[CR]Now: Collective knowledge, Was: the future of vintage bicycles

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Cinelli)

From: "Paul Williams" <castell5@sympatico.ca>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 15:30:10 -0400
cc: Joel McFarlane <tomacropod@gmail.com>
Subject: [CR]Now: Collective knowledge, Was: the future of vintage bicycles

I think there are two separate discussions going on here, one is the ongoing and future collecting of ON-Topic bikes, the second is the passing on of collective memory or knowledge. I believe that it is was to the latter that Joel was trying to draw attention (If I am correct?!)

We have long debated the issues of value, collecting, nostalgia, etc., but we don't often raise the issue of the collective knowledge, memory, experience and expertise which is held within this group (especially among our senior members) and how that might be passed on to a new generation of collectors. Sure, there are the CR archives and other sources, but will the CR list last forever (I kind of hope so, but at the same time am a realist)? There are also a myriad of books, catalogues and manuals out there, but often they are lacking the subtle nuances which come from decades of practice, trial and error, or just simply different ways of doing things. They are often devoid of the special little stories which give meaning to our hobby. I read with delight the contributions of many of our senior list-members. Their stories and reminiscences add a certain grittiness, and often humour, to our conversations, while helping to ground our pastime in reality.

Collective memory is held within communities (such as our CR community) or society as a whole. It helps to define who we are, reminds us of where we have come from and provides us with common bonds. Thus, it helps to maintain a sense of community cohesion. It also helps to guide us through certain tasks and practices. Collective memory is reinforced through education, through continued practice, and through the intergenerational passing down of knowledge. In the past, the loss of collective memory resulted in the disappearance of certain cultural practices, as well as in an inability to do certain tasks. Of course, this has happened throughout human history, yet our current nostalgia for the past (largely, although not exclusively, a post-WWII phenomenon) - with an attendant interest in conserving and collecting the artefacts of our own past - has made this all too accute.

If we stray over old ground, continually raising old chestnuts in terms of topics, maybe we should view it simply as an exercise in continuing to reinforce ideas and refresh memories within our own little community of enthusiasts. More importantly, it may be seen as an effort to pass on knowledge to new members and, hopefully, to a new generation of collectors.

Where else will future generations of collectors learn, for example, the little tricks for keeping tubular valves straight??? ;^)

Paul Williams, Just mulling over some possible ideas (while waiting for the new addition to my family) in Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Paul B. Williams, MPhil (Wales), PhD (Queen's) 70 Viscount Ave., Ottawa, On, K1Z 7M9 ph: 613-761-3867 e-mail: castell5@sympatico.ca