Re: [CR]Now:Actually _riding_ old bikes! Was:classification

(Example: Production Builders:Frejus)

From: "David Feldman" <feldmans1@earthlink.net>
To: <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>, "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <85.204d74c4.2a998aee@aol.com> <3D6839D2.8814F9A9@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Now:Actually _riding_ old bikes! Was:classification
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 20:37:57 -0500


Of course old bikes are good for riding, just this last Thursday.............................. My friends who own Sellwood Cycle Repair needed the use of a head tube facer with an internal reamer that would fit a particular frame; their VAR didn't work, my Cobra would. Loaded the Cobra facer, my day timer, lock and cable, etc. into a pannier, attached it to the Helyett and took a bus into Portland--one less car trip into Portland is one better day! Once in downtown Portland realized that this was the day President Bush was in town to campaign for Oregon senator Smith's re-election. Every other person downtown looked like Secret Service--that delivery woman looked too awkward carrying the clipboard, that homeless-looking guy's eyes were too alert and he walked like he was too fit. Rode 10k to Sellwood, did the facing job, said hellos and goodbyes--and then these, well, they really are good friends of mine, gleefully mentioned that, gee, better not get stopped by any police or Secret Service--especially if they're not patient and you have to explain a long, round steel tool with a funny handle that's wrapped and padded in your pannier. A tool that, of course, only another bike mechanic could identify and any cop would, er, automatically think the worst of. So it's time for a longer ride, time to practice-tour and think that it's France, or at least the Olympic Peninsula, and hope that the Interstate bridge back to Vancouver doesn't have it's sidewalk closed for security reasons. Rode fast and got back to the Washington side of the Columbia River just about the time that Dubya's plane was touching down on the runway and the police were clearing their six-block square area of pedestrians in downtown Portland. A vintage bike can be a practical transportation tool, especially if you want to avoid having to explain that a Cobra head tube facer really, honestly, truly is NOT a weapon to some grim-faced individual in a black suit! David Feldman Not a threat to Presidential security Vancouver, WA


----- Original Message -----
From: Chuck Schmidt
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 8:59 PM
Subject: [CR]Now:Actually _riding_ old bikes! Was:classification



> Tom Donahue wrote:
> >
> > (cut) Chuck Schmidt shamed me
> > off-list...
>
> > (cut) Last Sunday I took it out for a 17-mile shakedown cruise.
> > After a few tweaks during the week, I did a quick fifty miler this afternoon...
>
> (cut) the old one (RichardSachs) invited me to keep pedaling,
> > pedaling, pedaling, without beating me up, leaning into turns, accelerating
> > uphill.
>
> See Tom, see that's what I'm talkin' bout! I switch between current and
> old bikes pretty much every day. It's all good!
>
> (I have to confess here that I tried the same "shaming thing" on
> e-RICHIE and got nowhere; he doesn't believe in riding old bikes...
> pssss... whisper... neither of the famous identically restored twin Masi
> G.C.s he owns has ever turned a wheel.)

>

> Pity...

>

> Chuck Schmidt

> SoPas, SoCal