True. But being out of the mainstream means you might even get noticed.
Two weeks ago I took my 1948 Raleigh Record Ace out on my usual Beach
Drive ride in Rock Creek Park (one of the best urban rides out there by
the way) and occasioned this "review" in a local riding group's Yahoo
Group which I don't belong to:
>> Riding on Beach Drive this afternoon, out under the Mormon Temple, I
came up on a rider who was dressed stylish/retro. Short-sleeve black
wool jersey, black wool shorts, very retro black shoes, and an
old-fashioned cycling cap (tan). He was a strong rider, and I drafted
>> on him for a while, taking ample time to check out the clothing and
the bike. The bike is amazing. Talk about stylish/retro. Very, very old,
but perfectly shiny -- the frame and every component just gleam. A tiny
leather saddle bag, period-appropriate. Tan fenders with mud flaps. No
derailleur. Pretty blue frame. Gleaming silver toe clips. One small
bottle, silver. No bottle cage on the frame, but a silver bottle holder
on the handlebars. Just a beautiful piece of biking history. The total
impression was gorgeous. I pulled alongside and complimented him on the
total retro look and asked about the bike It's a fully (and lovingly)
restored 1948 Raleigh -- he named the model, but that information went
in one ear and out the other, though I do remember that it's the model
that was ridden by the racer who held the world record at the time for
riding 100 miles in three hours and something. All the restoration was
done with genuine parts from stem to stern. He said that he wears the
retro garb because it seems appropriate and because the bike would not
understand if it were touched by polyester. It weighs 26 pounds and has
four gears and it's a beautiful piece of work. He said he especially
enjoys riding on Saturday mornings and passing "all those guys on their
$11,000 carbon bikes." So very cool. As the Self-Appointed Offiical
Style Czar, I hereby name him (though I never got his name) the
Unchallenged-Even-By-Me Stylin' Champ of Beach Drive.
-------------------------
Oh, in case you're wondering the rider I mentioned was, of course, Ray Booty (UK) whose record for 100 miles was done on an RRA:
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA