> I've now put in 2500 miles on the Peugeot and am feeling quite fit but still
> find myself making longing glances at The Scot and this maintains the quest
> to obtain that last "hard to find" part needed to make a safe and smooth
> inaugural run on this time machine. My Scot was made in 1952 (almost the
> same age as me) and the frame was the only orginal bit of kit left on the
> bike but this is still fairly perfect and serviceable in almost every
> respect. I wonder if this will hold true for todays plastic bikes in another
> 60 years time or will they all be "junkers".
>
> Regards
>
> Ken Hume
> London England
I suspect there will be a goodly number of today's plastic framed bikes still in good condition in 50 years time given the fact that many bikes are purchased as an impulse buy and once the reality sets in that using the bike requires physical work, the bike gets thrown into the closet/garage/storage along with all the other exercise equipment that seemed like a good idea at the time but as is often the case, the couch and remote seem an even better one. There are at this very moment probably five or ten multithousand dollar perfect replicas of Lance's TdF Trek being stashed between the Bowflex and the tennis racquets in someone's garage, never to be used again, and there are probably barely used 2000 year old fitness devices (As advertised at the forum! No payment until 28 BC!) buried under Rome. Human nature is timeless.
We should be glad people are that way too, it accounts for the apparently almost inexhaustible supply of barely ridden classics that often supply and sustain our hobby.
Kurt Sperry
Bellingham, Washington
USA