I too have been thinking about where this is all going, Harvey and all. I first joined the list (2002?) in my hunger for interest in a community where my cycling addiction could be fed by like minded souls. And after all this time, I've found that my most important benefit of this list are the friendships I've developed here. Friends who I only get to see once a year or at the several somewhat local events or vintage rides I go to, but that I value highly. And the get togethers themselves, Wow! Just a great time. I can't believe all the wonderful folks I've met.
I've always been an equipment guy and the knowledge of parts, the trading and selling, and the philosophies of how a bike gets set up (sounds trite, but I expect a lot of you know what I'm talking about) really float my boat. The new website of Jack Bissell, really cool! It gave me some more specific information on what must be my 1973 Colnago Super, sold to me by the original owner as a '71. That's some of what the CR list provides. Just a lot of really diverse information. I'm happy we're all connected.
I've been enjoying hearing more about English bikes from the UK crowd, with all these different framebuilders, too many to list on Dale's British Isles link, and the rich history of TT, local clubs and clubmen. It brings to mind my own bike club's riding buddies and rides, but in a really special way. I've always enjoyed the more social rides and can't think of anything better than epic rides with friends. Can we get more of the same types of stories from elsewhere? (while keeping it on topic of course!)
I think I've added a bit more than a me too to the list now and then. I was always experimenting with parts (my bike shop salary didn't go much farther than the shop), and have a pretty good experience with what worked well back in the 70's. I hope some folks have appreciated my few comments.
I think it was Chuck Schmidt who said that my favorite bike is the one I'm riding now. And this list has allowed me to go beyond my original collection of one road, one touring, one tandem, one ..., etc. I scared my wife once when I admitted I wanted one of every kind of bike, ... think about that number! Now I find that even though some bikes I own are lovely rides, there really are only a couple (few?) I prefer to ride. I'm glad I didn't get ... Why didn't I get that (your fantasy here)? ... There may be a few frames / bikes? coming up for sale, mostly road warriors, nothing pristine. That is if I can learn to let go of any parts, etc. It can be a tough addiction, but healthy. As life has gotten busier, I've dropped from getting every post to cruising the archives, but I'm not about to quit yet.
Happy New Year and Happy riding!
Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland
Archive-URL:
http://search.bikelist.org/
It's the end of the year, and I grow introspective. I joined CR many years ago, to learn from others, to find parts (and dispose of same), and occasionally to share some memories. I'll tell why I still participate, but really am posting to ask others about the values they see in this shared endeavor hosted with such care and love by Dale.
Most imporstnat is the sense of a community with shared interests, and largely with shared values, particularly respect for our rules of engagement (civility, integrity).
Second, there has been some factual knowledge, on time lines and parts specs that I could have gotten elsewhere only with great difficulty.
Third, some great tales of journeys geographic or along the path of life, and even the backgrounds of bikes and builders. I really value the
"old guys" who have helped me so much, and our non-US contributors, from
whom I've learned so much - including new ways to look at things.
Finally, some nice win-win transactions, getting the right parts to the right people and from the right people.
Funny that for me the eBay-related traffic ranks well below. Some great
friendships do rank with these, but they are very specific.
What do you value, feel you give to the community, and get from it?
harvey sachs
mcLean va.