top506

1) On a ride posted here I was doing slow circles in a gravel parking lot on the Gitane When the rear wheel kicked out.

2) On a charity ride while waiting for my daughter to catch up I turned into a steeply banked gutter and couldn't kick out of the clip.

3) the same charity ride two years later: pulling into a rest stop one of the wrenches looks at the Schwinn SS and says "that's the coolest bike I've seen all day!".

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3speedslow

Just today in fact. Was thinking of using green cotton handlebar tape for this project. I had the rolls on the bars while I worked on them, see if the colour clicked. Got to the barcons and had them half way on. Had the duh moment when I realized I would not be able to remove the rolls with the barcons installed !

Had read the thread this morning so went to get the pic for self incriminating evidence. Yet another build up for this one with Japan and France the countries of choice this time.

jimmuller 

#3 make up for the other two big time.

Hummer

I've done that. More than once. But not with a carbon frame. Forgot that I was in clip in pedals.

Freaks out the car drivers. They just don't know why you did that.

daf1009

Another classic C&V moment...was riding on Sunday...and noticed that my pedals were getting closer and closer...as I slowly, but surely sunk the seat post down into the seat tube! Oops...forgot to tighten the binder bolts enough when I adjust the seat a bit before leaving for my ride...AND...left my multi tool at my Jeep where I was adjusting the seat!

Nice, long, 8 mile ride, sitting basically on the seat tube! What a reminder that even solid steel seat posts provide some level of shock absorption!

Also...several other riders along the trail made sure that I knew that my seat was not adjusted correctly!

jimmuller 

Another not-falling-over C&V moment - While pausing, munching, and calling home during the return from my Saturday ride I saw a lovely woman ride by on a lovely, brightly colored smallish bike with an Italianish name, something I couldn't read clearly because of the script font and the colors. It might have said Marenonni or some similar form of pasta. A few moments later after I'd started up I found her on the side of the trail pulling the rear tire off. As I always do I asked if she had everything under control, and of course she did. The I asked about the bike. She'd had it custom made in 1997, steel of course, short vertical rear DOs, and from 10ft away seemingly very competent. She said it fit so well and was so comfortable that couldn't see ever replacing it. Then she said she'd just been in Florida and had rented a CF bike, didn't like it all. It was just too jarring a ride. So we spoke about steel bikes for a few more moments, including the '87 Bianchi I was riding. Then I rode on, feeling refreshed and knowing that neither of our bikes was likely to aspolde.

rootboy 

ACK! …and no pics, Jim?

RALEIGH_COMP 

The really breathtaking awesome shots of vintage steel is what really got me hooked on C&V in the first place. So for me, taking pictures is definitely a part of it. That being said, the curious/ odd looks I get sometimes when taking pictures is pretty classic. Especially if I do any adjusting, like trying to get the handle bars to stay strait.

"Dad, why is that man taking pictures of his bike?"
"Oh uh... um I'm not sure son..."

top506

Pretty sure you and Sharon witnessed #1 .

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DavidW56

Two C&V crash moments last week for me: first, I was re-entering the street from the sidewalk via the ramp for the crossing sidewalk, and I caught the right pedal on the edge of the curb, knocking the bike and me over on my left side. Not seriously injured but sore. Two days later, once again on a sidewalk (because I was headed against one-way traffic), I tried to fit between a sandbagged construction sign and a hip-high wall, and it was too narrow a space. The bike rotated around the front axle and I landed squarely on the same knee I'd hurt two days prior. Still no serious injury, but it is very tender.

But the best C&V moment in my family belongs to my younger son, who is graduating from U-M this spring. Last year, after the Christmas holiday break, the whole family was bringing him back to campus, and while helping him unload the van to his rental house, I asked him where he left his bike. It is a black 1991 Schwinn Crisscross, a hybrid perfect for campus commuting. In the tone that says "I know what I'm doing, Dad", he told me it was locked in its usual spot, to the fire escape stairway post outside the back of the house, and he continued carrying luggage with his brother up to his third-floor room .

Except that I checked and the bike wasn't there. I checked the basement, the garage, and all around the yard and no bike. Knowing that he and his older brother do not like when I second-guess them, I waited until they came out of the house and asked about the bike again.

