At 4:20 PM -0700 6/28/02, Chuck Schmidt wrote:
>The question being: Is mojo the same as mystique?
Mojo is just another term for those undefinable qualities that draw us to something. Some people will say a bike has "soul" or use another hard to pen down term. Personally I like mojo better than soul since I can see Austin Powers looking at a Mercian and saying "Yea, baby. . . yea, yea." I don't think I'll ever hear James Brown say "This bike's got soul and it's super bad." As the "godfather of soul" I think he get's veto power, though we could send George Clinton to consult if need be.
I think "mystique" is more definable since it seems to involve lineage and historically accurate information to describe the item. I think mystique is used to define something without bringing in the emotional draw of an object. I can't tell you why I have a special pull to Bianchi's and Raleigh road bikes leave me cold. For me a Specialissima has "mojo", but an International is "nojo." I've owned quite a few of both and can discuss the history, lineage, and tradition created my these marquees. The fact that I'm an abrasive-cynic-knee-jerk-liberal-know-it-all-gen-xer that makes horrible first impressions and people still like me means I must have mojo since it's undefinable why people invite me anywhere, or even let me out of my cage. My mystique as applies to this list has to do with 25 years of cycling and 15 years as a wrench and an interest in classic bikes, very definable reasons to put up with me. I can say that I think some list members have mojo and others nojo, but it only applies to me and why I'm drawn or repelled by certain people. The only things I may share will all the members is a love of bikes, it's the undefinable parts of our personalities that make me believe someone has mojo or nojo.
Of course like everything else these are only my definitions and my observations and opinions. Your's WILL vary since no one has lived the same life as another member. Life's real interest is about the undefinable aspects of people and things, their mojo. enjoy, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives heading out to sea in Santa Barbara, Ca.