Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

A sad day, personally, classic French touring contents

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

A sad day, personally, classic French touring contents

Old 07-15-19, 02:24 AM
  #1  
styggno1
Steel is real
Thread Starter
 
styggno1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 1,104

Bikes: 40 - accumulated over 40 years

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 374 Post(s)
Liked 1,076 Times in 302 Posts
A sad day, personally, classic French touring contents

Yesterday my older brother came to me and asked me to sell his touring bike.
(And - no - this is not an ad for selling it here. It will be done elsewere and at a later time).

For me this request is sad in so many ways. I got him into biking many years ago, in the 80ies, and we have had such a wonderful time training, racing and touring together since then. He is 11 years older than me and at only 66 he has to hang up his cycling gloves. His lower back is in a mess and there is nothing to be done about it. It has been that way for quite some time but taking the decision to sell his good bike sort of makes it definitive.

I am sad for his back. I am sad to loose him to the couch. I am sad it has to be this way and I am sad for the bike. Parting with your good bike for any reason is sad. Parting with it as a part of giving up...done by a man that has not known "giving up" in his life... I am sorry but this is very emotional for me.

The bikes frame is a wonderful example of Francis Quillon: s work. It is branded Geliano and even though it sounds Italian it is as French as a baguette. It has it all.

My brother did 540 km (335 miles) in 22 h and 45 minutes, riding alone, on a mountainous course. He is disabled 25% as he cut off his right hand at work when 18. Before that he was a wrestler at national level here in Sweden. After the accident he started weightlifting and did 165 kg bench pressing, at 80 kg body weight, in a tournament (for non disabled), did military service, ran 10 km in 45 minutes, bicycled, etc. A guy not letting his handicap define him. And then his back betrays him in the end.

A sad day.



Together with my Meral - and yes we are quite diffrent in height... He has always said he got to be short because he had to carry my so much when I was a child.


Last edited by styggno1; 07-15-19 at 02:32 AM.
styggno1 is offline  
Likes For styggno1:
Old 07-15-19, 02:46 AM
  #2  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 8,484

Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3846 Post(s)
Liked 6,437 Times in 3,183 Posts
Besides its impressive quality and beauty, it looks like everything everyone wants right now in a do-it-all vintage bike.

And it sounds like the one-handed, Swedish wrestler/cyclist/weightlifting vet has a story to tell.
SurferRosa is offline  
Old 07-15-19, 03:02 AM
  #3  
CliffordK
Senior Member
 
CliffordK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,600
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18319 Post(s)
Liked 4,487 Times in 3,337 Posts
Sweet looking bike & pair of bikes.

You've answered the question of why not just keep it.

Kids? Grandkids? Spouses? GFs? Other siblings? Nephews? Nieces? Buddies? Somebody may want the bike.

Have you talked with him about trying a recumbent or trike?



E-Trike?
CliffordK is offline  
Old 07-15-19, 09:17 AM
  #4  
mechanicmatt
Hoards Thumbshifters
 
mechanicmatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Signal Mountain, TN
Posts: 1,173

Bikes: '23 Black Mtn MC, '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 245 Post(s)
Liked 322 Times in 189 Posts
Things change...

I'm terribly sorry to hear this for you, not for the bike but for your brother. Life causes things to change over time, look to find another activity with him and not worry so much about biking. Maybe a three wheeled recumbant? Fishing? Walks? Swimming Pool-time? Chess at a park? The idea can be just to change the lifestyle, not to give up hope. Maybe just need to find activities while sitting or

I am 40, at 37 I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I wake up everyday with pain, small or large. I have given up on gluten, dairy, and highly acidic foods and drinks (pizza and coffee). I can't run really anymore, I can't really play soccer (which I did with my wife), and can't do house building projects more than a day at a time usually. I can still bike, so I do. I can still build, so I do. Just need time to take it easy between. Life changes things but that doesn't have to make you inactive.
mechanicmatt is offline  
Old 07-15-19, 09:58 AM
  #5  
TenGrainBread 
Senior Member
 
TenGrainBread's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 2,742
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1136 Post(s)
Liked 649 Times in 336 Posts
Sad news about your brother. He sounds like an amazing athlete with quite a spirit. As others have said, there is a rich market of recumbents and trikes that allow riding when a traditional diamond frame is not feasible.

If you were selling in the US I would certainly be interested in buying that bike. It's my size and suits my riding style.
TenGrainBread is offline  
Likes For TenGrainBread:
Old 07-15-19, 10:05 AM
  #6  
Velocivixen
Senior Member
 
Velocivixen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
Posts: 4,525
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 400 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times in 26 Posts
I’m sorry to hear about your brother, and I know that these changes can be sad. Has he considered riding a Recumbent bike?! There are all kinds out there. I’m mostly riding recumbents as a preservative for my lower back.

What im suggesting is that it doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing’’ for your brother.
Velocivixen is offline  
Old 07-15-19, 11:07 AM
  #7  
squirtdad
Senior Member
 
squirtdad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,848

Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque

Mentioned: 104 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2302 Post(s)
Liked 2,736 Times in 1,497 Posts
Originally Posted by CliffordK
Sweet looking bike & pair of bikes.

You've answered the question of why not just keep it.

Kids? Grandkids? Spouses? GFs? Other siblings? Nephews? Nieces? Buddies? Somebody may want the bike.

Have you talked with him about trying a recumbent or trike?



E-Trike?
this was going to be my question. I have a friend in Göteborg who rides a velo bike....... I could get more info on what he rides and sources if it is of interest
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)



squirtdad is offline  
Old 07-15-19, 11:44 AM
  #8  
Wildwood 
Veteran, Pacifist
 
Wildwood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,303

Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?

Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3874 Post(s)
Liked 4,779 Times in 2,204 Posts
Be sad for your brother but not too sad. You introduced him to a sport he enjoyed.

I have a brother who I encouraged to get a bicycle when he retired. He bought an e-mtb with wide tires. It's been sitting unused. That's sad.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Wildwood is offline  
Old 07-15-19, 05:40 PM
  #9  
styggno1
Steel is real
Thread Starter
 
styggno1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 1,104

Bikes: 40 - accumulated over 40 years

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 374 Post(s)
Liked 1,076 Times in 302 Posts
Thank you all!

I have to modify my message a bit... Even though my brother cannot bicycle as he wants to anymore he has a full life (though painful most of the time). He hunts, got a young hunting dog that needs training, walks a lot, a 12 year younger wife that keeps him occupied, children since earlier, etc. He has not given up on life. Just bicycling. I realize my post might look very negative - but it is maybe more from my perspective. Loosing a bicyling friend and sparring partner. He does not look upon it that way. He is much more positive than I am...

About his back. Thank you all for your concern and suggestions. It is really nice and shows how continents apart people can care and share. He has the best of care though. I do not know if you guys know about the health system over here in Sweden but it is "free" (or rather - instead of private insurance you pay for it by taxation) and it is of very, very high quality. He has got specialists attending to his problems and is fully aware of his options. His biggest problem apart from his back is actually a pain threshold beyond what is healthy. It has alway been that way and that is of course a part of why he has problems now. He has always pushed himself beyond what is normal. And now he pays for it.

I am not worried about him now anymore than I have ever/always been. He is my eldest brother, my idol for many years (and still), and he will keep on being him. Just not on a bike anymore (even a recumbent/tricycle). We are three brothers and we are close. We talk about life and what happens a lot. We are getting older and things/we, of course, cannot stay the same as time passes.

I am sorry if my post seemed like he was broken. He is not. He is just not a bicyclist anymore. And that is probably more of my problem than his...

With kindest regards

Last edited by styggno1; 07-15-19 at 05:51 PM.
styggno1 is offline  
Likes For styggno1:
Old 07-15-19, 06:12 PM
  #10  
merziac
Senior Member
 
merziac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 14,099

Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4493 Post(s)
Liked 6,297 Times in 3,632 Posts
^^^^ No worries, vent on, we got you, glad your brother has it as well sorted as he can.

I suspect he'll get you there too.
merziac is offline  
Likes For merziac:
Old 07-16-19, 02:14 AM
  #11  
Jantaras
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Finland
Posts: 128
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Liked 24 Times in 17 Posts
Hello, sorry to hear your brother cannot cycle anymore. Very beautiful bike, I wanted it, but someone was quicker than me
Jantaras is offline  
Old 07-16-19, 11:30 AM
  #12  
noglider 
aka Tom Reingold
 
noglider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,691

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Mentioned: 510 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7287 Post(s)
Liked 2,361 Times in 1,380 Posts
Beautiful story, @styggno1.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Old 07-16-19, 05:01 PM
  #13  
qcpmsame 
Semper Fi
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,942
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1172 Post(s)
Liked 358 Times in 241 Posts
Hoping for all the best to come about with your brother's future, and he is fortunate to have as caring a brother as you @styggno1

Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977

I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13


qcpmsame is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
riverdrifter
Touring
98
07-12-20 08:13 AM
jrickards
Touring
43
11-21-14 07:53 AM
mtnbud
Touring
4
10-17-11 11:06 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.