norskagent

When I see a cool C&V bike out in public, in town or on a ride, etc. I will usually tell the owner cool bike or whatever, and maybe ask about details. My bike(s) get "cool biked" or commented about every once in a while, I like that...it's like a special club sign among folks that appreciate classic steel bikes! Once a random pedicab driver noticed my merckx and then told me he used to have one much like it, how he used to race, etc...very cool!

Velognome 

I ping my bell and give a to all the C&V bikes and lovely ladies.

rootboy 

It is fun to be acknowledged and recognized by a fellow enthusiast, and to return the favor. I was riding my Team Champion on the Rail Trail one day and some guy at one round-a-bout yelled out "Nice Motobecane!". I couldn't figure out how he knew what it was from at least 40 feet away. Maybe the color. I smiled and waved, and rode on. I do a "nice bike" whenever I see one that catches my eye.

KonAaron Snake 

I just love talking bikes, so I often do check out bikes I like and ask about them. I think, as a whole, we C+V folks are a friendly bunch, and we like bragging about our steel. I ride the Cinelli and Litespeed most of the time in town...and neither of those bikes are flashy at all. I have never gotten a comment on either...one bad part about being under the radar.

We get the most comments on the tandems...especially the triplet. A lot of folks come up and ask about it...especially if they have kids.

RobbieTunes

norskagent provided my brother-in-law with a random public acknowledgement 3 years ago that made his day, and he still remembers. JP arrived a bit late to a century, and my brother-in-law had settled into his 13-14mph pace near the rear of the mob, about 10 miles in, and solo by then. Our BF lad approached from the rear, looked over at my brother-in-law, and said something to the effect of "very nice bike, I recognize that from the internet." To have his bike recognized made the 3-hour drive from DC to the century worth it, very much. I'm sure my brother-in-law has told countless people that story.

I always comment on C&V bikes, especially near Durham where the American Tobacco Trail tends to bring them out. I do not comment on them in Asheville NC (in the mountains) because it seems like 2/3 of the bikes are C&V; they're everywhere. It would just be too repetitive.

I once rode a century in Durham, and came upon a bike that was built and documented here on BF by a guy, from the tear-down to the repaint to the complete rebuild, in his thread. I looked over at him and told him what bike it was, what the gearing was, and commented on the great wheel build, as well. As I pulled away, I heard someone say, "boy, he knows your bike, do you know that guy?" He said "no, but he's on an Ironman Carbon, so I think his name may be Robbie." We had a good laugh at the next stop.

The most common comment I get is on an Ironman, some version of "I used to have one of those," or "a friend of mine had one of those," and sometimes, "is that steel?" by someone younger than the bike.

The best thing about commenting is that you often get the complete life history of the bike, and the current build story. I enjoy those most of all. Nothing like a guy on a full-on touring 520 to tell you about every modification.

gioscinelli 

Most of my complements are on my 87 Kestrel 4000. People on the side walk, corners and even racers all rave about the bike. That's probably the combination of full carbon with Campy record c, Pelissier hubs and Delta brakes!




John, the Merckx 7/11 frame is gorgeous, if it were my size, it would be mine. Glad you having lots of fun with the Merckx!

jimmuller 

I too comment on nice old bikes I see. Most of the time the owner doesn't give a whip about it, it's just an old bike somebody gave him, he doesn't know anything about it, he could care less.

There is this guy who rides the same commuter train I take, who first came on with a Raleigh Super Record. I commented on it, he said somebody gave it to him. We spoke a few times over the next week or two. Then one day he's on a black Fuji fixie. I asked him what happened to the Raleigh. He said one of the crank arms broke, so he bought the Fuji. The next week his bike looked a little different, maybe with mismatched wheels or something, so I asked about it. He said he had an accident, had been hit by a car on his first ride because he couldn't stop at an intersection. So he took it back to the shop and asked them install a rear brake and sell him a new wheel. I don't think I'd let him test-ride any of my bikes.

norskagent

On the few large-group "disease" rides I've done, %99 of the bikes are new treks, fujis, etc., so the few C&V bikes tend to stand out to me. Lst year someone was on a lugged carbon Look bike, I called him out. Some weeks ago, riding my Zeus city bike, I saw a curved seattube, Jack Taylor fixed gear path racer w/ brooks swallow, adjustable track stem, etc. I had to comment on it, it was pretty amazing. The owner told me all about it, he never once once noticed my zeus Apparently he wasn't familiar with the "rules"! Oh yea, I've seen several "somebody gave me this" bikes - owners had no clue what they were riding. The last one I encountered was on a merckx!

