Angel Garcia wrote:
>
> On my Wednesday group ride there is a 73 year old, very strong. The group
> that rides on Tuesday and Thursdays has an 83 year old (!); he usually drop
> s
> back a bit but arrives only a few minutes back of the group. A fellow that
> rides a city bike all around the historic center is 91. Guys riding in thei
> r
> 60s are just too numerous to even keep track of. What's interesting is that
> most of these gentlemen are riding really modern bikes with the latest
> wheels, etc. The passion for cycling here is pretty amazing. Many do seem,
> however, to have kept their steel bikes which they bring out from time to
> time. Just this week a guy rode his 25 year old Chesini X-Uno which was a
> real stunner...white frame with all the lugwork and fork in a gold finish
> and some great pantographing.
> Ciao,
> Angel Garcia
> Verona, Italy
Angel... I think you hit the nail on head!
Guys that are old and ride lots always want to ride current, cutting edge stuff because "life's too short." Yeah, they probably have an older bike too but that one doesn't usually make the cut when the guy leaves for his ride. I think this is probably one of the factors in the relatively small turn out for vintage bike rides. It takes a real "individual" to ride old bikes much is my conclusion.
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
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