At the turn of the Century (1900) Diamond Jim Brady gave his 200 lb. sweetheart,Lillian Russell, a gold plated bike w. mother of pearl handlebars, and diamonds,rubies,sapphires and emeralds mounted on the spokes. Reputed to have cost $10,000 in the real money of the day. She rode it every Sunday in a white riding suit and Tyrolian hat. The prurient rich were ever so. Money triumphs over good taste and/or function. Where is that bike now? Art Link,San Antonio,TX,USA
Steve Leitgen <sleitgen@charter.net> wrote: From: Steve Leitgen <sleitgen@charter.net> Subject: Re: [CR]NY Times story on (slightly) pricey bicycles Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:55:04 -0600 To: "Ken Bensinger" <kenbensinger@gmail.com> CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
I'm still laughing. What this means is that in a few years when the next fad comes along there will be a plethora of low mileage top end used bikes on the market. This ties in with the thread on what to do with your classic rides. 20 years from now you'll be able to pick up a carbon Trek for next to nothing. There will be loads available. Compare that to trying to find a mid 70s steel Trek years from now. (Or a 50s Herse or Singer) The classics will be more valuable. Hopefully a few of those trendy types will actually become real riders.
Reminds me of the time I visited Hawaii and followed a Ferrari into town. Standard island traffic, he never went over 45mph. Never cleared second gear. But he was in a Ferrari. My Buick almost swooned.
Steve Leitgen La Crosse, WI
On Nov 13, 2006, at 3:24 PM, Ken Bensinger wrote:
> All,
>
> I'm surprised this didn't come up earlier (if it did, I missed it).
> A story
> from last week's New York Times answers the question about what
> type of fine
> spirits to be drinking while getting fitted for a $23,000 bike.
> Somehow I
> get the feeling that none of these guys could even change out a
> flat tire,
> much less appreciate the performance advantages of something like
> titanium
> or $5,000 wheels.
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/
> ei=5070&en=49e189c252ac09ea&ex=1164085200&adxnnl=1&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=11
> 63445357-xRYfGSkiWv9SsW2H1m294w
>
> Anyhow, enjoy.
>
> Ken Bensinger
> Brooklyn, NY