In a word: yes. (But it depends, YAMMV, objects in mirror are closer than they appear, professional driver on a closed course, don't quote me on this, but...). Greg "super sleuthy" Parker Dexter, Michigan
Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2005 12:25:43 -0400 From: "kohl57@starpower.net" <kohl57@starpower.net> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Bike Boom Bonaza?
When relating high-end "pro" lightweights to the Bike Boom in the USA, is it a valid assumption that a fair number (and considering the market/population, "fair" is pretty considerable) of guys who bought these bikes didn't really use them (much)?
I ask because eBay (USA) seems chockful recently of minty, original Raleigh Professionals, PX-10s, Cinelli SC's etc. etc. whereas eBay (Europe) has far fewer such machines and when they are offered, they seem full of patina (or just plain beat to death) from hard use or updated with non-original components etc. Or is that eBay Europe isn't the way these bikes are bought and sold?? The last place I'd look for a primo French racing bike is eBay France; you just don't seem them.
Judging from the debris field of the Bike Boom which constitutes the goodies we all covet, it appears that there were a lot of guys who decided to "get the best", plopped down $240-350 for a top-notch road bike, rode it until they got their first sew-up puncture and hung it in the garage. It sure seems the case with a lot of Raleigh Pros and Internationals of late.
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA