Can bikes have bad juju?

[JAGI410]

Lovely sentiments here! I’m 100% on the honor train here, but my wife mentioned something about the bad juju and it had my mind wondering a bit (perhaps a drink or two were involved).

I’ll make it mine soon enough and I’ll post some pics.

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by JAGI410

I’ll make it mine soon enough and I’ll post some pics.

fantastic way to honor your friend and the builder!

When I inherited my Dad's Riv, many folks suggested I ride it as he had it built.. but I knew I would ride it more if I made it my own.. I certainly kept the other parts, just in case I want to put it back..

[dmitrik4]

Originally Posted by JAGI410

That's a beautiful way to think about it.

Agreed.

Literally every bike will be touched by someone who at some point will be no longer with us. I drive my Dad’s Miata all the time, and I see it as a connection I still have to him. I’d view the bike similarly.

[bironi]

Originally Posted by JAGI410

I have an opportunity to buy a touring bike that belonged to a friend of mine that passed away (F Cancer!). It's a Teesdale...a builder who also passed away. The bike has a "pull" for me, and fits me pretty well. It's not all that special for most, but it is to me. I can't think of another buyer that would appreciate it more than I would.

But it has a somewhat morbid history having 2 people that touched it are no longer with us.

For the sake of conversation, would you buy a bike with a history like this?

if me, yes.
If you, your choice.

[bigbill]

Buy it without hesitation. I had a Raleigh that was possessed. It would death wobble between 34 and 38 mph. I could stop it by pressing my knee into the top tube but it would immediately restart unless I slowed down. I changed the headset and tried different front wheels with the same outcome. It was lugged steel, no signs of cracks, nothing.

[mcteague]

Bad juju? Humans and their superstitions.
Some reading material.


Tim

[Fat Cat]

People believe weird things ? ?

I'll tell you what's weird ! People who don't believe in bad juju are weird, that's who !

[bikinchris]

I don't know about bad juju, but I had a haunted bike one weekend.

We did a tandem rally in Jefferson Texas once and our hotel was haunted. The workers are often bothered by unseen forces. One worker told us she was inputting accounting into a computer one night and something flicked her hair. She turned around and there was no one. No air vents blew her hair either. Many guests reported smelling things like cigars. My wife woke up to the strong smell of perfume. Okay, the bike. Our tandem that weekend had a brand new Fond de Jante rim strip fail and cause a flat. We had chain suck for the first time ever and I broke a Brooks saddle rail. We sagged in the last day.

[rustychisel]

I ride a dead mans bike and it has his name on the top tube. I think of it as homage.

[mstateglfr]

Teesdale? Buy it.



/thread.

[Tandem Rider]

I would buy it, Tom Teesdale was a great guy and it gives you a great memory of your friend. Not that it matters, but the Teesdale I had was one of my all time favorite bikes.

[mcteague]

Originally Posted by Fat Cat

People believe weird things ? ?

I'll tell you what's weird ! People who don't believe in bad juju are weird, that's who !

Weird for believing in logic and science??? I just wish critical thinking were taught in schools for it is sorely needed.

Tim

[Fat Cat]

Originally Posted by mcteague

Weird for believing in logic and science??? I just wish critical thinking were taught in schools for it is sorely needed.

Tim

Yeah, right ! You just keep "believing" that and see how it works out for you !

[Mark McM]

Hmmmm....

I've had a Teesdale for about 20 years, and it is one of my favorite bikes. I heard about Tom Teesdale passing way just after it happened in 2014, but until I read his thread, I never once thought about my frame having "bad Juju" because of his unfortunate passing. If everything that was made by someone who is no longer with us had "bad Juju", then all of us would be surrounded by tons of "bad Juju".

[weisan]

Found this frameset new old stock several months ago. It has never been built up. According to the seller, it belonged to his ex-girlfriend who passed away abruptly 10 years ago and since then it just sat in the storage. For 10 years!!! The girl's family was clearing things out of the storage, saw the frame, contacted the old boyfriend and asked him to help them get rid of it. He posted it on Facebook marketplace and two days later I saw the posting. At that time, a crazy thought came to me about wanting to try out smaller frame...I mean, much smaller. This is a 49cm, and I normally rides a 54. Even for me, that was a big jump. Anyway, I guess it was all meant to be.

And yeah, the "experiment" turned out to be a success, I really enjoyed riding it.