I just found another forum bug...

...no "Ignore" button.

-Kurt

Since the OP's title is Indecent Proposal, I'll advance them one.
Remember that movie? Same deal, and you can borrow the bike.
The girl or the million, doesn't matter.

Alright, I'll bite:

I got an August '74 Raleigh Record and a late '70s Ross Professional. I'd love to send it to you guys to disassemble them, lube them, assemble them adjust them and send them back in ready to ride condition.

I assume that you pay shipping both ways, correct?

(hey, I can get into this ;) )

Anyone wish to wager that this is all a big joke at our expense?

-Kurt

I am afraid this guy may just be serious!

The only hands and/or wrenches that will disassemble or assemble my bikes are MINE!!!

Don't worry - his topic title won't get him anywhere.

-Kurt

I like this analogy - the price to buy the chopper is $2M, the price to rent the chopper is $2M, and the price to test-drive the chopper is $2M.

Maybe if it was posted on April 1st.

Either that, or he intended to post in A&S instead of C&V.

-Kurt

My bicycles have too many unknown constraints that are hidden from dealers and customers but not from computers or experts. I feel that they would be poor examples to depict the proper fields and/or have to many attributes. Though, with a third party dealer we may be able to get past that. No?

EjustE, sultan of Schwinn....

Our bicycle expert just told me that if I wanted still more abuse I should go now to the Mechanics forum and ask "what to do with my Pliers". :)

We are going to "totally rethink" this thing - it may not even be necessary. Its about getting enough in-depth information on a few bikes so we can "tune" our inference code, see it work with a few helper classes, and then open the gates for more of the same. It seems like a good idea to start small on a few known bikes and test the software out. (Now that I've stuck me head out and had it kicked a few times, he's suggesting I talk to a Bicycle shop in Madison. That might be the way to go.)

Anyway, you will note that in the first posting I spoke of a trusted 3rd party. I know Peter up at Alfred Station from a stint I did with Alfred University back in '01 - I leased a Linear Recumbent from him. But let me find out what might make sense. This has been an interesting experience.

Michael

More crappy PR-esque gobbledygook.

You knew someone, and you still have to find out about making sense, which should be interesting. Have you thought of running for office? You're better then most politicians at skirting a question with a roundabout answer that states absolutely nothing and makes no sense.

-Kurt

i didn't know you could get computer access from psychiatric wards...........

Perhaps we've bashed enough. Hopefully next time the bike guy instead of the coder guy will post looking for info. Inference code and instances usually don't mesh with C&V too well.

The "proposal" sounds a lot like a computer science student trying to find a way to apply his/her training to bicycles. Project for a database class perhaps?

I don't even know what inference means.

I think that is what happens with friction shifters when you have not adjusted them properly and try to jump more than a couple of gears at a time :)

Probably the vBulletin™ people trying to develop an even more bug-ridden Version 5.0.0 Beta 1 in order to drive us completely up the wall with their forum software.

-Kurt

Sorry, Michael. I read it all twice. I am a real live practicing software engineer, among other things, and you've boogled my mind up.

But, in your favor...I think you've added a new expression to the BF lexicon...when one is boogled, you know it must be messed up!

I think you guys are nuts!

I would love to have my 69' Peugeot PX-10 taken apart and done things to... for the sake of science and codes and inferences.

The OP sounds like he is a knowledgeable person, and just because I don't understand it, doesn't make him less coherent.

Where do I sign up?

All joking aside...

I think the OP is sincere. I just think he is coming from such a different place (re: point of reference).

Let me translate what I think he is asking...

"I need a bike that you guys think is high-end collectible. We want to use it for a complex internets matrix thing that you won't understand. By taking it apart and making measurements, we can test our codes and inferences. The result will be an Internets based website that will allow customers to create virtual bicycles online, similar to those new car dealership customizations. We think we can return your bike undamaged within a few riding seasons."

How'd I do???

Dear Senator!

Even if you are only pulling my leg I surely do appreciate the fresh approach!

I've been thinking on how to explain this better and without the jargon. Let me try this again...

One the goals of our project is compatibility checking. I was explaining how this will work to a knowledgeable bicycle school guy some months ago, and he pretty much immediately suggested that the "ultimate test" will be if two complete virtual bikes are built in our software, and then the frames are swapped.

Ouch!?

Go to the parts department guy at your LBS with the question: "What will be the issues will I have if I attempt to swap this frame for that one on this bike." If he can finish that in a few hours, then tell him you are also interested in another frame....

Our on the other hand we have already tested "firing" 6,000 focused little bite size "mini programs" written in our invented for bicycles language - it takes about 10 seconds. We see some exciting use for this technology.

However, these little programs (also called Agents, or Boids) require that the data be in unambiguous form. Also in order to keep these little programs small and simple we have to write "helper classes" to assist the programs - so interference fits is one helper, threads is another, and we think there might be about 20 of these for bicycles.

Maybe you can tell now some of the fun we are having trying to do something right that has never been done before. We need to start somewhere.

If we do this, your bike will be one of the best documented bikes on this planet.


Thanks,

Michael

Perhaps this thread could be merged with one of the frequent C&V treads where the regulars congratulate themselves on how much friendlier and more welcoming and helpful this subforum is than, say, the Road subforum.

I think the thing I don't understand is why he needs vintage or historically relevant bicycles. Wouldn't freebie trash curb pick ups and 25 dollar boat anchors work just as well if the point of this is to test software and translate real world bicycles into code?