Re: [CR] Peter's unridden Puch

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli:Laser)

Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 09:52:14 -0700
From: "john strizek" <lyonstrings@yahoo.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <mailman.19225.1251999680.344.classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] Peter's unridden Puch


Dear Peter, I would like to weigh in with my usuao Clydesdale manner. If you want sculpture, you can sell the Puch and get something smaller and easier to dust.

I realize a "new" bike is only new once. With that being said I refer to one of my other hobbies. I have a 1957 Thunderbird. I show it perhaps once or twice a year. It is still nice enough to get at least second place awards. It was a driver from the time we purchased it. My wife drove it daily as her regular transportation for about three years. After all, it is an automobile. Because it was mechanically sound, I performed a cosmetic restoration on it a few years back. I attribute its reliability to it being driven. We have one friend in particular who has two 'Birds. Both are concours quality. He suffers breakdowns that I attribute to both his slight ineptitude at mechanics and his excelling at polishing and cleaning.  This is often the way with mechanical devises that are relegated to "trophy" status.

I can't recall anyone I knew having gone to the grave saying, "I am glad I didn't use my bike (or car or other device) so some heir can sell it for a greater profit.

Bye for now, John "ride 'em if you got 'em" Strizek Sacramento California USA

P.S. If you need it refurbished, there are very competent restorers and artisans such as Brian Bayliss who can make it like new or better. I refer to the late, great Sheldon Brown's Raleigh Professional.