Ride What You Want to Ride

For some time, Sam has told me stories about a man who comes to ride with an organized group that meets locally. While a person coming to ride his bike with a group of people who do this activity together seems rather unimportant, the stories I've heard are what make this a bit unique.

A couple of summers ago, I was told a tale about a man who showed up for a long group ride dressed in skate-type shoes, everyday shorts and a cotton t-shirt. This gentleman proceeded to eat a large breakfast burrito two minutes before ride departure and somehow managed to not only remain upright to pedal, but actually finished the ride.

Stories very similar to the above were shared over the course of a couple of years, and included tales of his "old bike with fenders."

"Is he able to keep up with the group?" I couldn't help but inquire. The answer was always that he didn't seem to care one way or another, but he always managed to complete the distance.

Every time one of these stories was shared, I couldn't help but smile. I had created an image of this person and always wondered what he was like and if he was miserable on these long rides on what I imagined to be a rickety, two-wheeled contraption. I had an imagined picture of him pedaling along next to fully-kitted riders and couldn't help but wonder if he felt out of place?

So, when a photo of this man arrived in my inbox one morning, you can imagine my excitement. The verbal picture that had been painted was very close to the image right in front of me - even pedaling next to a team-kit-wearing rider.

What surprised me most about the photo was the giant, Cheshire-like grin across his face. He actually appeared to be enjoying himself!

I'm not entirely sure who gets photo credit for this, but I know it's someone who rides with the St Vrain Chain Gang group.

I have to admit, there's nothing overly profound or earth-shattering here. This is just a photo of someone enjoying himself with a group of other riders. However, it is rare in my experience to see a group of road club riders with a person joining them on a bicycle with upright bars and bottle-to-tire-driven headlight.

There's a part of me that wonders why there is this distinction among riders, and another part of me that realizes that most cyclists I've encountered believe that the lighter and more modern a bike, the faster they are able to travel. While I'm not at this moment trying to debate the merits of old versus new or carbon versus steel, nor a particular bikes' ability to perform a given job, I find this to be an interesting pairing that is not often spotted out in the wild.

When I look at this idea on a more personal level, I find myself believing that I don't belong in certain situations. Sometimes it's difficult for me to come to grips with the idea that I don't necessarily ride the way group riders do, or ride the type of bicycles they ride. It isn't that I can't, but that I choose not to do so most days.

I stay away from these gatherings as a general rule because I don't want to feel the need to explain why I'm riding a particular bike, or have people waiting for me when I want to stop and look at something along the way, or if I'm having an off day and don't want to travel the speeds the group is going. Cycling as a sport, even with non-professionals, seems to have unspoken rules which include pushing to be faster and riding the lightest bicycle that can be found or that is affordable to the rider.

Perhaps these are the reasons that other types of riding appeal to me. I don't mind a long distance, and in fact often enjoy it, but I don't want to feel as though I have to race through the entire route in order to feel a part of something.

Of course, I wouldn't expect someone who wants to go faster and push him/herself to want to ride the way I often choose either. It just wouldn't make sense and both parties would be miserable.

In many respects, this juxtaposition represents the part of me drawn to this image. The idea of someone making the choice to ride with a group, even if it steps outside the boundaries of what is typical, is entrancing to me. I appreciate the decision to wear what is comfortable for the rider and to not concern oneself with what everyone else is thinking or doing. Being at ease doing and being who we are without concern is difficult to find today.

This photo reminds me that we are all allowed to choose our own path. We don't have to take the pre-designated or accepted route to the end. We can choose to wear a cotton t-shirt and shorts to ride long distances. We can choose to ride our old bicycle because we are comfortable on it or because it's what we have and we want to ride. We can choose to set our own pace and not worry about who or what is waiting for us. Ultimately, we are all just looking to enjoy the ride, in whatever form that takes, I think.

I hope you enjoy your bike this weekend - however and wherever you choose to ride.

L'Eroica Event

I am likely one of the least-aware people when it comes to upcoming riding events. Generally when I find out about an organized ride of any sort, it is purely by accident (or because I happen to live close to the starting line). So, it wasn't all that surprising to discover that there is a new event taking place not far from where I grew up - and in just over a weeks time.

