RE: [CR]Originality--to what lengths?

(Example: Racing)

From: Stephen James <sj52@hotmail.com>
To: John Betmanis <johnb@oxford.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: [CR]Originality--to what lengths?
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 02:21:02 +0000
In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.20080703213507.013c3a50@mailhost.oxford.net>
References: <bf9.3e2a3e64.359ea8ea@aol.com>


As a newb, allow me to inquire, when it comes to bicycles, is somethi ng vintage because of its position in time or because of its quality? Well , actually, I was wondering about the state of classic and vintage bicy cles in 30 years. Although I might personally prefer the Italian bikes of a certain "vintage", I think that the youngsters of today will (may) have nostalgia for their Trek or Panasonic aluminum frame from the 80s.

The other question that I thought to throw out there came from an archaeolo gical perspective. I wondered whether as bicycle historians, of a sort , were we more interested in preserving bicycles the way people rode them or the way they were manufactured. I tend to believe that we learn more f rom the former.

It is fascinating how cyclophilia differs from the collection of other tran sportation vehicles.

Steve James
Bx., NY