Marcus..
I'm sure many of us have sensed that divide between us (classic steel) and them (off the rack plastic). But I do believe that there is a growing middle ground that might help bridge the gap, and that is the younger fixie/single speed crowd with day-glow grips and matching day-glow nipples and chain rings.
I have two fixies and a single speed that I ride in the neighborhood...a PX-10, a Ral. International, and a Super Course. The components are safely stored away, and of course, I haven't altered the frames in any way. I when I stop to chat with other fixie riders, we exchange information about the frames, how they ride, and other stuff. They always ask about the lugs. They almost always know what kind of frame is hiding under the powder coat or rattle can paint of the bikes they ride. They love steel, they are thirsty for knowledge. Some have come over to see my bikes. They always have questions, and sometimes we trade parts or buy and sell to each other, and I often help them build bikes or just help solve a minor problem.
There is about a 45 year age difference between me and the local fixie riders, but it is the love of steel that gives us common ground.
When the young fixie crowd grows up, many will probably buy plastic bikes, but I'd like to think that some will remember these days and maybe one day search for a classic steel bike to ride up the green belt on a Sunday afternoon, taking time to see the clouds in the sky, think of the old days...
As for the Assenmacher rider...maybe he just loves the bike, but never joined the brotherhood/sisterhood of steel.
Pat Moffat Tempe AZ USA ----- Original Message ----- From: marcus.e.helman@gm.com<mailto:marcus.e.helman@gm.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org<mailto:classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 8:54 AM Subject: [CR] Snubbed on a Sunday afternoon
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
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