You Guys Will Like This
09-11-05 | 05:47 PM
#1
Thread Starter
In Memory of One Cool Cat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,722
Likes: 1
From: Charlottesville, VA
Bikes: Lemond Victoire, Cannondale.Mountain Bike, two 1980s lugged steel Treks, ancient 1980-something Giant mountain bike converted into a slick tired commuter with mustache handlebars, 1960-something Raleigh Sports
You Guys Will Like This
Riding in a 50 mile club sponsored event in the Shendandoah Valley, I hooked up at a rest stop with the friend of a friend. She had ridden less than 25 miles all summer. She was riding a Scwhinn 10 speed that she had gotten as a 13-year-old and brought down from her Mom's attic for today's event.
We decided to ride the last 25 miles together, and it was great. I slowed down, had a real conversation, enjoyed the scenery and let the hammerheads blast by us. She was quite game, though. Never walked a hill and spun along nicely, never worrying about whether or not she had the right jersey (since she didn't have a jersey--just a tee shirt) and not fretting about extra weight of her kickstand.
She laughed at the crazy people who ride titanium bikes. So I decided not to tell her I was riding a titanium bike. It was all quite lovely.
We decided to ride the last 25 miles together, and it was great. I slowed down, had a real conversation, enjoyed the scenery and let the hammerheads blast by us. She was quite game, though. Never walked a hill and spun along nicely, never worrying about whether or not she had the right jersey (since she didn't have a jersey--just a tee shirt) and not fretting about extra weight of her kickstand.
She laughed at the crazy people who ride titanium bikes. So I decided not to tell her I was riding a titanium bike. It was all quite lovely.
__________________
Dead last finish is better than did not finish and infinitely better than did not start.
Dead last finish is better than did not finish and infinitely better than did not start.
09-11-05 | 06:44 PM
#2
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,410
Likes: 1,876
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Assuming one has the financial means to do so, there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying and riding an expensive exotic new bicycle, particularly if one still appreciates the strengths, charm, and economy of a durable classic. Sometimes I wear a fancy jersey, sometimes a tee shirt, sometimes a knit shirt; sometimes I wear cycling shorts, sometimes regular walk shorts or even jeans. Your "friend of a friend" is at peace with herself, and that's what counts. Thanks for sharing.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
09-11-05 | 07:56 PM
#3
Junk Collector
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 973
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Bikes: 1987 Schwinn Circuit, 2012 Colnago M10, 1990 Schwinn CrissCross
That is a neat story. I'm very jealous, by the way, that you get to ride through the Shenandoah Valley and I'm stuck in Chicago. Not fair, I say!
09-17-05 | 08:50 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 12
From: New Haven, CT area
Bikes: Trek 7.5 Hybrid, Trek 1.1 Road, Holdsworth touring,Raleigh International,Ritchey Commando,Italvega Speciallissimo,et.al.
This is a great story that shows that you do not have to have the flashiest coolest super bike in town to go out and impress everyone. It does not matter what you are riding as long as you are out there enjoying yourself and the scenery. I am a recreational rider that owns many kinds of bikes and I am very turned off by the roadies that come flying by on their super expensive machines wearing the coolest fad clothing. Most of these folks, when cycling toward me in the other direction, will not respond to a friendly wave from a fellow cyclist. Just go out there and have fun on no matter what wheels you are riding !
