Nick, I guess it is a slow day in France, with the TdF mountain stages past and the TT not until Saturday, so I guess you are trying to incite a lively debate, but that might be interesting so...
Some may buy what is much talked about and praised by those deemed experts, which as you say, does tends to require one to pay some pretty significant prices. Others of us are chronic contrarians who, for example, like Stronglight just because everyone has Campy and French bikes just because everyone else likes Italian ones. And being a contrarian, in my case, nicely complements being a cheapass, as, again as you say, buying items not greatly in favor usually means you get them cheap.
Of course, it isn't easy maintaining one's contrarian status, since the stuff one bought when noone wanted it may suddenly become fashionable. For example, I remember when Mike Kone, who certainly has to be considered one of the foremost experts on the CR list, was primarily interested in Confentes, Masis, Italian racing frames and Campy equipment. But in recent years, Mike's interests have shifted progressively toward French touring bikes, especially the constructeur variety, to the extent that he is now engaged in reviving production of Rene Herse badged bikes. This has no doubt caused Mike to take a keen interest in French components he once viewed with indifference. So now my French bikes are coming dangerously close to becoming fashionable, which may be why I have spent more time collecting British and American bikes in the last couple of years. You have to work even harder to remain steadfastly unfashionable than to be a dedicated follower of fashion.
And finally, the true contrarian connot be caught conforming, even conforming to noncomformity. So occasionally one has to buy an Italian frame or all all Campy bike just to prove one can do it. Thus I've got the all Campy chrome Paramounts, the likewise all Campy Falcon San Remo and the Raleigh Pro MkIV. And a pair on Bianchis, and of Torpados and of Gianni Mottas. I even bought a Masi frame not long ago, which put me at considerable risk of being excommunicated from the International Brotherhood of Contrarians. My only defense is that I got it for only a few hundred dollars, as it has a mysterious bulge in a tube, which I don't believe is evidence of a crash, but which other potential buyers were nervous about. Evidence of cheapness is always an admissable defense against charges of conformity.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, Texas, USA
Nick March <nicbordeaux@yahoo.fr> wrote: Not in the mood for fun at the moment, so a serious subject: to what extent does peer pressure (as in I will buy this bike because it is CR ontopic an d everybody else wants one) influence one's collection, rather than what on e actually loves in a bike or in the way of bikes ? I can only give my sill y peronal opinion: 80% of us are buying what the experts or people we perci eve as knowledgeable are talking about in glamorous or admiring terms. A pi ty, I think many will regret this in a few years. Because although there is a love of bicycles in almost all bike collections, there is money involved , and expensive is generally deemed better. As in "if it's dirt cheap and n obody mentions it on CR, it can't be good and/or collectable. The problem i s that concentrated demand and limited supply lead to price bubbles, and as most of us will have discovered through traumatic infancy experiences blow ing soap bubbles, it is the fate of most bubbles to burst, and the biggest bubbles are the most fragile.
My second point also pertains to monetary value. What is a bike worth ? Nor mal answer is "whatever a buyer is prepared to pay for it". On a consistent basis, in the demand outstripping supply situation mentioned above. Howeve r, if a load of bikes start hitting the market, how much is your bike worth ?
Is there a moral to this ? Who knows ? Maybe this: don't put all your eggs in the same basket, and most definitely, don't count your chickens before t hey're hatched.
These thoughts occuring to me owing to a few factors, amongst which finding myself thinking, when offered a beautiful bike for a pittance "I don't nee d that, nobody is going to like it". Common sense prevailed and I bought it .
The last issue is that of bikes meaning money, and money meaning that the e nd justifies the means. I have witnessed on the local scene some pretty uns avoury events recently, a lot of hatred involved. Collector infighting and shopping people... Rather spoils the fun of collecting. But then, that's hu man nature, the meanest monkey get's all the bananas.
Nick March Agen, 47000 Lot et Garonne, France=0A=0A=0A __________________________