Fellow Cyc-ous*,
If ever we came to sell our house the description in the advert would have to read... "Eight garages with house attached".
*Cyc-ous is a club for Old Bike Nuts (the By-line) either:- People who are nuts on old bikes or Old-timers who still ride bikes.
The Certificate of Membership explains:-
"Cyc-ous" (pronounced Psychos) is a play on words.
"Ou" in Afrikaans is "Old"
It also has another connotation. One speaks of a jovial "Ou" or a fat Ou or a thin Ou or this Ou or that Ou. In this sense it means fellow, chap, bod, (insert local colloquial for "person")
Hence Cyc-ou = Old bike Nut
The club motto is:- "Bum in saddle, Tongue in cheek"
However its not all) about riding the bike. As Derek Roberts often says in his editorials (for those F.C.O.T.s no longer able to "Straddle the Saddle) "Keep the Wheels Turning, in the Mind if not on the Road"
The V.C.C. is (primarily, I would say,) about Rescuing, Restoring, Researching, Recording... and/or Riding Old Bikes.
The oft-disparaged "Check Book Collector" has his place in the hobby since it is his impetus which enables some less pecunious people to pursue the 5-Rs above - I believe to their, his and the hobby's benefit.
The Schlumfs were responsible for escalating Old Car prices but the spin-offs in interest in old cars (particularly Bugattis )is incalculable.
The internet and C.R. does a sterling job of extending the fellowship of the bicycle.
The Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour now attracts 35000 riders to what is billed as "The World's Largest Timed Cycle Event".
What started life 27 years ago as a getting together of around 1000 FUN cyclists concerned about Road Safety has "Lost the Plot" along the way.
YES - the cyclists rode their bikes to demonstrate that "Cyclists are also Traffic" But they rode over 100km for the FUN of it around the around one of the most scenic routes in the world- the Cape Peninsula.
Now, if people know you rode "The Argus", (this March was my 20th) the Inevitable Question is:- "What was your time?"
Our retort is always the same:- "We had an enjoyable time"
To those of you able to attend the upcoming gathering "Enjoy yourselves"
To those of you who contribute to the C.R. (or who, like me most of the time, simply "Lurk to Learn". Please keep up the "outings" on ebay. They often, like Hillary's or Hadley's, contain brilliant pictures of "Rocking Horse Dropping" items which I download) I recommend to you my mother's exhortation when we were kids:- "Play nice and don't fight"
Ron Thompson CYC-OUS Brackenhurst South Africa.
Tel +27 11 867 1618
Fax +27 11 867 2388
Cellular 082 570 3650
e-mail ron@motive.co.za