[CR]CR Date cutoff vs. New Stuff

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

From: "Mark Poore" <rauler47@hotmail.com>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 10:26:09 -0500
Subject: [CR]CR Date cutoff vs. New Stuff

Although I lurk for the most part I do feel compelled to toss my 2 cents in at times for whatever it is worth.

The 18-year time-line seems somewhat strange, just cannot figure out why it would be 18 and not 20 years. I do believe that a fixed time frame would be appropriate. The only problem with that would be having a bike that is shy one year or so of this time frame. With the Campagnolo equipment the only distinguishable difference would be the number on the parts and for the frame the serial number. Patience is a virtue and in short time the owner would be able to claim the bike a classic. This reminds me of the 1950 Ford pickup I owned in 1974. I was one year shy of being an antique and eligible of having tags saying so. The truck, other than the grille, was the same as the 1949 Ford.

On the CR website there was a list of modern classic builders. Having just checked the site I could no longer find it, although there is a link for Rivendale, which is a modern builder. Personally I don’t have a problem with discussions of modern builders building frames in the classic tradition. This is not my decision whether or not to allow this discussion. Dale is the person who sets the guidelines and we should adhere by those guidelines.

In my bike collection there are several bikes that are close to the time line that would deem them classic, but they are shy by a few years. One only has to compare the lugs on my ’84 Rauler to the lugs on the Colnago Arabesque to see where the inspiration for the Arabesque’s lugs came from. Rauler had a business relationship with Colnago that ended in 1985 and Colnago was offered the Rauler lugs, but they declined that offer. From a collectible (One of a group or class of objects, such as period glass or domestic utensils, prized by fanciers.) standpoint it bothers me at times that there is so little interest in this bike, but I have to remind myself that it is the only known model of this Rauler in the country so it is not a collectable and the chances of finding one of the 500 made are slim and you would have to comb Europe to find one. Masi’s, Hetchins as well as many other frames, by comparison were made in great numbers and are readily available to the collector. One would have better luck of finding a Confente than this model Rauler. My 1987 Merican Super Light looks just like an early ’80 Super Light and one would be hard pressed to find any differences other that than serial number, but it doesn’t fit the time frame so it isn’t a classic just yet.

And now on to the subject of modern bikes and equipment, I for one am a bit tired of reading about it. It doesn’t fit the subject matter that we should be discussing. It is easy for one to go out a do a club ride and to believe that because they can keep up using downtube shifters that they could compete in an actual race. This might happen at a local level and quite possibly at a small regional race. When you get to the National level or higher ones performance would be compromised by the limits of ones equipment. I grew up racing at a National level in the early and mid 60’s and then on to mountain bike racing in the mid 90’s. While I know I could compete with thumb shifters (mountain bikes equivalent to downtube shifters) at a regional level. My performance would have suffered at the National level and I would not have made the National Team in ’97 using thumb shifters and I certainly would not have had the results that I had at the World’s that year using old technology. This most certainly would apply to downtube shifters vs. STI or Ergo. Lance Armstrong and other Tour riders certainly would not have been as competitive in the Tour using a 21-pound bike with downtube shifters. Can you see Lance having to sit down for every shift he had to make in the mountain climbs?

Please lets keep to the subject matter and enjoy what we have.

Thanks Dale for this forum.