Hi guys,
Sorry to chime in on this much traveled road... But really, I'm not sorry, this needs to be said.
The gist of the complaints is dangerously sounding like the beginning of a bad relationship where a person begins walking on eggshells for fear of offending someone.
This is not healthy.
If anything, our beloved Dale is sometimes heavy handed in his role as list moderator/list Nazi. Recently, Dale has been more laissez-faire (maybe because he¹s been busy with the Cirque) and I for one have appreciated it. Thanks Dale, for hosting this forum!
To hear/see questions from a newbie is exciting! Here is a potential convert from all the carbon crap that surrounds us today! Here is an opportunity for the older KOF¹s to step up and be a Big Brother by Nurturing a Newbie.
Arise KOF¹s! be a BB by NaN !?!
Don¹t these acronyms drive you crazy!? By the way, is ³OT², ³on topic², or ³off topic²? Help me out guys!
The slapping of the wrist of offenders is Dale¹s job and prerogative, It hurts to see negative remarks by others directed against a newbie in this forum. If anything, the ones making this forum less fun and less pleasant reading are the negative guys.
This negativity can discourage participation from newbies who themselves will someday become the old guard and KOF's.
If we discourage the innocently stupid questions from newbies, the end result may be that we discourage them from becoming future KOF¹s, and maybe even avid preservationists like many members of this list already are, and who are, I might add, an inspiration to recent newbies like myself.
We all have to start somewhere. I just re-discovered this hobby recently and am enjoying it immensely. To acquire knowledge, a newbie must find a kind and gentle mentor to nurture his/her interest in order to grow in this hobby. This list can be that collective kind and gentle mentor!
I have been fortunate to have "met" in person or through this list several people who have generously contributed to my edification: * Hank from Helotes Bicycles in Helotes Texas :-) Wow! What a guy! My first mentor and new friend! :-) * Kris Katsogiannos from the San Antonio area who has helped unlock some Regina secrets for me and who has become a good friend. * Ben Cole who helped me feel good about my Schwinn Paramount Frankenbike and took the time to put together a special Campy front derailleur for my braze-on application. Wow!, he even took the time to explain the difference between standard rifled cups and the thin cups that are needed for a Campy triple setup! :-) Thanks Ben! * Donald Gilles who generously shared his time and knowledge of Raleigh Internationals with me and was kind enough to make me some ³AVA² rim decals for my 1973 Raleigh International restoration. Without Don¹s guidance I wouldn¹t have found the period correct Weinmann brake levers with the ³kidney hole² cutouts. * Charles Nighbor who helped me find a TA 374 spindle/axle for a difficult chain-line problem I was trying to solve. Thanks for sharing the awesome Hetchins photos Charles! * John Proch from La Grange who encouraged my interest in Schwinn Paramounts and shared some killer photos that I am modeling one of my future restorations on... * Ted Ernst who has shared his knowledge, and parts bin with me. Ted has generously taken the time to answer my questions, many of them stupid no doubt. Hey Ted, I still need to ask some more stupid questions regarding track components; please drop me a line when y¹all have finished up with your races! Hey guys, Ted¹s pleasure is to coordinate the little folks races at their club events in California! I mean right down to the training wheels and tricycles! Talk about newbies! Way to go Ted! :-) A true KOF who knows how to be a BB by NaN! * Robert Broderick (the living encyclopedia! and fountain of KOF knowledge!) has sold me some really cool Stronglight parts, an French threaded A9 headset and a Laprade Aero seatpost. Thanks for sharing your knowledge regarding Italian made Atom freewheels! By the way Robert, I will soon start to scan some of the vintage Motobecane catalogs that another CR member, Charles Brooks, has been kind enough to share with me; Thanks for the gold Simplex SLJ and Edco parts Chuck! Just received them today! * Karl (and Erica) Edwards from Portland who recently sold me a gorgeous Raleigh International and has help me find such period appropriate accessories as: Karrimor bike bags and racks, Miller 6v lighting and generator, Bluemels fenders. Karl¹s patience with my questions and gentle guidance has help me avoid a couple of ³faux pas², finish details I was tempted to cheat on... Thanks Karl! * Of course I must not forget Wayne Bingham who is a very busy guy with his Veloclassique business; but not so busy that he wouldn¹t help this newbie find parts for incomplete VAR tools, small parts for Mafac brakes and to share his knowledge. By the way Wayne, I¹m ready to swap the track axle for the road axle whenever you are. :-) * And all you other guys that I haven¹t met, with your interesting contributions about the ³lady who striped the Paramounts until 1972(?), various other ³words of wisdom² and your truly inspiring stories of your awesome wives! Thanks!
Ok guys, I had to say thanks to all of y¹all for your help (if I haven¹t already done so).
THANKS!
:-)
Nick Ozerov Boulder Construction L.L.C, San Antonio, Texas, USA nozerov@satx.rr.com Make it better than it has to be!
PS. Still looking for Campy Nuovo/Super Record track crank arms (170mm or 167.5 or 165) and chain ring (144 or 151 bcd will work if you have a set...)