I just scored a box of things today, and in it was a repaired brake lever. It makes me wonder, who had this, why did they not replace it. Was it someone who could not get another, just a practical guy, some young aspiring racer who ate noodles and suffered for their passion, or a crusty guy with an aluminum welding rig...

I think about this stuff, when I find any old bike that was used hard, or even just a schwinn suburban with a changed out saddle.

And on another note, is this a death stem?