Not that I'd remind List Captain Dale of his own rules but :-).............
> - We have focussed on the approximate period from the beginning of the
> Twentieth Century, up to the early 1980s. Certain classicaly produced
> modern bikes are considered "on topic" here, but those welded,
> injection molded, or glued modern wonders belong in some other mail
> list, not this one! Ditto for mountain bikes & balloon tired bikes.
> Those items have merit, but they just do not belong here.
so Dale wrote anyway - cause it's his list okay ;
<snip>
>
> Now, in the future, 50 years or so away, how will we identify all these nasty
> (IMO) welded aluminum bikes?
>
> It is so true what Grant Peterson said about someone digging up a Rivendell
> in 100 years and telling what it is from the lugs! On the other hand, that
> oh-so light new Paramount (I hate to even call it that) will look just like
> the welded aluminum Giant or Trek or Jamis or Principia or yada yada...
>
> And a popped-out-of-a-waffle-iron-mold Carbon Fiber frame will look pretty
> much like a Kestrel, Trek OCLV, Aegis, or Giant etc etc.
>
> How boring!
>
> Dale Brown
I have to say it's a bit unfair to generalise - especially when it comes to the Giant produced bikes ! - Currently their using G prefixed serial numbers that will be easilly identifiable 50 years down the line........ and if you can't tell them apart well you are not looking hard enough..... Not all crap is equal though. Just like now, in fifty years I'm quite sure the varying standards of production quality and finish will make it as easy to identify a Giant CFR frame from a Look KG261 as it is a cheap 70's 10-speed from a Cinelli Super..... blah..blah...blah.... but I don't really feel the need to get into this conversation....
No I'd forget about those Trek OCLV's (you know the ones you can date by counting the rings on the broken section of tubing) and start buying up 10-speed Ergopower levers, throwing away the contents and saving up the packaging.....
That's right - collect those boxes !
Best Regards
Bob Reid Stonehaven Scotland
p.s. Can Dale actually mail himself a first warning for raising an off-topic subject ? :-)