Exasperated with my nagging about the bike, he turned to point out the bike, saying "It's right there...." and then exasperating turned to perplexity, and then to anger as he realized someone had stolen his bike. It was late at night in early January, and poorly lit, but we could still tell there was no bike, and no trace of his Kryptonite cable lock, either.

We all got back in the van with their mother and sister and discussed what to do. My son had a notion that one of his housemates had played a prank on him by taking his bike for a joyride and leaving it somewhere else on central campus. This was apparently a common occurrence, although to me and his mom, it didn't make sense that someone managed to defeat his lock. But we drove off to central campus anyway.

He formulated the plan: he and his brother would scour the bike racks around the Diag while I and their mom and sister drove around the perimeter doing the same. His older brother, who spent his first four years after high school in the army as combat military police, muttered dire threats to the unsavory perpetrator once we'd caught up with him. We let the boys out on the State Street side of the Diag and then turned at North University.

We hadn't made it halfway around campus before my wife got a call from our older son: they had found the bike - and the lock was with it. He named a spot to pick them up and hung up. His mom and I looked at each other, eyebrows raised, and I said aloud what we were both thinking: "Someone opened the lock without damage, the locked up the bike again? Outside the last building our son took an exam? How thoughtful of this bike thief!"

The boys had no inkling even while they loaded the bike into the van, while we were waiting, trying not to smile too much. We tried to point them to the answer with leading questions: "Isn't it amazing that they were able to get into that lock without breaking it? And then to lock the bike out in the open near the library? And do you remember riding it back to your house that last day before Christmas vacation?"

At last, our son remembered he'd met a friend outside the building after his last exam, then walked his friend's frat party. The bike had sat, unmolested, locked to a rack on the Diag for two weeks.

jimmuller 

Alas, I will probably never see her again.

But I suspect the bike was one of these:
Cycles Marinoni

Reynolds 

A couple of months ago I was going to meet some friends at a roadside bar. As I got there at about 30kph, went from the paved road to the gravel shoulder. At that moment, a friend who was at the left side of the road waved, and I looked at him and waved back. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground, in a cloud of dust, entangled with the bike. My friends helped me out, some thought it was very bad because there was a lot of blood, but I had only a lot of road rash and a swollen and painful knee. One of them gave me a ride home in his car.
Turns out my front wheel hit the only fist-sized stone there was in sight when I lifted my hand to wave...

The Golden Boy 

Don't you hate those- like getting in an accident in an empty parking lot. I've never done THAT one, but I was parachuting, there was ONE tree taller than all the other surrounding the drop zone- my chute went RIGHT to that tree and I couldn't pick my legs up high enough. I bounced down that tree breaking off 3" branches all the way down...

I remember laying on the ground, every inch of my body screaming at me, the medics were coming up to me- and I was like "DON'T TOUCH ME!"

mort1369

Did something similar on my Raleigh USA. Had those Pure Fix straps on it. I was coming up to an intersection (literally, it was uphill), realized I wasn't going to be able to get my right foot out, and thud, went over. Fortunately, I have enough muscle (and flab) that I didn't hurt myself. Needless to say, those straps came off right there, and only made it with me as far as our local Smith's.

ElliotSF

Two moments:

1) Two years ago I found and bought, from San Francisco Craigslist, a Miyata 1000LT for $250.

2) A few weeks ago, a well-known bike designer looked at my commuter, a 1983 Univega SupraSport, and said, "There was a time I wouldn't give that bike a second look. But hey, it's got a crown, it's got good Suntour components, and someone at the factory even lined the lugs." Made my day.

daf1009

Those are great C&V moments! Was riding recently when a guy on a "modern, all carbon, all high tech" bike passed me...whizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....then stopped about 30 yards down the road...waited on me (at my normal, 13 mph) and then commented on my Raleigh Super Course..."wow! what a cool looking bike, wish my bike had the cool factor that yours does!" And away he went...

northbend 

There is nothing better than sharing the passion with my son. I'll be visiting him next month in Colorado.

jimmuller 

At the turnaround point in yesterday's ride I was sitting on a bench in front of a convenience store downing some water when a dad with three boys in tow, ages maybe 8-10, went into the store, stopped, looked at the bike, and said "Wow! That's a real classic!"

