----- Original Message ----- From: <brianbaylis@juno.com> To: <kohl57@starpower.net> Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>; <jb@velostuf.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 9:56 PM Subject: Re: [CR]re: ebay outing: gios super record..sad (A BUNCH OF STUFF SNIPPED) I applaud those unwilling to disrespect our hobby and our passion by such practices and who undertake making these bikes whole and as correct as practical to be enjoyed by those who GENUINELY care. Those who understand why we do this and why doing the opposite disturbs us. Enough said.
===================
Brian,
I certainly respect your work and opinion, but your rant smacks of elitism, snobbery, and self-deity.
YOU: I applaud those unwilling to DISRESPECT (emphasis mine) our hobby...".
ME: Brian, thank God you don't get to define the hobby for all of us. Our hobby is not as narrow as the picture you see. I love the older lugged steel bikes, but I also prefer more modern components. I don't see how my choice of components, or someone else's choice to sell parts from a bike, disrespects our hobby.
In your way of thinking, I guess it could be said someone who chooses to build bikes after the post-CR timeline or repaints vintage bikes disrespects our hobby as well. Don't you fit into this category?
YOU: "...to be enjoyed by those who GENUINELY (emphasis yours) care."
ME: How can you be so self-righteous to believe that those who think differently than you don't "GENUINELY care"? You don't know me, or most of the subscribers to this list, so you have no idea as to the genuineness of our feelings. You only know what you think you know about our genuineness, and that is but your perception. In my case, and I would guess with most of my fellow CR list members, our genuineness is as real as you believe your to be.
It never ceases to amaze me how people folks who I believe are probably nice folks see only their way of thinking about OUR hobby as the true and correct way to do so.
Brian, I guess it isn't enough for us to have a kinship in vintage bikes. The litmus test now goes even further and you seem to be the one who thinks they get to define it. You seem to be saying the only "genuine" way to not "disrespect" our hobby is to do just as you do and think just as you think. No thanks.
Frank Phillips
McAlester, OK