*Image found here

A new Eroica event (or perhaps I should say events) is starting in 2015 and taking place in cities across the world. From Spain to Japan there are several rides (in a handful of cities) taking place over the coming months.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding of these type of events is that they are an opportunity to bring old into the new. I picture riders of all ages and backgrounds coming together to ride vintage bicycles on rolling hill routes similar to those in Tuscany. The events upcoming (or at least the one being held in California) doesn't state that the cyclist must ride a vintage bike, however all riders must ride something that looks "historic" or is in fact vintage, as well as dress in attire of the vintage-bicycle era.

Although I don't currently own any vintage bicycles, I cannot help but want to attend this event. My curiosity is taking over and I'm attempting to figure out a means to travel in less than a week to California to be able to ride what seems to be an interesting route. I think the Hillborne could be classified as a "historic-looking" bicycle to some people, right? Okay, maybe I'm stretching a bit, but in all fairness, it isn't common to see lugged steel sitting in most bike shops these days. Additionally, it doesn't fit the requirement of having vintage drive train equipment, so I think it is very quickly eliminating this as a possibility for me, sadly.

I would expect that there would be many vintage bicycle lovers attending and participating in this ride and I am dying with curiosity to know what sort of bicycles will be ridden. While I don't know that I care for all of the necessities of the ride (see the Regulations section through the above link, if you're curious) and the exclusions, I can still appreciate the desire to bring out some of the beautiful bikes of the past.

In a day in which most bike manufacturers turn to modern materials, I think it's an interesting idea to bring to the front the materials used in the past.

Have you attended and/or ridden in an Eroica ride in the past? What was your experience? Would you want to ride a vintage bicycle on a long, rolling hill route, or are you happy to have your modern bicycle along with its modern components?

An Online Marketplace to Buy/Sell Vintage Bicycles

Vintage bicycle lovers... there's a new place to buy and sell vintage bicycles, parts and accessories. The website functions in much the same way as Craigslist or eBay, but caters specifically to those who are looking for, or are wanting to sell vintage bicycles or parts. A Great Vintage is an online marketplace that's just getting started, but if you have interest in or are wanting to sell a vintage ride, you should pop over and check it out. The listings at this point are minimal because word is just getting out about the website, but I think this could potentially be a great place to find items in the future.

*Image source here

Here's what Tom, the owner, has to say:

Hi folks -

I’m very pleased to announce the launch of a “A Great Vintage,” a brand new vintage bicycle online marketplace.

A Great Vintage offers an alternative to eBay and CraigsList and caters specifically to us - the vintage bicycle enthusiast and collector.

For those wishing to sell your vintage bicycles, parts, and clothing, you’ll find this site a refreshing change. There’s only a nominal charge of $0.50 per credit, and these credits are used for your 7-day postings (ads) and renewals. That’s all there is to it! We take no back-end transactional fees, and there’s never any hidden fees or charges.

In the near future, we will implement a “bulk credit” purchase option, wherein you can purchase several credits at once with a discount. Stay tuned for news on this and all other important site information by clicking on the “AGV News” link at the top of any page.

 Buyers can browse freely - think CraigsList, but with all of your favorite vintage bicycle categories already organized for you, so your searches are more efficient and more fun! For instance, instead of one category for “Bikes” we have over a dozen, including Vintage Lightweights, KOF, Track, Touring, and more.

 We leave all the pricing, transactions, and shipping up to you. Interested buyers contact you through an anonymous email, sent by our system (just like CraigsList).

Finally folks, I’m going to ask for your help. If you like what you see on this site, please spread the word. Since I’m the owner of the site, I can’t “spam” forums with links, so I ask that you help people hear about this site in whatever manner you can. Remember, the more people that know about the site, the faster your items will sell and the easier it will be to find the perfect item you’re looking for.

It’s through the kindness and generous spirit of the vintage bicycle community that I’ve found such good friends in the past decade, and I look at this site as a way to thank all of you for the friendships, great rides, and wisdom I’ve found over these years.

This is OUR site, and I’m always listening for ways to improve. Please use the “Contact Us” link along the top each page to let me know your thoughts on how to improve A Great Vintage. I’m looking to make this something we all use and enjoy.

