DMC707

I was offered a deal on a Z4 a customer of mine was selling --- I was hesitant because I was worried about it being the "German Miata" --- is that a real consideration or am I way off base?

I live in "musclecar territory" but still have a taste for Euro-centric things --- as in, I was recently perusing websites for a decent deal on a Boxster - when a buddy said - "Why do you want a chick car?"

I didn't know what to say---- not everybody likes Camaro SS's and lifted F-350's

Somebody told me regarding the Z car that color is everything --- go for black , silver or red and its a car for all seasons and reasons ------ the one in question is gunmetal grey and I've had my mind on it for a month !

In the meantime, I get my convertible kicks in a '00 Jeep Wrangler , - yellow in color. I was at a gas station the other day and I had 2 6 gallon race cans of VP fuel for my off road bikes in the back bay (cans were pink - ) - plus had a little pink handkerchief I took off my Pekingese hanging from the rear view mirror ----

A well intentioned gent looked at all the yellow and pink and said to me -- "your daughter's a lucky gal to have a ride like that !"


I merely said "yep!" ----- but as I rolled out , I thought -- pink cans, pink kerchief, attack dog is a
Peke, (the little dog in my sig pic ) yellow jeep, ---- oh boy oh boy

qcpmsame 

bulldog1935,
You lost me at P-chem, I avoided that one completely. It was a major reason for abandoning a Chemical Eng degree, and switching to Environmental Eng. Just wasn't in the cards for this slow, less than intelligent guy, thankfully. Once organic chem was over, I activated to enlisted status, I switched after getting out of the Marines.

We did the make your own slide rule when I tool my HS physics, first three weeks were all slide rule use and application. Best three weeks of HS and well worth the time, I took physics as a junior, with the instructor's permission, really got my Alg II instructor's goat too. Ahh, fun times as an outcast and outsider from the cool kids.

Bill

bulldog1935

In HS Physics, kept two sheets of semi-log at the bottom of my paper stack to speed up checking calculations in exams
My two surprising A's in college were P-Chem and Tensor Analysis - honestly didn't know how I stood in either class, but I guess everyone else was out there, too.
I was NROTC at Vanderbilt, bought my Raleigh at Cumberland Transit there.
In my daughter's generation, the smart kids are the cool kids.

Stadjer

It's mostly the features and build quality why I buy and keep vintage stuff. When I was transporting a 40 lbs 1975 Sansui amplifier on a 48 lbs 50's bike it was just because both fitted my needs best.

But what I really like about vintage and I hardly ever see in modern stuff, is the 'making things beautifull, just because you can'. Of course on modern bikes every part is designed too, but not many current manufacturers could be bothered with engraving handle bars or elaborate lugs.

Take a sprocket like this for example, there's also one in my avatar.


I was about 11 years old when I got an old 26" Gazelle bike out of my grandpa's shed after he died. It hadn't moved for decades so it needed a little basic maintenance. I took off the fully enclosed leather chainguard and saw the sprocket with it's cut out Gazelles. Of course there are other beautiful sprockets, but this one was not meant to be shown. It was meant to stay hidden behind in the chaingard, if you were maintaining your bike really well, you'd open the chain guard only once every year. They designed and made the sprocket this beautiful, just to please the eyes of the owner or the LBS for 5 minutes while oiling and checking the chain. That's a lot of effort for little exposure, but it made me feel really appreciated by the manufacturer, both as an owner and maintainer.

That really sparked my continuing love for stuff that is made well and aims to please in all it's detail, and without it I might have given up on learning to work on bicycles.

They might say you're crazy, but a few of them probably think 'what does he know that I don't?'

Chrome Molly

Fly fishing for Musky... Tossing cat toys with hooks in them

I imagine the fight must be fantastic though.

oddjob2

I lived in Tulsa in 1978-1979, I did not find it to be intolerant of a 1973 Saab 99LE or my wearing black tie while commuting on a burgundy 1978 Suzuki GS750. Other managers had the first Honda Accord and Renault Le Car as well (well the Le Car owner was a "chick").

If the Z4 has an automatic, I would pass. For about a year, I had a Porsche 996 4S Cabriolet with Tiptronic paddle shifters and I never felt totally at one with the vehicle due to that system.

A Z4 in dark grey looks sharp. The seriously wide rubber on all 4 corners and the sweetest inline 6 cylinder on the planet takes it out of comparison with a Miata. The Z4 is also at least $10K more out the door when new.

gomango

Heh, good idea.

These lures are spendy. I have a good range of lures, but my Ballok's Northwoods Ninja and Musky Moneys are really killer.

The Musky bite is on here. Just caught a 41 incher yesterday at Lake Nokomis.

