Hey, I'm with you. You're riding, it might as be somewhere you need to go anyway. Like, transportation almost!
Kurt Sperry Bellingham WA USA
On 8/2/07, Michael Skolones <michael.skolones@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Oh, I agree completely with that sentiment. And more so. Although I
> would
> love to pick up one of those classic steel 21-lb $500 bikes you describe,
> I
> guess I'm just too cheap right now. I pretend that I'm riding one, when
> actually I'm riding my late-70's Motobecane Nomade and early-'80s Fuji
> Absolute. Each was $100 on Craigslist, the Fuji was never even ridden
> before I bought it. They are both steel, lugged and brazed, a collection
> of
> SR/Suntour/Sugino/Nitto/Maillard/Avocet/etc. Although you guys make 100+
> mile rides sound very tempting and exciting, basically I'm a bicycle
> commuter, about 80 miles per week, pretty much year-round. 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.
>
> Actually, I think what I'm after is a 'poor man's Rene Herse' for
> commuting. Last weekend I picked up an old steel 3-speed Sears Free
> Spirit
> at a garage sale, and I grafted the steel rack and fenders onto my
> Motobecane. I'm looking to pick up some period lighting, bell, etc. I
> know
> this is probably all laughable to the uber-classic crowd, but I prefer it
> to
> buying a new bike. I don't like new things much. I still use film
> cameras,
> reel-to-reel tape and a rotary phone (all metal, from the '20s!).
>
> Mike Skolones
> St Louis, MO USA
>
> On 8/2/07, Donald Gillies <gillies@cs.ubc.ca> wrote:
> >
> > > But there should be very little difference in friction between an old
> > > bike of high quality, well maintained hubs, pedal bearings, crank
> > > bearings, chain, etc., and the friction load of an new CF bike.
> >
> > Too the contrary, modern bikes add too much friction to my pocketbook!!
> >
> > With some careful shopping, you can get a nice 21 lbs on-topic friction
> > bike in the $500 range of prices, with a sweet ride, maybe like-new.
> >
> > With some careful shopping, you can get NOTHING carbon a carbon frame or
> > in the 21 lbs range for $500 (except perhaps an OT 80's ALAN carbon
> > bike!!)
> >
> > - Don Gillies
> > San Diego, CA, USA