Yikes! Didn't mean to offend. ;-)
I have great respect for anyone who does get out there on the weekend for long distance rides, getting exercise and enjoyment at the same time. Frankly, I think I could do 100 miles in a day, but probably not several days in a row. I'd be looking for a couch. I'm not knocking what you guys do, I just couldn't keep up with it. I come to this list to learn about classic bikes, and it has been a great resource--there are a lot of knowledgable people here.
When I lived in California I spent every weekend hiking, that was my thing. Remote mountain trails (more or less), my dogs, and not another human or bicycle in sight. Snowshoeing, sleeping in snow caves with my dogs, etc., were the highlights of my outdoor adventures (I'm not an extremist about mountains, either--if my dog won't go up it, I won't either). Bicycling has always been, to me, the most pleasant way of going where I need to go. I feel better when I ride, and I like people more when I'm not in my car. These days I'm structuring my life around not using a car. I choose old steel bikes instead. Nothing fancy, just old, with the best quality I can afford.
Regarding the classic bike thing, I just like old stuff better than new. Simpler is better, in general. Steel is a nice, honest, simple material, I enjoy steel frames. Other parts seem better made out of alloy--my steel rims don't like to stop in the wet weather.
Mike Skolones St Louis, MO USA
On 8/2/07, ternst <ternst1@cox.net> wrote:
>
> Skolones has some Cojones writing that to the CR list!
> Blasphemy! Sacrilege! Treason!
> Ted Ernst
> Palos Verdes Estates
> CA USA
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
> To: "CR RENDEZVOUS" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 6:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Re: We are truly out of the mainstream
>
>
> > Michael Skolones wrote:
> >
> >> I might try
> >> riding long distance 'for fun' one of these days, but frankly, when
> >> the
> >> weekend rolls around, I feel somewhat justified puttering around
> >> the house
> >> and garden, playing my guitar, etc., given that I get my exercise
> >> on the way
> >> to work.
> >
> >
> > You use your bike for EXERCISE and do other things on the weekends???
> >
> > This weekend is the vintage ride at the Rose Bowl...
> >
> > Chuck Schmidt
> > South Pasadena, CA USA
> > http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)