Re: [CR]brit bikes dominate? Oh, please...

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <chasds@mindspring.com>
> To: <reilley1@netzero.net>
> Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 7:30 PM
> Subject: [CR]brit bikes dominate? Oh, please...
>
>
> >> I'm not sure who wrote that...but I'll take the troll, and happily.
> >
> > I'm going to assume that this is an amusing joke.
> >
> > Brit bikes the best? Please. That *is* a joke.
> > There are lots of them, but that's about all you can say.
> >
> > Charles "I admire some brit bikes, but I admire more bikes guys
> > actually rode to victory...like Masis, colnagos, Pogliagis, and
> > DeRosas; can someone tell me the last time someone rode
> > a Raleigh International or Pro to victory in any major professional
> > race? The odd Hetchins, sure...but most other brit bikes? Not many"
> Andrews
> > Fastcal
>
> Well now...
>
> I guess you Italophiles are indeed just that.. you believe the only use for
> a bicycle is for testerone-driven professional racing. Fine. That's
> Italianissimo. Cycling is for 22 year olds or granny going for a loaf. And
> not a lot in between.
>
> But consider for a moment that it was the British who gave us what most of
> us actually do: we ride lovely lightweights for pleasure and sport. Not for
> elite professional competition.You may ride a 1978 Masi but I kinda bet you
> are riding it British style.. club riding or individually rather than in
> some pro race. How many active pro racers on this list? Hands please.
>
> Britain fostered pleasure, sports and recreational riding more than any
> other country. It is this style of riding we have in the USA. Cycle sport is
> swell and so is Lance. But it's a big country with lots of folks riding
> "pro" bikes who are... not pros. Which is great. But it's not Italian.
>
> As for the quality and characteristics of British bikes vs. others, hey
> that's a matter of opinion. Shocking to find opinion on the CR list, eh? But
> it's my opinion that to judge a nation's bikes on how many races they won is
> rubbish. If that's true, then you dishonour the bike by daring to even ride
> it unless you're a "pro". Hang it on a wall and worship it.
>
> The reason there are so "many" British bikes out there is because they did
> what no Italian "pro" bike did: they introduced several generations of
> normal blokes to the joys of sports and lightweight cycling. The much
> maligned Raleigh International and surely the Schwinn Paramount did more for
> lightweight cycling in the USA than any Italian bike or make. Count 'em. Or
> do their very popularity run them into that elitist brickwall?
>
> British bikes did something else: they did their fair duty and won their
> fair share of honours on another very British ride: the time trial. They
> also did pretty well in BRITISH races too. Or do only races count if they
> are in Italy? Or France?
>
> Coppi et. al were great. But so was Eileen Sheridan (rode a Hercules), Ray
> Booty (a Mercian and a Raleigh RRA) et. al. Or Tommy Simpson who rode, er...
> well... ok a Peugeot... (but with BP as a sponsor!).
>
> It's a pity Dave Stoller in "Breaking Away" didn't ride a '78 Raleigh
> Professional.. or I suspect this list would be thronged with Brit bike guys.
> But a movie about an 18 year old American emulating a British cyclist just
> doesn't quite work, does it?
>
> And finally, Italian bikes don't have celluloid mudguards, Hinduminium
> brakes, Coloral feeding bottles, sleeve grips and "polychromatic" colours.
> Or names like Moth Magnificent, Golden Flash or Mayfly. That's not an
> opinion. Just a pity.
>
> Peter Kohler
> Washington DC USA