OK, this is like a freshman English essay on the world and its implications, so I'll itemize.
1. Pseudonyms: I've never been smart enough to think of one, so I'm "mgroves" or "m_groves" wherever I go. I yam what I yam.
2. 27" tires: I actually FORGOT that my Bill Boston is 27" equipped! I did it 1981 when I trashed a tire on a week-long camping trip in rural Illinois (that's a place just outside Chicago), and I couldn't find a 700c tire to replace it. I guess it's still not a bad idea, because I could always buy a tire at a K-Mart if I had to. But I wonder if I'll be able to get the neat Avocet slicks that take 100psi and measure a FULL 1 1/4" when these wear out. Any ideas?
3. HANDLEBAR HIDE: I looked around for this a coupla years ago, and nobody had any. Rhode gear produced the stuff back in the 80s, and I have 2 bikes that could use a replacement. Anyone on the list know of any?
4. Reformed francophobe: I got a Rene Herse a month or so ago from a friend, and I have to admit that I really, really like it! It's a touring model, 25" frame with 650B wheels, and some modernized equipment. I can't say I like it better than my 2 American Bikes (Bill Boston & Paramount), but it's definitely in their league. Of course, it makes me wonder where I'll find a french-thread freewheel or pedals if I want to restore it nearer to original condition [Sheldon?], but the little niceties like the generator stud on the fork, the neat unique Herse stem with its integral bell and the wonderfully silent ride give it a panache of its own.
Morgan Groves in [almost] sunny DeKalb
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