Originally Posted by sidcharles

regarding brakes: what do the model numbers signify/ or nothing but names. example is a "630" 63 mm from pivot bolt to bottom of pad slot?

i have yet to share the Peugeot mixte story of '16. purchased for $50, and it was in such good shape i gave the kid $65. i think it was Mom's and she never rode it and it was kept inside since the mid '80s. i did date it with bottom bracket & rim numbers but forget the exact.

anyway, did you know the Yellow Jersey sells correct French seatposts for $90? so i bought a metric (literally) tonne of special tools and had a ball renovating it. Honjo, Brooks, Nitto - and an industrial lacquer paint job. two weeks later i gave it to a checker at the grocery store.

next summer i bought a 2K kayak 700$ carbon fiber paddle and every gee-gaw and doo dad i could think of. used it 20 minutes and decided "this isn't as much fun as i remembered from 30 years ago." so i gave it away

wanna tell me how to squander money on crap i'll never use? hah. i'm a professional.