[CR]Now: Old Soldiers Was: JUJU. Looks bad, feels good?

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Cinelli)

Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 12:56:30 -0700
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <3E7B4B65.7F4F@adnc.com>
Subject: [CR]Now: Old Soldiers Was: JUJU. Looks bad, feels good?

Brian Baylis wrote:
> (cut)
> On another note. UGLY JUJU. I have an example. I bought this 70's era
> Legnano from Robbie Fellows a while back. Sight unseen, $25. I figure
> anything is worth $25 and it is my size. Turns out it has a little rust
> on it. Still has steel HS and steel crankset attached, also a little
> rusty; like it may have been at the bottom of the ocean for a while. NO
> worries, because the tubes are "genuine gaspipe". This is a very low end
> frame and is so heavy it could easily have been used as a anchor for a
> battleship! Cripes! So, what to do? Well the only answer is regrease the
> bearings, find some parts to finish it up, and ride the thing as a rusty
> hulk. Probably a 30 to 35 lb. rusty hulk. But like an "ugliest dog"
> contest, I love this bike. It has a type of JUJU of it's own. (Has
> anyone noticed how much easier it is to type "JUJU" as opposed to MOJO?)
> It's so out there that it's IN. I wouldn't try passing off this JUJU on
> eBay, but for me it is genuine. I have my pig in a poke now; so don't
> get any ideas of sending me all of your tired, worn, and useless scrap
> iron. I have a Gitane and a Schwinn in the back yard also.

We had the "ugly juju" going on for the monthly Rose Bowl vintage ride a few years ago. After everyone had showed up on their beautiful vintage lightweights month after month it was fun to show up on something with what we will call "patina".

Brian Ignatin has a Rickert from Ted Ernst that spent its life next to the Pacific Ocean; very rusty but mechanically 100% in function. I have a similar '60 Legnano Gran Premio. Perfect mechanically but visually challenged. And totally original.

We call 'em "Old Soldiers" and they're a real blast to ride in a amongst a group of perfectly restored vintage lightweights. In a totally perverse way of course ;)

And the "Old Soldiers" were welcomed as a catagory at last year's Velo Rendezvous bike show in Pasadena.

Chuck Schmidt L.A.

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