Reviewing a 70 year old bike: Outside article

[Gummee]

here

M

[gforce]

Cheeky retro grouch fodder right there - good read.

[Ken Robb]

I love this article. It demonstrates the power of a good copy writer. I'll bet he could do a great job writing about the advantages of the recently (re)discovered music source called LPs. :-)

[fiamme red]

It's the usual blather from the bike slob. Lots of words, no substance.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

It's the usual blather from the bike slob. Lots of words, no substance.

I agree. I started reading it yesterday and it just didn’t do anything for me. Just literary preference I suppose.

[martl]

I found the article to be delightfully different from the usual storyline when someone unaquainted with vintage bikes "tests" one (eeek, toestraps, i'll die!!!! eeeek skinny handlebars!!! eeek only 10 gears and they are impossible to change without immediate death!1! eeeeek those no-brakes - i'm dead already!!!).

[Gummee]

Originally Posted by martl

I found the article to be delightfully different from the usual storyline when someone unaquainted with vintage bikes "tests" one (eeek, toestraps, i'll die!!!! eeeek skinny handlebars!!! eeek only 10 gears and they are impossible to change without immediate death!1! eeeeek those no-brakes - i'm dead already!!!).

Kids these days, huh?

Some of still remember those days

M

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Gummee

Kids these days, huh?

Some of still remember those days

M

Some of 'us' still ride kit like that as well(altho I've 'upgraded' to a 6s freewheel)...

Good read..shows that the basic 'bike' really hasn't changed that much. Still double triangle, still chain, still derailleurs to move chain around, still 630mm(27 inch?) disc brake rotor using rubber compound pads on brake 'calipers'...

[Mr. Pink]

I rode a bike like that twenty miles to school, uphill. Both ways. In the snow.

[paredown]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

I rode a bike like that twenty miles to school, uphill. Both ways. In the snow.

And you're a better man for having done so!

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

I rode a bike like that twenty miles to school, uphill. Both ways. In the snow.

I wasn't that fortunate. My school commuter had a 3 speed stick shift on the top tube, raised handlebars, a banana saddle and a rear slick. Great for peeling out at the bike rack, but not so good for climbing that one big hill on the way home.

Note...my bike eccentricities started with that bike. Somehow I talked the school janitor into allowing me to park my red Stingray in the boiler room versus leaving it out on the bike rack.

[sg8357]

I ride my '54 Claud on Saturday club rides sometimes.

[bikinchris]

A bike from 1949 with braze on down tube shifters and shift and brake cable guides was actually pretty spiffy.

He needs to replace the spring on that rear derailleur.

[Clancy]

I want to ride my bike with ballet flats.
Hmmm,
No, I don’t think I do.

[johnmdesigner]

$200.00 in 1949 is about $2000.00 in today's money. Quite an investment in a bicycle.