Re: [CR] Ride of death (in defense of)

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli)

Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:55:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Steve Whitting" <ciocc_cat@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org, FujiFish1@aol.com
In-Reply-To: <3ea20.5e0fbcc4.3943e63b@aol.com>
Cc: mnbikeresto@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [CR] Ride of death (in defense of)


There is something about riding an early-80s Italian thoroughbred that causes a normally sane 55 year-old to believe he's an up-and-coming 20-something year-old riding in his first Giro.  Rather than "smelling the flowers", I seem compelled to feel the pain.  I've often wondered if there is something Signore Pelizzoli built into my Ciocc that just makes me want to ride it fast . . . Steve Whitting

Prairieville, Louisiana USA

Website at http://ciocc-cat.angelfire.com/


--- On Fri, 6/11/10, FujiFish1@aol.com wrote:


From: FujiFish1@aol.com <FujiFish1@aol.com> Subject: Re: [CR] Ride of death (in defense of) To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Cc: mnbikeresto@yahoo.com Date: Friday, June 11, 2010, 2:19 PM

Mike, Indeed ... for some of us as we age, going on fast rides IS re-living some  old memories, and for those who did and do enjoy this type of riding, it is truly just as rewarding.  I lead a weekly (weakly) vintage bike ride  here in the Detroit area called "Vintage Thursdays", and we try to get as many  people out as possible.  This means we generally cater to the slowest rider  in the group, for whatever reason they may be so.  Sure, we get antsy at  times and kick it up a little bit, but we always stop, regroup, wait for the  rest of the pack, and rest a moment before going on.  This is great  for the group as a whole, but the guys who like to go fast often feel a bit  lack-luster, and the guys who like to or have no choice but to go slower  (like for a current medical condition) often feel over-pressed.  No style  or speed is superior to another ... it's just different pedal strokes for  different folks.

Last night, for the first time officially, we broke the Vintage Thursdays  ride into two groups.  One group went faster and further than ever possible  before.  Their legs burned, they took chances, they never looked  back ... and they all had a great time.  Another group went at a more  moderate pace, not required to go as far, or push too hard into the red  zone.  They saw more, relaxed more ... and (I think) they all had a great  time.

My point?  My point is to note that MOST vintage rides cater to  the whole range of riders, and most everyone on those rides has to sacrifice a  bit.  Jaime & Harry's ride sounds like great fun for the hammer-heads  only, and they advertised it as such.  Should you organize a go-slow and  smell the flowers ride, and advertise it as such, no doubt you and your  cohorts will have a great time too.  A hero is someone who uses their own  vintage lightweight road, path or track bicycle, just as they see fit, while  still paying homage to the beauty and splendor thereof.  Free to be  ... you and me!

Ciao, Mark Agree (with wonderfully achy legs in) Southfield, Michigan, USA ~ ~ ~

Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:55:37 -0700 (PDT) From: Mike Larsen  <mnbikeresto@yahoo.com> Subject: [CR] Ride of death

To whom it  may concern; Take your ride of death and enjoy rubbing your legs and  drinking beer later. Convince yourself you are a hero for some reason. Hope you  where some tight Tour DeFrance shirt too, with your shorts. This fat old man  will enjoy seeing the things that I ride by from now on. Going on my own ride  soon that I don't know if I can finish, that's what I call a ride. Also I really  enjoy when a carbon wonder comes by and sounds like a plastic pedal car on  asphalt. Wondering which part will break during a long ride is more fun too, and  how you are going to fix it. Trying to make three scenic spots for a visual and  to re-live some old and I mean old memories is truly more rewarding. No treats  every five miles either just another hill. Enjoyed the message though sparked me  right up, like Billy I am scared toooo!!!

Mike Larsen
St. Paul,  MN
USA