As a youngish person (I'm 27), and someone who has all his life been premature in his love of "fine things" (see my numerous guitars, cameras, first editions, and my remarkably "hi-fi" systems, all centred on vinyl, which I also collect maniacally), I think I am mostly "ahead of [or behind?] the curve" in my classic-bike obsession.
But I have definitely noticed this: my friends and the people I run in to on the roads are incredibly enthusiastic about my bikes, regardless of their age (mostly I run into fellow U of Toronto students). It's very fun. They're genuinely interested in hearing about Nuovo Record derailleurs, Simplex shifters, Reynolds tubing, etc. This isn't exclusively a "fixie crowd" thing (though they're interested too!). These bikes are objectively nicer-looking than new bikes, and so people of all stripes respond. They are obviously from a different stage of manufacturing history: things are made not only to look nice, but also to last. The positive response is as much political/ historical as aesthetic.
For my latest project, a "renovation" of a 1975 "Brigantia" handmade bike, see my blog. It involves anodizing stipping, the creation of Cyclart-style "Nuovo Record downtube stops," and the installation of my only integrated shifting setup.
twoseriousbikes.blogspot.com
Adam Hammond Toronto, ON, Canada
On 27-Sep-08, at 9:40 AM, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
> Well, maybe we are becoming like the French. I've read that there
> are an
> awful lot of older riders in France, who often ride classic bikes,
> and tha
> t this is one of the market segments that has supported TA
> continuing to pr
> oduce some of their classic components. So maybe if you were
> speaking of
> lugged steel lightweights, the 60+ exceeds the under 30 in France as
> well.
> Perhaps those who have done the PBP and ridden a lot in France can
> comm
> ent on this. Now I don't think its necessarily desirable for the US
> emul
> ate France in general, but in cycling throughout a lifetime and
> loving clas
> sic machines, I don't think we could have a much better role model.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, Texas, USA
>
> --- On Fri, 9/26/08, wesoishi@aol.com <wesoishi@aol.com> wrote:
>
> From: wesoishi@aol.com <wesoishi@aol.com>
> Subject: [CR]Re: Hope from a new generation!?
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.orge
> Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 11:30 PM
>
> Until this "fixie" thing happened, there was no "new
> generation". The Lance effect attracted a few 30 to 60 yr olds. The
> latest
> Bicycle Retailing had an article on demographics and it said that
> there are
> more
> 60+ riders than there are those under 30. That being the case, it's
> wonderful to see these youngsters riding bikes. Yeah, some ride
> without hel
> mets,
> some without brakes, some also smoke and drink beer. But they are
> having fu
> n,
> which is what bicycle riding is about.
>
> Wes Oishi
> SoundCycles
> Los Angeles CA
> USA