Nu2Miele

Hi guys (and gals too),
I must say that even though I've been a member for some time, I have't posted much. BUT I've felt compelled to comment here. I have had nothing but good feedback and great experiences here, even through PMs. This is contrast to some other forums ( hifi audio stuff) of which I am a member. On those forums there are lots of what I call "audio snobs". Having never gone anywhere but the C&V forums here, I can only say that almost every topic and every post I've read tries to offer the OP good solid advice.
Regarding what others might consider taboos, doing a "tribute" is not the end of the world, as long as it is a tongue-in-cheek tribute (was there a "7-11 tribute bike" here?) or is stated as a reproduction. No harm, no foul. Say you have the exact same frame as a famous race bike. You upgrade the parts to what the original equipment that the original famous bike would have, and perhaps do an as original "halo" paint job, decals, etc. This represents a significant investment. Would I do this? No, but I understand the appeal.
Now regarding faking a bike as something it is in no way related to what it is or being made to appear to be to be a rare or expensive bike. This is what everyone should convince someone from doing. Say good parts on a cheap frame. This is what I call fraudeulent if the goal is to cheat someone. As far as updating a bike with reasonable newer parts is no problem to me. Bicycles that ate ridden wear out parts.

Rocky Gravol

I've made the mistake of mentioning my fondness for platform pedals, stem shifters and safety levers on other sub groups here. It didn't go well.
Things I'm free to admit here.

curbtender

You should at least mispell the name....
​​​​

Rollfast

It only hurts me if I fall.

noglider 

Well, there are some announcements here in C&V. There are google calendars for this stuff, and digital social media are becoming good for spreading the word. Facebook is now telling me about events I might want to attend. There's one in PA I think I won't do, but there's one in upstate New York I'm considering. It's more of a race, and there won't be old bikes there except for mine, but that's OK.

dgodave

Say what?

Have you posted pics somewhere?

Duo

i enjoyed stem shifters in the 70's, had them on my first Nishiki international. a great bike and over the top fun. in the end, any kind of shifter is fine. your safety levers and platform pedals are good too because you ride and not taking up real estate on the couch while doing so. that count's for a lot.


pretty much. most Road forums are concerned the hot new whatever. for me it is about function, does the thing ride?

yes.

good then 'shut up and ride'. that is what we used to say on a motorcycle forum....and what we like about C and V, my stuff is not high end, but high enuf and better than most out there who care less about bikes.

thanks all. the enthusiasm for this old stuff just keeps us going.

crank_addict

Build for yourself and enjoy.

A gentle note to self:
"Now, did I install the chain upside down?"

Emojo bozo

RobbieTunes

And I've met you, and a very interesting other guy (Sykerocker). And was invited to the bicycle yard sale, and it was great. Nothing but good.

RobbieTunes

Do NOT feed the wildlife! You never, ever know what he'll do.

garryg

Interesting thread. I am new to this forum. I just posted about a vintage Gitane i picked up today. Sure it is gas pipe entry level etc but it is going to be fun to make it rideable and pretty again.I am not in it for the money but for the fun. Lots of great info on this site.

deux jambes

Lascauxcaveman 

Hahahaha. Rocky, you suck and your bikes suck. And your mama dresses you funny.

(Obviously, kidding!)

I'm a big fan of platform pedals myself, all of my bikes have them, except for the few that have those silly triangular Shimano 105 dealies with toeclips. And before I discovered they weren't "cool," I had stem shifters on my one and only bike for the longest time, my '72 Lambert that was equipped with all the old crap I took off my bent 1970s Le Tour. I still have those stem shifters and will probably put them on something, someday.

I remember well that rock-solid-gorgeous Peugeot you brought to that ride we did from Issaquah up to Marymoor Park and beyond that one day; hope to see it again.

Vonruden

1987

I mostly agree.
My experience so far is that BF is the friendliest bike forum I've visited.

Have you tried LFGSS? Or any other low self esteem hipster forum? Well, stay out of them if you are sensitive.

Oh. One controversial thing. Never take safety lightly on an american forum. The safety officers will go banans.

The Golden Boy 

Again, I'm sorry- and still feel really bad about that- I misread your reply to my post and thought you were accusing me of lying.

If I wouldn't have gone downstairs to take pix and post them to prove I wasn't lying, I wouldn't have realized you didn't say I was lying.

On the plus side- there's now current pix demonstrating the winding direction of silver and gold cantilever springs!

deux jambes

merziac

Safety Police = thinnest of the skinned and rightfully so for themselves I suppose.

The Golden Boy 

No one likes to be wrong- when I'm wrong and realize I'm wrong- I've learned some really cool things. For example: it makes all the sense in the world that manufacturers of tubing stamp their tubing- not the manufacturer of the frame. I would have expected that a Reynolds steerer would be stamped by Reynolds, but I was very surprised that Tange (who makes their own tubing) stamped the steerer when they built the fork from Reynolds tubing. That was neat.

On the other hand, when some people are wrong and get defensive and accusatory- I don't react well to that. For example: the guy who didn't like that I informed him that Suntour Barcons are not Retrofriction. I was accused of being "not helpful" and "thread crapping." I didn't take that well- but I didn't feel I needed to.

Regarding the canti springs- I'm sure you did the same thing I did- Googled it- found the BMX thread. I KNOW there's a difference- and know that it's related to what direction the spring is wound... I ran into it when overhauling my roller cams years ago- and I've had several sets of Shimano and DiaCompe cantilevers. Since then I've made sure to keep the springs with their respective caliper- I still couldn't tell you which side the gold and silver springs go on by memory...

mstateglfr 

Being 6'5, I know a thing or two about setups to make a bike fit vs looking perfect!
And agreed that this is a rare site for the internet when it comes to politeness and support.

I admittedly have commented, in a perhaps negative way about a handful of times, on the setup of other poster's bikes. Its been in an attempt to make sure they know the setup is anything but traditional. I could see it being taken negatively, but it isnt meant that way.
if the setup they have is done for something like long arms, limited mobility, etc then great and fine.
if the setup they have done is due to a simple lack of understanding, then it's perhaps helpful to point out the non-traditional part of the setup.

an example is bars that are tilted upwards and brake levers mounted super high up on the bars.
if those things are needed to get the bike to fit, then cool. But those things usually lead to pain(bent wrists for example) so if that can be avoided then all the better.


its a fine line for sure. This forum is better than anywhere else of toeing that fine line.

a77impala

EssGee

Well said . . . and it needed to be said.

Kooggeer

There are many wants to say the same thing.

I guess that all of us amateurs are looking for constructive criticism regarding our projects or goals.

Forums and emails are a pretty cold way to communicate and sometimes a message can come across as harsh even though it wasn't meant that way.

So I'd say that responders should try to make their messages honest and straightforward but not harsh. And the recipient should try to accept the comments in the spirit in which they are offered.

Bike On!

mud

John I think I really hate you.......not sure if it's the cars, bikes or the man cave...........crap......

DMC707