listers, my view is i feel somewhat distorted from the norm, while i read and respect what Doug says, and i nod to agree, there are many specialist builders in UK and Stateside only too happy to take your money for a custom steed, albeit, you may feel they may lack the charisma of early Clauds or Epgraves,Hetchins et al , but they will be more accurate angle wise and with cnc machining etc less first build fettling.. As a car guy from way back i know the automotive market has suffered from too much technology , they have become way too complex, in saying that i would not wish to go back to driving a 50's English/ US built car and if i did i surely woudn't wish to drive it every day... Build quality was poor, only the Germans seemed to care about fit and finish. and the braking handling/roadholding was dire.... In cars as in bicycles, competition improves the breed , great tyres, strong brakes, sweet silent drivetrains, we have all gotten accustomed to these in both forms of transport. we are philistines if we wouldn't admit that a '07 bike from Colnago or Pinarello etc isn't a sweet race bike perhaps Doug or myself wouldn't just want to sit on it all day!!!. Things have improved , thank goodness, but this list is about regeneration of classic machinery which i suppose was arguably state of the art back in the day, i feel that cycle manufacturing at present and future will only get better as mr. Berto says in the Dancing Chain ten sprockets on the back is likely to be the standard for some years to come, ....we shall see...
Doug Smith <douguk2007@hotmail.co.uk> wrote: On the subject of our pastime and the collecting and restoring the older classic bikes. The recent years we have seen vast changes in the manufacturing of frames and complete bikes with the steel frame and polished accessories gradually been overtaken by modern plastic /carbon materials. It is a sad time when the we have to accept there is no going back to the days of the traditional bike as we know it. Apart from the few still dedicated traditional frame builders the feeling of been once a proud owner of popular make is all but gone. I often wonder what the future holds for our pastime with the modern design in manufacturing and why did these changes have to be made. To me there is no way one can compare the new with the old which stood the test of time for nearly over a century. I can only sit back and think of all those skilled engineers who us the opportunity to enjoy the years of proper bikes , which leaves me wondering was all their efforts in vain! So look after those "oldies" because there are not around anymore. Doug Smith North Dorset UK
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