Burl, this is a left turn from your subject but it is something that I've found interesting.
The comment that your Raleigh was smooth and then the revelation that it was too big is interesting.
I once had a guy telling me about his magical bike that he missed so much. It was comfortable, climbed better than any bike before or since and it held a place of importance in his memory.
I should say here that he was looking for a bike and told me what size he wanted. I had told him that I thought he would be a better fit on the next size up.
When I asked him what happened to the magic bike, he told me that he had sold it because it was too big for him. I smiled what I imagined as a knowing smile. It was interesting to see the look of realization develope on his face. He laughed and jokingly accused me of directing the conversation to back him into that corner.
Disclaimer: Bikes can be too big. It's not like I don't know that. However, I see very few on bikes that are too big and a true majority on bikes that are too small.
Chuck Hoefer
Pacific Coast Cycles
Oceanside, Ca
> On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 9:13 AM, Burl Simon <burl.simon@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> my first ride downtown was to philippe's and i was riding a raleigh
>> competition gran sport, a beautiful bike that rode extremely smooth but
>> it
>> was too big and i sold it; i had a french dip and the price of a coffee
>> was
>> the same as when philippe's opened, nine cents i think.
>> burl simon
>> detroit michigan u.s.a.
>>
>> On Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 6:28 PM, Lorin <lyoude@roadrunner.com> wrote:
>>
>>> JB,
>>>
>>> His name was Don Ferguson and he was a member of the 1960's Olympic
>>> Cycling Team (tandem), Somewhere in my cycling stash I have a brochure
>>> of
>>> the Olympic Cycling Team that includes a picture of Don. I used to live
>>> several blocks away from the shop and spent many hours lusting after the
>>> Swiss bikes in his shop. I recall purchasing a set of Campy side pulls
>>> from
>>> Don when they were first produced for $60.00 (big bucks for me at the
>>> time).
>>> Don would often ride the Tuesday and Thursday night training rides
>>> around
>>> the Rose Bowl with the Pasadena Cycling Club sponsored by John's on
>>> Rosemead Blvd. John's was another haunt where I lusted after a Jack
>>> Taylor curved seat tube model and a Paramount tandem ,
>>>
>>> As a small child my father would take my brother and I to Philippe's for
>>> a
>>> french dip, a dill pickle, and a piece of lemon meringue pie. The
>>> sawdust
>>> on the floor was great and we would eat in one of the upper rooms. I
>>> currently live in Carlsbad Ca however if we are in the LA area we try to
>>> eat
>>> at Philippe's (it has not changed in over 100 years)
>>>
>>> If your going to Austin next month let me know and we can speak in
>>> person.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Lorin Youde
>>> Carlsbad CA USA