Well if I was the person defining the characteristics of a bike that qualifies for this category and is eligible for competition, these are the standards I'd use, in order of scoring.
The bike should be made in such a way that it is a clear attempt to copy higher end road bikes of the same vintage. The manufacturer must have made no really desirable bikes marketed under the same label. Must be era. Accurate restorations or good original overall condition - but patina is cool, if its not dropping parts everywhere. Original equipment - within reason. If it came with 27" wheels, no 700c rim upgrade, but newer, almost correct tires and brake pads are ok. Must be actually ridable - now, and as new. I'm not sure if "safe" should be a requirement here. Actual original quality features and materials, hidden behind cheesey paint or odd componentry are worth points. Rarity/uniqueness Documentation is worth points - catalog pages, original advertising stuff, bill of sale...
Or you could just have a weigh off and the heaviest drop bar road bike without a pedigree wins!
Ann Phillips, Atlanta GA
At 10:00 AM 5/9/2003 -0400, OROBOYZ@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 5/9/2003 9:21:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>aphillips9@mindspring.com writes:
>
><< Dale, are you listening? >>
>
>"Best Funk Bike"?
>"Funkiest Bike"?
>"Most Nostalgic Beater Bike"?
>"Best Starter Bike"?
>"Best 'That-Undefineable-Cool' Bike"?
>"Best Personal Transportation"?
>
>?????
>
>Dale Brown
>cycles de ORO, Inc.
>1410 Mill Street
>Greensboro, North Carolina
>USA 27408
>336-274-5959
>Fax 336-274-6360
><A HREF="http://www.cyclesdeoro.com">cyclesdeORO.com</A>
><A HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/main.htm">Classic Rendezvous</A>