About a minute later one of the boys from the gaggle hanging around the corner, also maybe age 10, came by and said "I like your bike!"

I thanked them both, of course.

So for all you kitted-out hotshot riders who passed me on your CF bikes on the MM bikeway when I'd already ridden 70 miles, nyah! My bike is cooler than yours.

Of course it doesn't hurt that it is bright red and silver.

rootboy 

A couple years ago I was riding on the Cape Cod Rail Trail and at one of the round-a-bouts, some guy on the opposite side of the circle yelled out "NICE MOTEBECANE!". How he could tell from 60 feet away what it was stumped me, but I waved and thanked him. And smiled of course. It's always good when someone else notices, and appreciates, your classic ride.

RobbieTunes

A neighbor who bought an '81 Semi Pro from me (and won't sell it back) called to say he was bringing over some folks who may want to buy a bike.

I pulled 'em down from the racks and set 'em up, just for fun.

On one side of the garage:
'85 Merckx, '85 Cinelli/Centurion, '87 D'Arienzo/Basso, an '87 Centurion LeMans RS, '88 Raleigh Horizon, '79 Semi Pro.
On the other side of the garage:
'95 Treck OCLV 5500, '96 Kestrel 200SCi, '98 Kestrel KM40 Airfoil, '13 Merckx EMX3, '06 Cinelli XLR8R-2, '04 Quintana Roo Kilo
On one end of the garage:
'95 Klein Quantum, '95 Hot Tubes TT.

In comes the group, 3 young male college graduates, the dad/neighbor, and a little pixie, obviously the object of affection of one of the lads.

Typical C&V moment, as they walk around and pick up the bikes, one by one. At least they weren't kicking the tires.
They think the LeMans RS is a tank, but they appreciate the truck mentality. "It's like a Surly."

Pixie wants the QR Kilo; boyfriend agrees. Then again, if I were him, I'd agree to about anything she said.

One young man asks about the Kestrels; he is 5'8" and he wants to spend $500 max. The 200SCi is $600.
"Pretty heavy for all carbon," he says. Yep, it's a '95 and those Rev-X wheels aren't the lightest.
"Price firm?" he asks. Yep, full tricolor 8-sp STI, carbon post, new saddle, carbon wheels, pretty much non-negotiable.
"Well, it sure is cool." I offer a test ride on the Trek OCLV 5500. "Nah, it's got those old (downtube) shifters."
He wants to come back and try out the 200SCi for a week (my offer, his decision).

One of them is 6'2" and all he wants is a set of aero clip-ons, and to make Pixie happy. Can't blame him there.
He wants the QR re-done in road trim. For $300. I'll see what I can do. Pixie's kind of got everyone's attention.

The other is 6' and he wants advice on flipping his current ride for "all carbon." I tell him CL.
He asks if I'll find him another bike. Hmm, 58cm. There's a SystemSix EVO on CL, and I tell him I'll look.
He moves to the '85 orange Merckx. His dad starts laughing. Go ahead, take it down the street.
He hops on and is gone. His dad asks "really?" I'm confident he won't want it. "Why not?" Peer pressure.
Sonny comes back, is a little confused, "it's steel, right?" "How can it be so smooth?" Uh, it's steel.

Now, the 6'2" guy wants a taste, so I put him and the other guy on the Cinelli and the D'Arienzo, tell all 3 to get lost for 15-20 minutes.

Dad says, "what are you going to do if they want one of those?" Tell you to open your wallet real wide.

Meanwhile, we talk bikes. He still won't part with the Semi Pro. No problem, I point to the '79. Got my fix.

"Tres Hombres" return. They all now have that dazed and confused look. Their belief system is under attack.
"These are so much heavier, but they ride the same as our bikes, even better." Let out the line a little...
"So, how much for one of these?" Dad/neighbor is really laughing now. Not for sale, just a little lesson.
Pixie says "I don't get it." Bless her little heart.