It's like catching a torpedo......

rootboy 

Holy cwap! I hope you're making your own, Grady. TWENTY BUCKS for a fly!!!??? (On one site I just checked)

A 41 inch fish, eh? That's fantastic, man. I can't imagine hooking one of those monsters in shallow water in a lake. But I'd love to try it.

rootboy 

Wonderful book, Tarwheel. As are many of his others. I wouldn't chalk what he did up to being "retro" though.
A personal challenge and a anthropological-historical experiment, perhaps.
Still, I suppose it does speak to an effort to do things "the old way".
Like making a cabinet without any powered tools, for example...or even making a lugged steel bicycle frame, I guess.

rootboy 

So true, Bulldog. And rampant in just about every outdoor pursuit that requires gear.
I was musing through a recent catalog that arrived here last week. Most companies have learned to stop sending me their fly fishing gear catalogs as I rarely if ever buy anything any more.
I had to chuckle. I mean, $890 for a fly rod? Thank you anyway. I'll stick with my ten year old Scott rods.

Is a brand new fly rod, or bicycle, better than an older one? Maybe. But probably not. Like Bulldog says, it's nearly all sales hype. In small niche markets they have to keep re-inventing their wares in order to sell you the latest and greatest.

But it doesn't follow that those who prefer not to partake of this marketing strategy are retro, or grouches in any way.

bulldog1935

It's not being a grouch, it's wearing the badge with pride. But to the marketers (and young turk salesmen at LBS), you're a grouch.

what's even better is a new to you 1932 fly rod that was in Fred Thomas' hand.

gomango

Luckily I got those from my students.

Are you still tying up flies?

Camilo

Wow. I'd like to meet some of those "bullies" - I never have. I have seen people who enjoy modern gear and don't like retro-gear, but I've never met a bully. In fact I've never met a person who expresses anything but admiration, or at worst, curiosity when they see a retro rider. Bullies? That's rich. I think you might read too many overly-sensitive "shaming" stories on the internet.

On the other hand, I have met a lot of retro-lovers, in person and online, who disparage people who like modern gear, example:

To me this is a disparaging way of referring to someone who isn't dressed or riding "approved" gear, as if the rider is a clueless Euro-pro wannabe instead of what he probably is: just a guy who likes modern gear and likes to dress in that sort (highly functional) stuff when he rides. I don't wear pro-logo gear, but so what?

By the way, I own and admire vintage gear. If I could own only one bike, I'd sell every bike I own and find myself a top-shelf vintage steel bike, probably with downtube indexed shifting, but friction would be OK too. But I have, and love, my carbon fiber bike with modern-ish 10 speed integreted shifters.

Salamandrine 

Yeah, it does seem to cut both ways if you're honest. I've been known to think disparaging things and sometimes say them.

Actually I get mostly oohs and ahhs from carbon riding cyclists out on the road when they see my old PX10. I also get quite a few people trying to sprint past me because, as everyone knows, steel bikes are heavy and slow, and they don't want to get embarrassed by losing to one. It becomes sort of and accidental form of humiliation when they get passed again a little later. People new to cycling seem to have the misconceived notion that the new bikes are like 1/3 the weight of steel and twice as efficient. It's still not about the bike.

Cyclist0108

Can't be done. Sorry. (I teach P-chem.)

Classical thermodynamics doesn't actually posit the existence of molecules.

Mobile 155

There is something about the old Peugeots that can cause people to stop and take a look. I use mine for Coffee shop rides. My original thought was because it was the oldest bike in my fleet it would be the safest to park and lock outside. It turns out I was wrong because it draws people moths to a light.

That being said it is not my choice for chasing down many of the CF club riders I know in my area. And hardly ever if such a chase involves a long ride up a mountain. I do use it now and then on group rides.

I do have a friend that does chase them down on climbs on an old Serotta, but he weighs maybe a buck ten and can't keep up on the down hill or the flats.

bulldog1935

you teach statistical thermo (particle in a box) and say something can't be done?

not only did I get an A in P-chem, I didn't take the final and got an A.

jimmuller 

I would never disparage the people but I will happily disparage the bikes! That's half the fun, you know.

bulldog1935

All about person choices, no disdain for other people's choices, except for that 30-something salesman in the LBS who's putting all those round people in lycra.

noglider 

I'm sure round people enjoy wearing lycra as much as I do. I don't expect them to care what I think of how they look. I'm happy to see round people riding bikes anyway.

As Andy Rooney said, "I'm in shape. Round is a shape."

cehowardGS

I love my 80 bikes, but I am not period-correct by a long shot.. My mid 80s Ironmans, they get STI, but my 85 Raleighs and even earlier ones, I kept them with DTs, but go with clincher wheels, later seats, tires, and of course new er bartape..

On the stick shift, up until this year, with the mini van, the F150 was the only auto tranny I ever owned. All stick shift, and not only that, all with just 2 doors too.. ..Dam, I need to go back to that!!

gomango

Heh, I resemble that remark.

Stuffed sausages unite!!!!!!!!

bulldog1935

which I stated about 3 pages ago. no need to call me out (is it grouch to call someone else grouch?)
But there's something to be said for baggy canvas and nylon bike shorts, as well

As far as the enjoy part, most of the round people I've seen in lycra were not enjoying anything, especially the riding position of their new drop bar road bike
(on my ride this morning, there were about 200 out in my semi-rural borough).
There's also something to be said for smart, efficient semi-upright and upright bikes

Cougrrcj

Snausages!

Bandera

Just the thing for plootering down to the farmers market, Vanderpool to Leaky not so much.
Horses for courses and all that......

-Bandera