Emmanuel,
I don't know what all the number will tell you; especially if you can't ride each of the bikes for a while to see how they work for you. As always, the variables are nearly infinite. Each person may have different tastes and standards. That's why I asked to ride one. If you like it, it's good. If you don't, find something else. I don't know how many times I've seen someone off a bike because they didn't like it, to hear from the next owner how awesome the bike is. I think it's really time to let this stuff go. It opens a can of worms every time, the discussion gets long winded and out of hand, lots of people waste some time. What is the point? I know this list is partially entertainment and somewhat social; but nothing ever changes during these "discussions". Find what fits, find out a little about what you like, and get on with riding the suckers! It's clear we all have somewhat individual tastes, perspectives, and needs. Let's not try ot over analyze the impossible.
When I design a bike I am speaking with an individual. I ask LOTS of questions. They don't even know what their answers mean to me; but each piece of information and a few measurements dictates what I build. No two people want exactly the same thing. To explain how someone with 35 years experience comes to the conclusions would take...well, maybe 35 years. I know I don't have the time to explain it.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
USA
Charles Andrews wrote:
"The interesting thing about Confentes in general is that they may well have been the nicest-riding race-bike of that era. Better than nearly anything else, in various subtle ways. Ask anyone who's ridden one for awhile, they'll tell you the same. Kind-of like a more-agile Masi GC, but not as nervous as later Colnagos, Masi Prestiges, and etc. Nice and stiff, but not too stiff, accelerates really well, with ride-all-day comfort. The closest bike I can think of to it is a Cinelli Super Corsa of the early 70s, but the Cinelli is not quite as sporty-feeling as the Confente."
I would love to learn more about the dimensions and geometry of Confente's frames: BB drop, head angle, rake, chainstay length. In fact, I'd like to know more about that stuff for most of the bikes made by the masters we talk about on CR, including the still-alive-and-well designers of Wizard and Baylis and Weigle and Sachs and Cooper and all the rest. Ironically, to me, those science-based numbers are more intrinsic to the art of the bicycle than the matching of period-correct pantography or the thickness of dried paint. I'm just saying.
Confente owners, protractors and tape measures?
Emanuel Lowi Montreal, Quebec
__________________________________________________________________
Make your browsing faster, safer, and easier with the new Internet Explorer® 8. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/