[CR] what I ride - ON TOPIC

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 06:12:13 -0800 (PST)
From: Kyle Brooks <brooks_kyle@att.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR] what I ride - ON TOPIC


After Bob Freitas mentioned how many "off topic" bikes people on the list are riding, I looked at my own "stable" and found (pleasantly) that I have purged virtually all "off topic" bikes from it (Last year I got rid of a carbon-fiber LeMond -- never could bring myself to fully trust all that plastic). So what I'm left with is almost a dozen vintage or KOF bikes:

1973 Mercian Superlight 1979 Mercian Classic 1981 Masi Gran Criterium 2000 Rivendell "Long-Low" (built by Curt) 2003 Mercian Professional (with full 1984 Super Record) 2006 Mercian 60th Anniversary 2009 Mercian Speciale Corsa Pista 2009ish Cicli Polito road/path (with Sachs "Newvex" lugs - was shown at '10 NAHBS)

and a couple that I'm not sure, but it would be arguable that they are still "on-topic" a late 80's or early 90's Paramount mountain bike (fully lugged frame) and a late 80's "Paramount Design Group" Schwinn tandem (also fully lugged frame)

I love those Mercians. I almost picked up another on eBay a couple weeks ago when somebody had a gorgeous light blue 1978 King of Mercia frame in my size listed. Only sold for about $450 or so. If the turbocharger in my Subaru hadn't self-destructed that week ($2000 to replace it), I'd have made it mine. By the way -- did anybody on the list get that one?

Oh -- one more -- vintage, but NOT on topic -- 1970 Schwinn Orange Krate. Hanging on the wall in my classroom for the past 16 years. I have it because it represents the first bike I ever lusted for as a kid.

Kyle Brooks
Akron, OH