RE: [CR]Snobbery - and part of my story.....

(Example: Framebuilding)

Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Subject: RE: [CR]Snobbery - and part of my story.....
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 11:47:07 -0600
Thread-Topic: [CR]Snobbery - and part of my story.....
Thread-Index: AcVzXjhjJBDIdYcQQr2VnWeHGMJsngAAQH0w
From: "Mazzeo, Daniel" <Daniel.Mazzeo@usap.gov>
To: <brianbaylis@juno.com>, <raydobbins2003@yahoo.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

All, Ah, then it should be OK that the two remaining steel bikes I maintain and hold dear are now semi-retired garage Queens, and are only sporadically used but that I love nonetheless. It may be that doing so will someday bring a sparkle of joy to someone I do not know. Amen, if that is the case.

The Trek 720 embodies my dreams of someday having the time to make a long tour a priority once again. The name "Gavia Pass" has never left my consciousness, just been rendered to the background. It is as originally built, paint touched up here and there. It took me on my first wonderful visits to the American West and the big colorful vistas found here. It was between my legs when golf ball sized hail was bouncing back off the ground into my face on Wolf Creek Pass, now 20ish years ago. I shall leave this world as the caretaker of that machine.

The Rossin SL was my main racing machine for 7 seasons. Originally born in a steel grey with white decals and all Campy SR, repainted by Jim Bradford of Conyers, GA in a hot pink with some blue metal-flake in the clear coat. This done when after 2 years of begging, 10 Speed Drive of Jacksonville, FL, was finally able to produce a set of decals, not in the original white but in red and orange. This produced a perplexing dilemma until one of my racing team-mates noticed the pink bike with exactly these new decals, on the '83 Rossin calendar hanging on my basement workroom wall, right there for all to see, except those blinded by familiararity. The Campy SR crank replaced with a Crash & go-down (Croce D'Aeune) after it broke in season 3. Luckily this occurred as I stood up to move on a fresh green light, so the fall was just a "fall over" and a local shop - with friends - was only 2 blocks away in Buckhead, GA. The SR derailleurs also replaced with C-D'A in an attempt to "upgrade" a rather scratched up SR. It's not quite original, it's not perfect but it is as Italian as meatballs made with garlic, basil and Romano cheese and it rides like it. I doubt I shall ever part with it either but who knows. Someone may desire an Ity ride and convince me that he/she deserves it more than I, and I am not committed to owning things just for the sake of it, not at my age. In the meantime, I await that invite to a local vintage ride so I can put on an original wool flocked (sp?) Jersey and show off this Italian beauty, not as well known or thought of as a Masi or a Colnago but a thoroughbred machine nonetheless.

Ah, I feel better now.

Thanks All

Dan Mazzeo Raytheon Polar Services Company Acting Director FEMC 7400 So. Tucson Way Centennial, CO 80112 720 568-2063o 303 249-6425c daniel.mazzeo@usap.gov

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of brianbaylis@juno.com Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 10:59 AM To: raydobbins2003@yahoo.com Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Snobbery

Ray,

You guys are correct. We are here to preserve and passon these classic bikes. There is no doubt in my mind that there will be a lot of nice classics available for future generations to enjoy, thanks to us.

I collect and ride the classics because, like most everyone else. Each of us has the right to ride or not to ride any or all bikes in their care and possesion. None of has the right to pass judgement upon the choices of others. Personally, the only bike I have that I haven't ridden are ones that I haven't gotten around to getting road ready. All in good time; although the pile continues to grow at an alarming rate.

As with current classics, the future generations will also be looking at what the small handmade builders were doing in our present age. My personal reason for building frames and the reason why I focus primariliy on frames with "vintage" tubes and lugs (although a bike built the way I do is still the same thing even with modern materials of lugs and steel) is to preserve the part of the framebuilding craft that allowed the framebuilder to leave his fingerprint on the work, much more so that the typical frame of today. My intention is to build unusual custom frames with high craftmanship and mucho MOJO. It's fun, challangeing, and satisfying; if not particulary profitable. I hope future generations can appreciate and enjoy my perspective on framebuilding. The present generation can only do so if they apply patience and determination to obtain one for themselves in their lifetime. Life is tough.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Absolutely buried in work to do on super cool bikes of every sort, and actually making progress.


-- Raymond Dobbins wrote:


thanks to jay van de velde for his post. it's good to know i'm not the only one who has a few special bikes which are now seldom ridden, but which are, almost on a daily basis, lovingly admired for their beauty and cherished for the memories they bring. i do not contemplate my wall-hangers for their resale value.

i particularly liked jay's point about preserving these bikes for future generations to discover. personally, i harbor the hope that my son, who is going on 10, will one day inherit my bikes and enjoy them like i do (including riding them on very special occasions), until he can pass them on to his children. i can only hope he doesn't put them on ebay the day after i die, but even if he does, the new owners will likely be people who will wish to continue the stewardship of some very special and well preserved bikes.

i don't knock anybody who chooses to ride on a regular basis a bike which is irreplaceable. unfortunately too many people criticize those of us who choose not to. but in the end, it's really not that big a deal because it's just their opinion, which they are entitled to.

in the meantime, while i can, i will continue to enjoy my hobby of collecting classic lightweights (and photographing them to share with others at http://www.raydobbins.com), while i unashamedly enjoy a carbon fiber framed, indexed shifting, and clipless pedaled bike as a daily rider.

ray dobbins
miami florida