"Plenty of people are fully aware that there is a monthly vintage bike ride at the Rose Bowl, but for many reasons they won't attend.
In other words the reasons for _not_ coming to the ride out number the reasons _to_ come to the ride. ("I'm not that good a rider, it's too far, my bike is not that neat, you'll laugh at my clothing, you'll drop me, it would disrupt my traning, I'm too fast a rider for you geezers to stay with, I'm washing my hair," etc.)
It's a guy thing (actually an insecurity thing) in my opinion.
Chuck "will ride at the drop of a hat" Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
********* I was proud to say this morning on the club ride that I knew you all when someone mentioned the article to me...or at least have ridden with you on one or two occasions. I usually bring out a retro-bike ("classic") on the Friday rides, and they are as fast as any of the bikes out there.
Unfortunately, I cannot make the rides, Chuck, for the simple reason that (1) I usually race on Sundays and (2) If I took another day to ride (driving from Costa Mesa to Pasadena and back), I think my wife would change locks by the time I got back! I am already riding 6 days a week.....
As for the technology, the friction shifting and five (or six, on my newer old bike) speeds is great for the club ride. But for racing, you really can't beat the safety, convenience, and speed of the new stuff. I race mostly criteriums, and it is nice to be able to keep both hands on the bars at all times! That being said, I beat and or keep up with the fastest of them on the Friday rides - which turn into a pseudo race anyways!
Too little time...too many rides.....
Stephan Andranian
Costa Mesa, CA - still only riding Gitane