Ways that we indulge our C&V Appreciations ...

Of course riding our classic treasures.
I also love seeing other classics out in the wild and love admiring them as I pass them or get passed
When they are oncoming, I love checking the head tube for a badge or decal.
Its nice to also see the make on the downtube unlike many the stealthy new carbons.

Classic rides and meetups are very cool and nice to see groups of real steel in action.
I put together the below poem that many have appreciated in what constitutes a C&V bike thread.
Please add more of the ways you all appreciate C&V bikes ...


Went to a classic bike show

It was quite a delight

All the bikes parked in a row

What a wonderful sight



Some are candy apple red

Others are metallic blue

Some have wild lugs and frame decals

And there's even purple ones too



These bikes are steel real beauties

They were made to last

Some were for cruising

Others to go fast



There's the classic Bianci Specialissi

And I'm willing to bet

That some still remember

The sporty Masi Prestigette



They come from a simpler time

And if truth be told

Compare to the new one's of today

I prefer yesterday's old

One reason I love Colnago bikes, especially the classic models, is the outstanding paint and graphic frame cosmetics.
One example is the Master Art Decor which in my opinion is a masterpiece.

Very nice poem, couldn't agree more. I'm going to bring this down into the gutter a little but when I think of C&V bikes, the term "bike porn" comes to mind because I can scroll through Pinterest pic's of C&V all day long. I also like new bikes but something about bright colours and chrome that make the old bikes stand out more.

My 2 cents

Third time posting this:
I posted this over on the +50 forum, 65-85+ thread, when we were asked why so many steel bike showed up on the "What do old people ride...?" and he asked seemingly incredulously are these everyday rides and why would you do that when carbon is so much better:
I religiously rotate through my collection; everyone of my bikes was hand-crafted by artisans with things like carefully brazed and tapered lugs, many thinned by craftsmen and craftswomen with files. This attention to detail and esthetics was paid to every stage of the build. I greatly value the components ease of repair and lack of planned obsolescence now present in the cycling industry. So when you say "better to ride" it is based on your set of well understood facts and personal beliefs, but for me "better" is influenced by my personal beliefs. Starting with a Trek 5500 in 1998 (still hanging up in my shop) I bought a new WIzzbang bike every few years only to let it go after a couple of years then stopped after four such bikes.

Youtuber China Cycles bought one of those recently for $3000...

Brooks Team Pro aroma
style, comfort and easily
sliding fore and aft

Randonneurs fly by
gear meticulously picked
but modern, it's not

Riding vintage steel
made Eddy Merckx the world champ
so why not for me?

Why not and whats not to admire with Eddy