It seems like C&V bikes and mechanical watch enthusiasts follow a similar vein. I don't own a watch without a mainspring. I have a Waltham pocket watch whose movement that was made in 1901. It is elaborately engraved, and the engraving continues between the plates, in places that only another watchmaker would ever see. When I disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated the movement, I was in awe of the craftsmanship in front of me. Parts were decorated and painstakingly polished, finished, and fitted - and no one but the watchmaker would likely ever see them. This watch is 117 years old, and keeps very good time. How many things we make will be around and working more than a century later?

That, my friends, is called pride of craftsmanship, and sadly, it is almost gone. Built-in obsolescense, upgrade fever, latest and greatest, have seriously damaged that old-fashioned virtue.

Repairing, maintaining, and riding C&V bicycles is one way we can push back against that sad progression.