mrkawasaki
Retrobike Rider
Learning to share!
[/quote] really? didn't know that... i like you guys but you made a deal in hell: in order to survive you let others profit by inflating vintage parts on ebay.
ridinga vintage bike was a sign of excentricity and being alternative to consummerism ... till some time ago. it's becoming high market and a sign of wealth. it's killing what i see as the best side of vintage collecting...
not that you guys are tyhe sole responsible for that. it's way bigger than one website but .... think about it: it's turning vintage into snobbery.[/quote]
Snobbery or exclusivity existed in your 'good old days' of a few years ago when it was harder to get parts than it is now on Ebay. Your choices then, which you say were driven by wanting to be seen as 'eccentric' and 'anti-consumerist' are still motivated by you wanting to be different - as expressed by your choice of bicycles - that's as good a definition as we need for 'snobbery' and 'exclusivity', n'est pas?
There may be a return of snobbery or exclusivity repeating itself now with the very visual trade in top end Klein's and Fat's - but they were a premium brand first time around so their revivalist customers' outlook and wallet size hasn't really changed in profile, has it??
I admit that Ebay has made my hobby come alive and although I personally regret having to compete and pull out of purchases because of the increased competition (price) more often than not these days, it does make me feel that our 'family' of vintage and/or retrobike enthusiasts is growing - that's got to be a good thing, no?
We have to keep our innate Western desire to be perceived to be 'exclusive' and 'individual' in check if we want to be able to genuinely share our enthusiasms and not just pay lip service - we cannot have it both ways! If that means greater access to vital parts to help restore all kinds of bikes then that is a very good thing in my book - one might even call it 'recycling'! Yes, the Klein's and Fat's may go back to the 'top' of the financial pile once more, but so what? They were never the most interesting brands the first time around... ;-)
The fact that Retrobike is running through Ebay activity should be seen as a positive - even if you don't like what Ebay stands for in the capiltalist scheme of things. If you can see it in your heart to share, then there is credit to be given for the global access it now gives and a warm and fuzzy spirit to be taken from the independence of millions of sellers as they trade (on the whole) with an honesty that gives me a bit of faith. If certain sellers are now exploiting their stash of parts then that's down to economic laws of supply and demand - you want exclusivity you're ultimately always going to have to pay for it over time.
I feel sure that you're smart enough to be able to stay ahead of the late adopters who are now paying the big bucks for the big brands anyway and if you are still unable to share your enthusiasm, you can always reminisce about the good old days!
Mr K
[/quote] really? didn't know that... i like you guys but you made a deal in hell: in order to survive you let others profit by inflating vintage parts on ebay.
ridinga vintage bike was a sign of excentricity and being alternative to consummerism ... till some time ago. it's becoming high market and a sign of wealth. it's killing what i see as the best side of vintage collecting...
not that you guys are tyhe sole responsible for that. it's way bigger than one website but .... think about it: it's turning vintage into snobbery.[/quote]
Snobbery or exclusivity existed in your 'good old days' of a few years ago when it was harder to get parts than it is now on Ebay. Your choices then, which you say were driven by wanting to be seen as 'eccentric' and 'anti-consumerist' are still motivated by you wanting to be different - as expressed by your choice of bicycles - that's as good a definition as we need for 'snobbery' and 'exclusivity', n'est pas?
There may be a return of snobbery or exclusivity repeating itself now with the very visual trade in top end Klein's and Fat's - but they were a premium brand first time around so their revivalist customers' outlook and wallet size hasn't really changed in profile, has it??
I admit that Ebay has made my hobby come alive and although I personally regret having to compete and pull out of purchases because of the increased competition (price) more often than not these days, it does make me feel that our 'family' of vintage and/or retrobike enthusiasts is growing - that's got to be a good thing, no?
We have to keep our innate Western desire to be perceived to be 'exclusive' and 'individual' in check if we want to be able to genuinely share our enthusiasms and not just pay lip service - we cannot have it both ways! If that means greater access to vital parts to help restore all kinds of bikes then that is a very good thing in my book - one might even call it 'recycling'! Yes, the Klein's and Fat's may go back to the 'top' of the financial pile once more, but so what? They were never the most interesting brands the first time around... ;-)
The fact that Retrobike is running through Ebay activity should be seen as a positive - even if you don't like what Ebay stands for in the capiltalist scheme of things. If you can see it in your heart to share, then there is credit to be given for the global access it now gives and a warm and fuzzy spirit to be taken from the independence of millions of sellers as they trade (on the whole) with an honesty that gives me a bit of faith. If certain sellers are now exploiting their stash of parts then that's down to economic laws of supply and demand - you want exclusivity you're ultimately always going to have to pay for it over time.
I feel sure that you're smart enough to be able to stay ahead of the late adopters who are now paying the big bucks for the big brands anyway and if you are still unable to share your enthusiasm, you can always reminisce about the good old days!
Mr K
