The only way I could even enjoy riding this bike is if I was loaded with cash and the purchase was not considered "expensive".

I would be worried way too much to actually have fun on the thing... With that said, I would probably enjoy it after I scraped it on something.

LOL! You are thinking exactly like me. I think the first thing I would do is scratch it - on purpose.

If you can't ride it, what good is it. Bicycles are not "art", they are machines. Their highest state of perfection is to be used for what they were designed - to be ridden.

The "Shakers" would purposefully place an imperfection in everything they made. This was to keep them from the pursuiit of perfection, which was deemed to be prideful, willful and an attempt to make oneself God-like; God being the only One who can be or make perfection.

So would I.

Depends. Many were built to be raced. Many are past their racing life. Most of us can't push them anywhere near their intended limits anyway. Some people collect old tools. But I don't believe an old hammer is necessarily crying out for a handmade nail, or an old saw for old growth timber. In general I agree, but I also think it's OK to collect and enjoy old things, especially handmade ones, simply for the skill that went into them or the history they represent and embody or the aesthetic enjoyment they bring or the wealth of detail they reveal. While I have no problem with riding old bikes - even rare and expensive ones - I don't quite get the mentality that says they must be ridden else some higher purpose be thwarted. No, they're not art, but cool old things can still be cool even when they're not used. The "highest state of perfection" stuff gets a little numinous for me. (Some Shaker furniture is in museums where I can enjoy it without being able to sit on it. To me that's OK.)

Since when did Yehuda and the Kickstand Cyclery pop in?

-Kurt

That lone imperfection can easily be adapted to one's concept of perfection: "Perfection" merely expands to embrace it. The question is whether the ego comes along for the ride. The Shakers seem to have known what they were doing, but while the chairs are fairly easy to "read," the heart is not. Were those gargoyle carvers who contributed their work to the great cathedrals of Europe - and who's attention to detail would never find an audience among the hell-fearing public - carving to such a high standard ad majorem dei gloriam? Or for the eyes of their fellow craftsmen and the skilled maintenance folk who would toil face-to-face with their work? Does it matter?

+1

For that kind of money it should definitely come with some tires.

That's precisely why my best offer was only $13,350: So I'd have some money left over for some tires.

Perhaps the absence of tires is the imperfection referred to above.

(it also precludes simply hopping on and riding this beasty.)

Do you really think Joe knows how to use Ebay? All you did was further confuse the poor fellow!

Did the auction get canceled? I had some communication with the seller on behalf of one of my clients, which were answered promptly and then I responded back but now I don't see the auction.

vjp

Yeah, Joe is still busy with his digital camera owner's manual. I am surprised to see he hasn't checked in here yet. Some interesting conversation though.

Still there.

Not any more, looks like the price was met.

Upon review I am not certain it sold. Or maybe not through ebay. Earlier in the day it had six offers, the closed offer page still shows six offers. Maybe I am wrong but wouldn't there not have been a seventh offer to conclude the sale? There were I think two offers from what appears to be the same person. We may never know. If it had seven offers and was concluded it would be more indicative to me that it sold for the price, or if the page stated this offer ended with Buy-it-now.

If anyone followed the offer on their my ebay page, what did it show?