My alternative cure to the same problem(?), (see below), is to simply ride on a regular basis with guys of similar abilities. That is what I try to do every Saturday morning, I on my modern Sachs, almost everyone else on their modern aluminum / carbon / titanium rigs. I am able to hold my own for sure, the bike never being the limitation. It will go as fast as I am able to make it go. I even am able to win my share of city limits "sprints". I do sense some of the others wondering how I am able to keep up on that "skinny tubed steel bike". Some have suggested that I'd be faster on a lighter bike. I doubt it. Although, and I do not want to offend anyone here, I would most certainly be slower if I was still shifting on the downtube. Perhaps if I were more skilled it would not matter. Richard (still trying to earn my varsity letter), Rose (Toledo, Ohio)
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of C. Andrews Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 1:24 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]old and new
I was reminded of the constant timeliness of this thread yesterday. I was on a leisurely ride with the Los Angeles Wheelmen, a ride I try to do every Sunday if there's no vintage-ride going on. We'd just come through the Veteran's Hospital onto San Vicente when a small groupe of LaGrange Club riders came up on us. I was riding my recently-restored 1972 Colnago Super, which looks pretty spiffy, when one of the LaGrange riders, on the latest Colnago C-40 with Record Ergo stuff, came alongside and good-naturedly said "nice bike...good for a *Sunday* ride" (emphasis his)...I allowed as how in a sprint or up a hill I might have trouble keeping up...but that my physical condition was the main problem. I'm in ok shape, but no way could I keep up with LaGrange Cat 2 riders, for instance.
He seemed unconvinced. And later, when we all pulled into a coffee shop for a snack, a number of LaGrange riders were there, with their modern wonders. My Colnago was a ghost from the past. Oddly enough, it made me feel my age somehow. Those good old days really are gone.
The entire experience made me want to go back into training, enter a race, and WIN on my old Colnago, complete with vintage parts. I suspect I could win a Cat 5 race in my age class...maybe even a Cat. 4, assuming I trained assiduously for six months. Fortunately for me, the urge has passed. I'll just continue to enjoy my antique machines and not try to prove anything...although I continue to have the secret urge to install a modern Record/Ergo/carbon group on this fine Baylis I picked up recently..
Charles Andrews
SoCal