View Single Post
Old 12-08-14 | 05:07 PM
  #26  
KonAaron Snake's Avatar
KonAaron Snake
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 15,946
Likes: 371
From: Philadelphia, PA

Bikes: Two wheeled ones

Originally Posted by FarHorizon
I don't much disagree with any of youse guys so far. But based on age alone, it's only a matter of time before a Wal-Mart BSO becomes a "classic." As to aesthetic form, some would argue that their Electra Townies already qualify as "classics."


It's good to have a laissez faire attitude toward definitions, but I predict that your elasticity will eventually be challenged (not necessarily a bad thing). I might define somewhat differently: A classic bicycle is "a bicycle work of industrial art that was intended to have worth beyond that of an otherwise mass-produced appliance." It's a slippery definition, I admit, and it casts a broad net. But under my definition, the Wal-Mart BSO would NEVER inherit "classic" status.


I'm not trying to troll, nor am I trying to change anything in this forum. I was just curious.
Your qualification of industrial art is as slippery as any other definition. Like art, some will have more generalized appreciation and consensus as to status. I really don't think most guys like Ugo, Cino and Eisentraut were creating industrial art - they were making bicycles designed to be ridden and successfully marketed.

Defining classic is by nature subjective - we're a big tent regarding our opinions.
KonAaron Snake is offline  
Reply