jamie swan wrote:-
> I find the bike messengers refreshing. They are colorful and creative.
> Many are articulate. They see a rusty old Lejeune track frame and go
> crazy over how beautiful it is.
i would go as far as to say and agree that the fresh blood of bike messengers and their aesthetic interest has piqued the classic bike appreciation of recent times.
i have seen it here in NYC and now more people are cluing up to what was ridden and how things looked. even on general "modern" forums there is a switch away from 10 gears too many, tubes fatter than your arm and now many are pining for a something built by hand with patina and character.
tastes from those on the fringe permeate and if any would question why a resurgence in appreciation for the classics has made ground my hat is tipped towards the bike messengers as the keepers of the flame for a new generation. infected me - super record was old hat when i started riding and i would buy a lesser frame as long as it had internal routing for the rear brake cable. i had sugino carbon fibre brake levers and specialsed carbon fibre bottle cages before the 80's had finished - now i wish for all the details of before "my time" and it came from seeing and riding with bike messengers and being influenced by them.
i dont think any other group would spend more of their income on bikes - sure they work with them but it also becomes a BIG part of their lives and standing amongst their peers too. in fact never remembering their names is no problem as if i ask about the "guy with the blue benotto" they know exactly who im talking of and im sure they could tell me exactly the whole list of parts on his ride as well just from seeing it ridden around. respect that passion.
in fact rides with them are much more fun than with hobbyists on 14lb rides seeking to spend money and look the part. night and day. messengers have always been cool cats - street can be art and high brow. when that happens a culture is richer and a fad becomes a tradition that is carried on.
ciao
ben kamen NYC