I too am amazed how few younger riders can make even minimal adjustments to their bikes. In my bike club, it seems the majority of members take bikes to the shop just to tighten up cables. Some riders with carbon/titanium everything $4000 rides struggle just to changes a tube. Of course, even "in the day" there were casual bicycle owners who were mechanically clueless, but in 1970 most of the guys who rode $500 road bikes (the equivalent of today's $4000 bikes) regularly with organized clubs could do most maintenance and change components themselves. Some could even repair sewup tires, a skill I never could master.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
Pete Paine <petebike7@btopenworld.com> wrote: Hello All I see it another way. I have noticed since trading in vintage cycles and parts just what a small market it is compared with other areas of collecting even on a world wide basis.. Maybe most people have got what they want in their collections and will now only make space for something special. Also here in the UK it is noticeable how few young people are interested and coming into collecting vintage bikes. Not to say there aren't a few but lets be honest most younger people wouldn't know which end of a wrench to hold. (or even fix a puncture !!) think the other thing the internet has done is to show how much stuff is out there and how the rare stuff is not so rare after all. (with some exceptions) I can see a time here in the UK when so much will be available to a very few collectors. In the Vintage motorcycle scene I would be considered a younger member at 43 ....... Regards Pete Paine Watford UK
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