I went out Sunday with some teammates for the Make-A-Wish ride. As is usual in such a case, mine was the oldest bike, the only steel bike, the only european bike, the bike with the fewest speeds, the only bike with sew-ups, the only bike with toeclips. You get the idea.
This was the first long ride of the year. It had been billed as a 30-35 miler, but we rode 47 according to my friend's computer. It was nice in the sun, but when the sun went behind a cloud, and the wind picked up as it is wont to do here in Michigan, it felt pretty chilly.
I was pleased to be neither the oldest, nor the slowest rider. I was riding my 1974 Italian Masi Gran Criterium, and it felt great. Psychological or not, I like Italian bikes. I don't claim to be a particularly skilled rider, but I felt like I was descending better than my teammates, not, I think, due to higher overall mass; what I gave away in bike weight I made back in rider weight. I was also able to climb better. Yes we do have hills in Michigan. Some of it was shifting. My teammates often seemed to select a too-low gear on the hills, making it easy to pass. I led as much as I could, and was thanked for it. Certainly a boost to the ego.
At one point the front group stopped to let the others catch up, and while were standing there a man rode up in the opposite direction on an Assenmacher. He stopped, and we talked for a minute. I said nice bike, and he said thanks, it's an old one. He said that it was getting hard to find parts for it. For evidence he pointed to the Weinmann hood on a Campy lever that was held together by masking tape. I suggested he look into the CR list. He said thanks and rode off. No mention of my bike, which to me would have been the obvious and courteous thing since we were discussing old bikes. Maybe he was anti-Masi. I am told such people do exist. The other thing that struck me is that the people with whom I rode were not particularly interested in bikes the way we are. No discussion of new parts or brands, or of plans for upgrades. Maybe it was just that day. Maybe no one had a new bike, or plans for a new bike, but the lack of bike discussion was noticeable. Perhaps bikes are becoming generic, and thus not very interesting in and of themselves.
Best regards,
Marcus Helman
Detroit, MI