To ride a DF bicycle for 60 years he must have liked something about it. Maybe he can no longer ride one so he has to be hard on them to not miss them.
I rode my beater Trek yesterday, I remembered to look at the front wheel so I can say I did it. Later I rode the recumbent trike, I don't know if I can ever get used to being so low to the ground and being at eye level with the tires of passing cars.