Decades ago (long before the strange evolution of hardware-veneration by CR-types) many of my non-bikie friends would ooh and ahh over (of all things) my Richard Sachs-built bicycle.
Now don't get me wrong, I loved that bike, still own it, and still love it. I put tens of thousands of miles on it back when I was svelte, was able to climb ("like a homesick angel") and descend with no fear on it.
I don't know about the riding capabilities of that show bike, but I'd reckon there's much chance it was built for "show" rather than "go" ... of course if it is never ridden, no one will be the wiser, OR be able to argue the point.
Oh, back to the Sachs-built bike story: my reply to the idolaters? "A bike is only a bike, unless you don't ride it. Then it's junk"
Back to the Colnago? Expensive, but fair to call it a bike if it isn't ever ridden? I don't know, but (as a show bike) it's paint and parts are pretty-enough looking, and it looks like a bicycle. But (if you buy that irreverent, 25+ year old anecdote), it IS expensive "junk."
Dale "caretaker of a couple dozen pieces of old junk" Phelps, Longmont CO
Raymond Dobbins <raydobbins2003@yahoo.com> wrote: i have an nos 1978 guerciotti ny show bike - the prior owner didn't ride it, i've never ridden it in the 14 years that i've owned it, and i have no intention of ever riding it. i have plenty of other bikes to ride, and i think it deserves to be kept nos.
so, self-confessed poseur that i am, i have to say that i think it would be a shame to ride the ebay colnago. if you can afford to buy this colnago, you can probably afford to buy another used one to ride (some people on this list have done it). or like somebody already suggested, just buy a used one, fix it up really nice, and ride it. this bike should be appreciated, or rather, treasured, for what it is - a vintage lightweight time capsule that cannot be replicated and ought not to be violated. btw, the fact that the value would go down immediately after the first ride, does not even factor into my opinion. i think the bike should be preserved in nos condition based on its historical value, not its financial value.
the fact is, i doubt too many people who would buy this bike would do more than take it out once for a couple of miles, just to see what it feels like. i can understand that. in fact, early on in my collecting years, i acquired an nos cinelli laser, and i rode it several times with my local club - until i came to my senses and stopped :) but my guess is that this colnago will go to a mature collector's home, and will be preserved in its nos condition.
so in conclusion, yes, i agree with the seller: significant bikes should not be ridden. now - is this a significant bike? i think so (hmm, do i smell a thread there?)
ray dobbins miami florida _______________________________________________
Dale B. Phelps, 303 939 6967 303 208 8664 pager
"Never be afraid to try something new. The Ark was designed by amateurs. The Titanic was designed by professionals." - R. Buckminister Fuller
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