RobbieTunes

Pulled up to the start of the Duke Multiple Myeloma ride, and a guy rolls up on a beautiful lugged Nishiki Prestige, looked like it was brand new. I asked him about it. He said "I don't have a bike; my friend let me borrow his old bike for this ride." On the same ride, I see a cute girl-next-door blonde on a UO-8. She looked like the bakes-her-own-bread, sister Earth type, so I commented on the Pug. She said "yeah, my real bike is in the shop, my Madone." My riding partner laughed so hard he almost fell off the bike.

Two years ago, I rode a Miami Vice Ironman, full 8-sp Campy with Vento HPW's, in a century. I got two purchase offers, and a "I like a man who can ride a pink bike" comment, along with "how much for the wheels?"

I comment on every old Kestrel I see, and there's always a story behind it. I've not found anyone riding one who doesn't just think it's the best thing ever.

norskagent

I believe we first met Robbie, commenting on each other's bike.

RobbieTunes

Yep.

I just realized, we're like "dog people."

I have to admit, like mapleleafs-13, I don't really notice or even look at many modern bikes. When a conversation arises about them, I'm usually out of the loop; they may as well be space ships.

At NAHBS 4 years ago, I was with sykerocker, Amani576, tarwheel, and some others, just chatting on the sidewalk. A college kid whizzes by on a bike, and 4-5 heads turn, and in unison, "Centurion!" rings out. Of course, I missed it, but it made my day.

oddjob2

I think WRK101 spends some time there. No wonder he complains about the slow market. He's already sold a bike to 2/3 of the market!

David Newton

A guy rides a Centurion thru my neighborhood on his way to the College down the street. He is older, 50's I'd say.
One day I was in the yard as he rode by and I called out "Miami Vice" and he looked at me like I was from Mars.
I saw the bike up close, chained at the college, and from the condition, it must just be an old bike to him.

20grit

I was playing at a local fiddler's convention on Memorial Day weekend. I saw an older couple (I'm 26... it's all relative) touring on older bikes come through (the Route 76 cross-country trail runs through here). I kept meaning to get over and talk to them about their bikes, but never got a chance. I seldom get to see other vintage bikes in the area.

To be honest, I thought it was jimmuller from a distance, but I've not seen a break in his posting that wound indicate he's out touring.

jimmuller 

Where would that have been?

I'm from Virginia originally and might have had a brother at a local fiddler's convention but I'm on tour only in my mind. It goes out to lunch fairly often.

20grit

It was in Rural Retreat, near Rural Retreat Lake (Southwest Virginia near where I77 and I81 merge). The folks were set up for long haul touring. I wish I'd gotten to go over and talk to them but I was backing up some kids in the youth competitions.

Sixty Fiver

I will often comment on really nice bicycles if I come across and it is usually well received... the bicycles we ride are pretty reflective of who we are and we do have some investment in them of a financial and emotional nature.

mapleleafs-13 

i've had a bunch of people stare at my rides and make nice comments towards them, as i've done the same for other people's bikes. It's pretty awesome to see that there's other enthusiasts out there. In toronto there seems to be a lot of people into it.


I don't know if you guys do it. But i have a bad habit of scanning bikes that are coming towards me to see what kind of vintage steel then are. I only check when i see a "steel" shaped bike. I don't really pay attention to any of the newer carbon stuff that passes me or is going the other way. It's not that i don't care for carbon, it's just that you see it all the time, it's more rare to see really nice vintage steel around. Between that and checking out all the ladies on the bike paths along the waterfront trails i don't know how i manage to get myself home in one piece.

Aemmer

I always compliment riders with nice vintage bikes. I am not against turning around on a bike ride and catching up with someone on a nice vintage steed to say hi and get a better look. I go out of my way to walk past bike racks in hopes of seeing a cool old bike.

Rarely do people notice my old bikes, let alone the effort put into restoring them. Thats why I share on vintage bike forum'

I like old bikes.

Chombi

Must be a couple in their mid 30's on 2000 model year bikes....
.....Yeah you have to watch our for those geezers on their rickety bikes noodling slowly around blind corners on bike paths...

Sixty Fiver

Weirdest thing has been when I have been travelling in Oregon and met other cyclists who recognize my bikes because they have seen them on the interweb.

repechage

Only the Colnagos and Masi get recognized while I am out and about.

The Colnagos get the respect of the Carbon crowd. That and "when ya' going to get a new bike?" Many just don't like a guy on an old steel machine keeping pace.

Chicago Al 

I've had people on my regular ride comment on my bikes ('wow, a Centurion, I had one of those!') and I do the same. Sunday I was having some trouble with a flat and a guy on a modern bike stopped, handed me a tube (I had a spare but it was funky), said 'What year's your Motobecane? Mine's a 1980! I need to clean it up and ride it!' Lots of people have fond associations with older bikes.

gaucho777 

I gave dbaki a "nice bike!" When he posted a photo of his grey Cinelli SC a week later, I then realized I'd just shouted at a fellow C&Ver.