Re: [CR] The Beginner's Collection ...

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

In-Reply-To: <654449599.12098531267987440326.JavaMail.root@sz0035a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net>
References: <20100306024138.7CD2E19D8D@ug6.ece.ubc.ca>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 14:30:03 -0500
From: "Edward Albert" <ealbert01@gmail.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Cc: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
Subject: Re: [CR] The Beginner's Collection ...


Don, I do think this is an interesting thread. I have thought about it a lot in terms of my own collecting, how I got into it, how my tastes changed, etc. I would not argue with your list. just add the following. When I first started collecting I collected everything and anything. It took me several years until I really found out what it was I actually wanted to collect and keep. Over that time I sold off most of those bikes that, although very collectible and sometimes desirable, were not the direction I wanted to go in. I still have some leftovers that I want to sell. Not because there is something wrong with them but its just they don't fit anymore. In my own mind I would like to get to the point where I look at what I have amassed and cannot bring byself to part with any of them.

Of course when you find that you bought on a whim rather than with a purpose you tend to end up loosing your shirt because as a novice you bought high and now must sell low. Just like novice stock market investors.

I would not even attempt to advise anyone on what they should collect. Beginners or otherwise. Some say "oh you have to have at lease one of X in your collection." What I would say is, even a novice, should sit down with themselves and seriously consider just what it is that they like and want around them, track bikes, bike boom bikes, French Constructeur bikes KOF's...whatever. And, once having had that discussion with oneself go after them. Of course, this is not to say one never will stray but at least the collection becomes something more than random accumulation. IMO.

Best, Edward Albert Chappaqua, New York, USA http://www.thevintagebikelife.com

On Sun, Mar 7, 2010 at 1:44 PM, <billydavid13@comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi Donald. That's certainly some food for thought and i'm surprised it
> hasn't generated more response. There's no way any list is going to avoid
> seeming somewhat arbitrary. This hobby is still driven by very personal [and
> sometimes peculiar] preferences. But it seems like more people might weigh
> in w/ what they consider a well rounded collection. Personally i tend toward
> the lower end bikes and Zeus. Cheers. Billy Ketchum; Chicago, IL; USA.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "donald gillies" <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Sent: Friday, March 5, 2010 8:41:38 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
> Subject: [CR] The Beginner's Collection ...
>
> Here is my proposal for a "beginner's collection of 60's - 80's road
> bikes". I'm not saying that I own all these bikes, in fact I own
> about half of them. What I'm suggesting is that if you're just
> starting out collecting vintage bikes, here are some models that were
> sold for a long time, and/or had a storied history, from all 3
> continents. Most importantly, these bikes are still plentiful and
> affordable for a collector just starting out.
>
> - Viscount Aerospace
> - ALAN Competition
> - Peugeot PX-10
> - Colnago Super (in Lieu of MASI)
> - Fuji Finest, Newest, or Ace
> - Schwinn Paramount
> - Raleigh/Carlton Pro or International
> - Windsor Pro (in Lieu of Cinelli)
> - TREK 600 or 700 series, 1977-1988
>
> Comments, Additions, Corrections?
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA, USA