Hurro Everyone,
This topic is the MOST fun of any that has been discussed on CR in the last few weeks (apart from that 'other one' that the boss says we're not allowed to even mention now!).
Who could have thought that anything so mundane as bike tubing could be so interesting?!
Anyway - here are my two or three throwaways...
1) A don't have view on pampered Americans, I've found though that people are much the same the world round, but I have to take issue with Steve on the matter of poseurs in Europe - or at least in the UK... Any club run or evening "10" (and most open events) in the UK would demonstrate to everyone's satisfaction that even now there isn't very much snobbery attached to having the latest or even the rankest gear - and we are talking mainly 'proper' - or at least 'aspiring' & 'past it' (me) racers here...
Usually you will find a Catholic mix of bikes and equipment in use - and I have never in all my 34 years of racing detected any "turned-up" noses if you were to arrive with anything that is not just the latest fad or label. Note I have raced at Club through to National Champs level (well - I just attended the latter really).
Or maybe I've just been lucky in that regard - believe me I've raced on some pretty iffy, naff and / or ancient hardware in my time without even raising the smallest eyebrow... Perhaps also we Brits just like being eccentric and idiosyncratic...
2) Somewhat on the same theme - I currently own 14 bikes / trikes. I gain as much pleasure riding my Miyata 'One-Ten' Plain Gauge CroMo trainer ("robust" let's say - but nice build quality) - as I do from my Holdsworth / Claud Butler track iron (531 butted) or my 1981 super lightweight ex-Sean Yates Emperor Sport TT bike - or even my 2003 Saracen 7005 / fibre fork jobby (definitely off-topic!).
Just 'get on and ride' and after about 50 metres they all feel much the same to me... Maybe I'm just a blockhead, but such a lot of nonsense is talked about the 'feel' and 'responsiveness' of bikes, frames, wheels, forks yada, yada, yada... - I just can't begin to tell you all....
3) As I remember this topic started with a discussion about the merits of allegedly "low end" tubing being used by craftsmen to create unnecessarily ornate or beautiful bikes... I think that there was some doubt that this was an appropriate use of a high-end builder's talents and resources.
Let me tell you all something that is a plain fact.
I have an Eddy Merckx road bike that I purchased recently from Belgium (not sure, but it might be 'on' or 'off' topic - I think it's mid to late-80s). Without exception this is the most beautifully finished and detailed cycle that I have ever owned in my life. The attention to detail is unrivalled in even the finest bespoke bikes I own (or have owned) - and I have had a few - including a genuine Tottenham Hetchins.
The Merckx looks just fantastic, I love the fancy work on the fork crown and brake bridge - not to mention the fab chromed ends and chainstay. It rides as well as anything I own, does not appear to be overly hefty, quite the reverse in fact - and what tubing has 'Fast Eddy' chosen to use for this (mass produced) bike?
Why only 'low end' CroMor ('Strada' - it says on the Columbus label). Now that I know the awful truth about the tubeset's lack of breeding - I'll have to dispose of it immediately (not)!
Melly Crimbo & Best of the season to all CR-ers...
Ian Briggs Luton - UK (where it's raining but no longer sub-zero)