Bike Snob Gets It
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Bike Snob Gets It
Bike Snob aka Eben Weiss on the benefits of old* bikes:
https://www.outsideonline.com/242433...y-vintage-bike
* I'm sure he was meant to write classic and/or vintage.
https://www.outsideonline.com/242433...y-vintage-bike
* I'm sure he was meant to write classic and/or vintage.
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#3
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How many 30 year old bikes still have packing materials attached to the front axles? I have seen it before, but usually they are more weathered than the rest of the bike. Those seem to be in exceptionally good condition
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Free Spirits seem to have the most durable axle covers..
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"the sense of smug satisfaction that comes with properly operating a friction shifter..."
"Smug"?
Huh. I often forget how wholly incapable is the average person, where doing a simple thing for me must be very cumbersome and unnatural for him.
"Smug"?
Huh. I often forget how wholly incapable is the average person, where doing a simple thing for me must be very cumbersome and unnatural for him.
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Thanks for sharing.
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I guess it’s nice- while I’m somewhat tentative around “cyclists” and say I’m into old bikes- I don’t often justify my love for old bikes- I have my ideas of why I like what I like- but I also haven’t been so conditioned into “modern” bikes- yet.
I dipped my toes into 10 speed and liked it. I’m not so sure I like blobby bikes.
I dipped my toes into 10 speed and liked it. I’m not so sure I like blobby bikes.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
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What’s more, as with any cycling trend, lots of people bought those super-cool mountain bikes and then never rode them, which means that to this day there are well-preserved specimens in garages all across America...
Great article, thanks for the heads-up!
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I appreciate some of the modern improvements that have been made but for me my older bikes still work just fine. One feature that I think is over-sold is suspension. I'm not opposed to suspension but I just think that unless you are riding some really rough and technical terrain, it isn't necessary and just adds cost and weight. It also seems to require more maintenance than other bike parts.
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#11
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Thanks for sharing this!
Even after ten years of BF membership, I still find it difficult to grasp American concepts like 'cyclist' and 'bike culture'. Weiss, however, is a writer I can relate to, and I really like his work. He seems to take a more distant, yet practical, view than most writers on these subjects, and he has a way with words that I find quite amusing. I bought his The Ultimate Bicycle Owners Manual last year, and really enjoyed reading it.
Even after ten years of BF membership, I still find it difficult to grasp American concepts like 'cyclist' and 'bike culture'. Weiss, however, is a writer I can relate to, and I really like his work. He seems to take a more distant, yet practical, view than most writers on these subjects, and he has a way with words that I find quite amusing. I bought his The Ultimate Bicycle Owners Manual last year, and really enjoyed reading it.
#12
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
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#13
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Grant Petersen has been saying pretty much exactly the same thing for decades now, but mention his name and we have ten pages of vitriol in about 15 minutes.
Okay, that;s an exaggeration (it would take at least 20 minutes), but you get my point.
Okay, that;s an exaggeration (it would take at least 20 minutes), but you get my point.
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This is what I thought as well when I read the article. I'm not sure why there is such a harsh reaction to Mr. Petersen's opinions.
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#15
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Well, GP tries to be provocative. (I don't get the vitriol, either.)
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Keurigs are fine, but sometimes you want to brew the coffee yourself.
Eben's a good writer, and I like his sense of humor. Before his secret identity was reveal I was starting to suspect he was me, because I identify so much with his perspective. I usually like his blog much better than the stuff Outside publishes. You can often tell that they're trying to keep him family friendly and the writing suffers because of the editing. This piece was pretty good though.
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I met him years ago when he came to Melbourne for a series of talks. (Was it book week or bike week? I can't remember.) He signed my copy of his Bike Snob book.
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