Boyfriend decides the QR Kilo is worth a try, so I'll see what I can do for Her. Road setup is actually not a bad idea for her.

As they leave, all they can talk about are the steel bikes.
Dad/neighbor calls, says they're all on their phones, looking for steel bikes on CL.

World Domination, one bike at a time.

jimmuller 

Robbie, I love it!

Sure, take it out for 15 minutes...

CroMo Mike 

Today I went out for my daily ride. The weather was beautiful. I chose the '82 Colnago and headed out on my usual route. At one point I realized that I was headed onto a mile of road where the county had recently ground off the top layer of pavement, leaving some real rough pavement scattered with loose gravel. One look and I said heck no. I turned around, and took a different way. Fragile vintage paint and decals, nos Mavic rims, new Conti tubulars - no way I'm riding on that mess. Maybe if I had a new bike and clinchers, but not on C&V.

jimmuller 

Today's commute home: About 15 miles one way, a cold, cloudy day. Drivers were acting like they wanted to be anywhere except driving home. At about the 11 or 12 mile point there is an uphill right turn onto a section of 2-lane, past a farm stand (often a booming business), downhill slightly with the shoulder getting rougher and dirtier with farm detritus and mud runoff, then steeper uphill and around a right-hand bend with the shoulder disappearing and a low stone curb that I really don't want to hit, eventually leading to a split where most traffic goes left and I go right because it's a safer route. I've usually been hammering on the previous road and up the first rise, but I like to slow down and give my legs a rest before hitting the second hill so that I'm not wobbling when the road narrows.

While I was coasting the little downhill today a guy on a CF bike blows by me exuding a spirit of disdain. (I can sense that. ) I was ticked because he didn't announce his presence and because that's a potentially dangerous section. Of course the truth is that I still have enough testosterone that I hate being passed. Okay... When we got to the uphill part I notice him slowing, his cadence dropped way down. Hmm, is he running racing gears? Or just a racer-wannabe who doesn't know how to use his bike?

I shifted down to a gear one notch higher than I might have otherwise and powered up the hill. No traffic came by to interfere. By the time we got to the split at the top of the rise I was right on his tail. For the next quarter mile I followed closely wishing he'd pick it up. The road finally goes up another steep section for a few hundred yards then hits a T where I go left and down a very fast section (can hit 35 there). Halfway up that uphill I got tired of his slow pace and powered on by. ("Passing on your left.") He was hacking and trying to breathe harder.

At the top of the hill we both went left but I couldn't see him for a while. I know the road and my bike. I cranked the pedals for a bit, got into a tuck, let it fly. After half a mile of dead flat road I saw him in my mirror, in a tuck way back. Repeated glances showed him gaining slightly. Ain't gonna' happen, I said. I clicked it up and kept my lead. Around another bend and over another rise to a swift long downhill with a stoplight in the middle. I never saw him crest the top of the hill; I suspect he lost momentum going over. I got caught at the stoplight but it turned green as he came into sight again. Down the last stretch to Waverley Square and another light where I had to wait again to turn left. I had lost sight of him on that last downhill. I think he went right.

The Centurion won that round. Steel lives!

Sir_Name 

Great stories.

jimmuller 

Thank you.

I had another C&V moment this evening, this time about tires. Last night I trued up the UO8's front wheel then pulled the bike up from the basement and prep'ed it for today's commute. It has lights which would have been good in the predicted showers. This morning the weather was atrocious, and since I've been driving myself pretty hard physically lately I decided to skip the bike. Fast forward to this evening. I decided to take the Raleigh tomorrow and move the UO8 back to the basement. That's when I discovered the flat front tire. Hmph, it was just fine last night.

I pulled the tire and found that the rubber rim strip had holes at more than half of the spoke wells. The inner surface of the tube was dimpled from having sunk into the wells, and one of the dimples had a hole. Okay, that rim strip has been in place for a loooong time. Maybe my turning the nipples last night created tears and encouraged the problem.

Time for a new rim strip. I prefer cloth rim strips anyway.

I might have taken that bike off to work this morning and had a flat in the rain flying down one of Woburn's hills. A spare tube could possibly have gone flat in short order. St. Tullio was looking out for me this morning.