In a message dated 3/30/01 7:44:27 AM Central Standard Time, jmoos@urc.com writes:
<< the gear was as much a part of the classic bike experience as the bikes themselves. >>
I'll chime in with a sort of confessional, which I hope gives a different perspective to some of the professionals, (and I mean that earnestly) on the list.
I recently had a conversation with Richie Sachs in which we were discussing the vintage of a Colnago in my possession which lacks a serial number. We decided that its probably a 73 or 74 base on some drillings, decals and braze ons. One factor was that the brake bridge was set for a bolt on, as opposed to Allen recessed, brakes. Richie observed that during that period both types were widely available so that the drilling wasn't an issue. I reflected that 1973 was my senior year in High School and that my only bike at the time was a Motobecane Mirage, and further that my first awareness of a bike part was the first time I saw the Campy Delta brake set in about 1985. I also confess that my boyhood home of Wilmington Delaware was not a hotbed of bicycle racing (not until Tour Dupont in the late 80's), and that our modest circumstances did not contemplate $200.00 bicycles.
My point is that while many of you rode, raced or wrenched the vintage classics, others like myself got into it much later. My involvement in the sport only began in the mid-80's, as a marginally competitive triathlete on a Trek 700 with a motley assortment of bike parts harvested from old Raleigh's and other peoples takeoffs.
Consequently, topics regarding some of the rather mundane issues, which might outright bore you, are fascinating to me. This is because they are not pert of my experience. So many of your memories are virtual storehouses of institutional knowledge about vintage bicycles. The majority of what I know about English and Italian bikes has been gleaned from discussions on this list, Dales Website, and information from outside sources which I learned about here. For that I am grateful.
There is no doubt that there is an upper echelon of experts here, who are the cornerstone of this list. I won't suggest to you that you have a responsibility, that is too strong, but I think that you should be aware that what you put into this list, not only preserves the sports past, but also ensures its future, in a very poignant way.
So finally, my thanks to all of you, with my hope that we don't lose folks who keep the dialogue interesting here.
Regards,
Carlo Carr New Orleans (of course I may just be blathering again, if so, my apologies)