[CR]vintage lightweights vs The Cub Scouts

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme)

From: "swampmtn" <swampmtn@siscom.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 21:09:46 -0500
Subject: [CR]vintage lightweights vs The Cub Scouts

Starting'em Young For Future CR Membership

Well, it's been a strange evening here in Middletown. A few days ago I received a call from an old school friend, asking if she could bring her Cub Scouts to my house to hear about bicycle safety and see my collection of bikes. Never one to miss an opportunity to spread bicycling gospel, I agreed to open my home and my collection to a veritable battalion of seven-and-eight-year-olds.

A personal lack of offspring means I haven't had to deal with children this age since I was in third grade. Back then I was a sullen, quiet little boy, shy and self-conscious far beyond my years. I don't remember much about my school days, so I had no idea what to expect.

First thing I didn't consider was how easy it is to reach a dirty, greasy chain when you're only four feet tall. True, it was a fine 1950s Everest chain, mounted on a 1950s Italian racing bike, but it was dirty and greasy nonetheless, and like a virus it's dirty-greasiness quickly spread from bike to bike, from hand to shirt to sofa to lovely display of NOS white Tressostar.

Second thing I didn't consider was the language barrier. When I began discussing the merits of the Magistroni-engraved Giostra cottered crankset on my Italian Benotto, I failed to appreciate their unfamiliarity with words like Magistroni, engraved, Giostra, cottered, crankset, Italian, and Benotto. I also never realized the humour hidden in the word "Benotto". ??? Henceforth, I shall always chuckle to myself when I see or hear the word. (Thank God the bike wasn't a Wilier - one can only imagine what a Cub Scout mind might make of that.)

Whereas I, personally, can wax hysterical for hours about Italian racing bikes from the 40s 50s and 60s, the cumulative attention span of the typical Cub Scout Den is approximately four minutes, after which time the conversation may shift, almost imperceptibly, to such things as cats, hockey, pee pee, or the "tightness" of the host's home.

After a quick tour of the bike room, we practiced cyclists hand signals (next time we begin by teaching the difference between left and right). Left Turn, Right Turn, Stop ... and a few new ones such as Star Wars, exit door, cat crossing, and Sponge Bob. I hope someday someone can explain all that to me.

High point of the evening was when I handed-out bookmarks I'd laminated from various vintage bike racing pics and adverts. These were leftovers from the last Vintage Bike Night at my house, and were received with great gusto. I hope some day in the future they will take a few moments to ponder the strange faces and clothing and brand names, and maybe feel some of the same curiosity I began noticing when I was that age.

And hopefully one of the riders on those laminated paper strips is wearing a Wilier jersey :-)

Aldo Ross
Middletown, Ohio