[CR]Re: de Rosa

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 10:57:35 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Dale B. Phelps" <losgatos_dale@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <CATFOODtB9mQ0D6cYCc00000d25@catfood.nt.phred.org>
Subject: [CR]Re: de Rosa

Grant.McLean@SportingLife.ca wrote:

<snip>

"I guess it's kind of like inspecting a hammer for scratches"

There's a quote for the day!

Years ago (well, 26 or so) all my non-bikey frieds would ooh and ahh over "the Richard Sachs" ....thats what they called my bike "the Richard Sachs" ....

I had another bike then, a really unique old-school euro racer 20+/-year old Gitane which I actually favoured for logging miles and general riding, but the Sachs was (and still is) a hair-raising descender and the best Crit bike I ever rode. Anyways, when the oohs and ahhs wouldn't subside in what I considered a timely fashion I'd typically shut the gang down with words to the effect of "a bike's only a bike, unless you don't ride it. Then its just junk" Well, I was a rider of sorts back then. I still have the Sachs. I also have a LOT of others. Sadly, the Gitane is gone, the victim of a bobtail truck running a stopsign, and no sense of collectableness yet for it back 15 years ago. Nowadays the bikes "we" seem to consider "junk" will still sell to collectors for 2-3x more than I paid for my early e-Richie bike. Funny thing is, THOSE bikes are now (for most of us) the ones we ride, and the gems we rode constantly way back when seldom if ever see hot asphalt. I think the Frejus I got at Christmas time strikes a nice balance. Well-made, evident care in finishing, rides nice, "old-school" cache', and affordable. And I like riding it! Lucky me! Reading this de Rosa discussion the past few days has reminded me a lot of my car hobby. I have a couple of vintage race cars, nothing like the thoroughbreds that millionaires play with and over-restore and never drive, but thats not just because of my lack of money, its because I LIKE to drive them.

When I am back in the South SF Bay Area CA at the end of April, I hope I can hook up with some CRers maybe the 24th or 25th, and finally meet up with others who like to ride. I'll bring the Sachs. Metcalf Road anyone?

Best,

Dale Phelps Boulder CO

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