Bravo, Mark, I was just given a classic of my own--an Ideor that was living in a walk-in bike store down here. It's my size and all original parts. The only things not worth reusing are the rims, tires, and saddle. I have every intention of using it to soak up Clark County chipseal next summer! Your Singer must the the perfect item for lots of Seattle non-pavement.
Tailwinds
David Feldman
----------
>From: "Mark Petry" <mpetry@bainbridgeisland.net>
>To: <MasiGC3V@aol.com>, <RALEIGH531@aol.com>,
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, "Charles O'Toole"
<chasmary@worldnet.att.net>, "Vance Sprock" <sprocket@cupertinobike.com>,
"Jan Heine" <heine@mindspring.com>
>Subject: RE: {ClassicRend]To Ride or Not to Ride
>Date: Mon, Dec 4, 2000, 8:19 AM
>
>This weekend was a gorgeous day (sunny, 50s) in Seattle and I rode the hell
>out of my Alex Singer randonneur! I went thru some back and forth on
>whether to ride this bike, as it is (was) in essentially unridden condition,
>and what I finally came up with was that life is too short to keep such a
>wonderful machine hanging on the hook.
>
>So I rode up to Jan Heine's house, Jan is a journalist and bike collector,
>he was a contributor to Cycling Lore among other things. He owns a couple
>Singers and I wanted to show him the bike. On the way home I was hammering
>to make the 2:10 ferry back to Bainbridge, I rode from from Jan's house near
>85th down to the ferry terminal, next to the water part of the way, in 28
>min. This is near world record time! It was downhill, big ring, tailwind
>the whole way. The bike felt solid and substantial, not twitchy at all. It
>ran without a hiccup, shifting and braking flawlessly. I definitely
>stretched it out!
>
>Later, at home, I retorqued the cranks to 250 in/lb, wiped everything down
>and shot Lemon Pledge (the BEST bike wax) all over it. I did leave a few
>splatters under the BB, just to prove that it had been ridden. My opinion
>is that you have to RIDE your bike, even your best one, maybe only on
>perfect days, but life is just too short not to enjoy them ! The soul of
>the machine is lost otherwise.
>
>================================================
>Mark Petry Page/Voicemail: 206.618.9642
>Beautiful Bainbridge Island, WA
>================================================
> mailto:mpetry@bainbridgeisland.net
>================================================
> "Most of american life consists of driving
> somewhere and then returning home, wondering
> why the hell you went."
>
> John Updike, "Rabbit at Rest"
>================================================
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org
>[mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of
>MasiGC3V@aol.com
>Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 8:05 AM
>To: RALEIGH531@aol.com; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: Re: {ClassicRend]To Ride or Not to Ride
>
>
>I suppose there are list members who own truly classic cycles that have real
>historical value. If I owned a 50 year old cycle ridden on the Tour or Giro
>it would safely hang in the den or possibly at my office. Nevertheless
>temptation would be to take it for a spin now and then.
>
>My own practice is to ride the Colnago Super or the recently completed '76
>Masi GC restoration only on dry sunny days over good roads. I even built up
>ride wheels so that the Martano tubular rims with NR high flange hubs remain
>pristine for show. So I guess its a mix of philosophies.
>
>I recall we went through this analysis about a year ago and one list member
>kept up the hobby despite the fact that he no longer rode a bicycle. I found
>nothing unsettling about that at all! Its about appreciation for the frames,
>components, dedication, art and engineering, I think.
>
>I just hope that the aesthetic of a perfectly restored Gran Criterium is not
>depreciated by the fact that my ugly butt is riding it.
>
>Regards,
>
>Carlo Carr
>(Used to collect stamps but I mailed them all)