if you start with a $5000 running original, possibly more. Or that the $5000 falcon station wagon will cost even more to properly restore assuming it's even possible to find certain parts.
Craigslist is a very odd place. At the shop I work for we often get peoples Craigslist purchases for repair. I've seen some good deals, some not so good deals, and at least one that made me want to see someone prosecuted for fraud- late 80's huffy, "new" actually probably nos but literally nothing assembled correctly including the bottom bracket and advertised as originally having been $400.
Time to stop before I get into pompous blowhard land myself.
Steve Birmingham Lowell, Massachusetts USA
Message: 11 Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:15:31 -0400 From: <oroboyz@aol.com> Subject: Re: [CR] Interesting NYC Rant ... To: <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Message-ID: <8CBE788556A61ED-17F8-76E@WEBMAIL-DY31.sysops.aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
<<?I'd like to know, what does the CR list think? >>
Can't speak for anyone but myself & I think we have found the cause of this alleged Global warming, all that hot air blowing in NY. Good lord, what a pompous blowhard.? Yes he has no inkling of the appeal of lightweight vintage bikes nor the value we place on them.
Yes, he touches on a few valid points amongst all that flatulation. ? Yes there are a lot fewer vintage bicycle buffs as compared to car people.?
Yes there are fewer rallies and such.
And....?
Dale Brown
Greensboro, North Carolina USA