This site is NEW, so you may find the categories eerily empty in the beginning. Don’t let that scare you. You’re joining at the brink of a site that I hope will see thousands of visitors per day.

Okay - It’s time to start having some fun. Head on over to A Great Vintage, register, and start selling and buying.  

Please report all site bugs using the “Contact” page.

One final, important note. After placing an ad, save the ad confirmation email from A Great Vintage because this has the Listing Edit Key (same as the Ad Access Key) that you will need to edit and renew your ad.

 Thanks again!

Tom
VintageRacingBicycles.com
AGreatVintage.com

I appreciate that there is even an opportunity to sell "KOF" (Keepers of the Flame) bicycles, so even if it's a newer bike that has traditional or more classic style, it can be listed here as well. If you have interest in vintage bicycles and parts, stop over and have a look. 

City Bicycle Debate

The last week or so has brought about a lot of thought regarding my all around city style bicycle, which, at the moment, is my Pashley Princess Sovereign. I purchased this bicycle as a replacement for my Electra bicycles, which weren't as comfortable and couldn't seem to get me on as long of trips as I'd hoped to go on a city bike.

I've been riding the Pashley for awhile now; not an extremely long time, but long enough to know the things that work and the things that could use improvement. I should and will preface the following statements by saying that I really do love this bicycle, and it is an extremely comfortable bike to ride. It has everything I hoped to have on a bicycle from dynamo lighting, to baskets to carry goods in, to a fully enclosed chain guard. In theory, it is the perfect bicycle.

The problems that have arisen with this bicycle actually have very little to do with the Pashley itself, but rather with where we live. While I would love to be able to move to a more populated and bike friendly area, it just isn't possible for us at this time, and my bikes need to be functional to get me to the places I need to go. While the Pashley will and can take me anywhere I desire, there is a trade off that comes with riding this bike. The biggest trade is that it is very heavy, and while its weight is one of the qualities that allows comfort while riding, it also creates a slow ride; a very slow ride. With all the additions on this bicycle and carrying a locking chain and personal bag, her weight comes in at around 60 lbs. That's quite a bit for a bicycle!

Though I have no real issue with the weight of the bicycle, nor the slowness of the ride (it's actually something that's very fun, really), everything is a bit of a haul for us. The nearest places we typically go are at least 8-10 miles one way (except the local market, which is only about 2.5 miles one way). Those 8-10 miles aren't 'fun' miles either, but rather take us on a very busy, major highway with cars travelling at speeds in excess of 70 mph, a few fairly substantial hills, and a whole lot of nothing to look at other than dead weeds and speeding vehicles. When you're travelling slowly, it doesn't make for the most exciting of rides. I do my best to enjoy any time on my bikes, but that same trip, on the same long highway gets to be more of a chore than anything when the speed is slow and there isn't much to see.

My thought was to perhaps sell the Pashley (I'm actually cringing a bit and my stomach sinks just thinking of such a thing) and purchase another city bicycle, and I had a rather specific bicycle thought in mind. Since I love my Sam Hillborne so much for longer rides, I was thinking about getting a Betty Foy frame from Rivendell and making it into something more city-like, rather than for touring. Does this seem crazy? Perhaps.

*Photo from Rivendell

Basically, I'm thinking that I would purchase the frame from the sale of my Pashley, and then slowly buy the parts to build up an appropriate city bicycle, complete with dynamo driven lighting, internal 8 speed hub, baskets, and chain guard. In so doing, I believe I would have a comfortable city bike, with all the amenities I desire, that will also take me a bit quicker on the long rides required just to get into town. The down side to this option, obviously, is the sale of the Pashley. The other not so great part of this, is that I would be without a city style bicycle for quite awhile while the bicycle was being saved for and built up. I'm guesstimating that this would be somewhere between four months up to possibly a year or more.

I have also considered the idea of keeping the Pashley for the day when we will no longer live in our current surroundings, and simply saving up, bit by bit, to purchase the Betty Foy frame and parts. While this also isn't an ideal option, it may be the one that makes the most sense. So, what will become of my beloved Pashley Princess? Time will tell. For now, she sits waiting for the next ride, while I debate the pros and cons of life both with her, and the possibility of life continuing on without her.