Restoring to admire not ride.
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Ultimately, it's your bike, do what you want with it. Personally I'd rather they were ridden, but that doesn't mean ridden all the time and trashed. I'll take my Explosif out in all weathers for Retrobike rides, but I'm not going to ruin it by only riding it through the winter - I have a modern-ish on-one for that.
Currently amusing myself with the garage queens abreviation - GQs - puts a whole new spin on a certain magazine. :shock:
Currently amusing myself with the garage queens abreviation - GQs - puts a whole new spin on a certain magazine. :shock:
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I dont like the car / bicycle comparison
A Car in the UK requires registering, statutory off road notices, an annual Ministry Of Transport inspection, a tax disc each year (even if the car is exempt it still has to display an up to date disc or be declared off road). A car needs insurance each year which can be many times the value of the car. It has complicated mechanical processes that can require constant attention, spare parts, service items and finally - fuel.
A Bicycle, no matter how old or worn out is free of all this (for now). It represents an almost unhindered freedom. Its mechanicals are simple and easily mastered, there is little or no day to day legislation. You can just 'go out for a ride' without the worry of some draconian punishment for going over a certain speed or the lack of some payment or other to organisations or government body.
To see bikes hung out of reach mocks this freedom. It ties the Bicycle up with all the excesses of the car and ultimately the excesses of man. Not riding a bike makes an animation just a still - it is a waste. Any bike that can be ridden should indeed be so, even if its just on a warm sunny day, your commute to work or some dusty museum display. To leave it smacks in the face of all that it represents, the designers dream and yourself.
A Car in the UK requires registering, statutory off road notices, an annual Ministry Of Transport inspection, a tax disc each year (even if the car is exempt it still has to display an up to date disc or be declared off road). A car needs insurance each year which can be many times the value of the car. It has complicated mechanical processes that can require constant attention, spare parts, service items and finally - fuel.
A Bicycle, no matter how old or worn out is free of all this (for now). It represents an almost unhindered freedom. Its mechanicals are simple and easily mastered, there is little or no day to day legislation. You can just 'go out for a ride' without the worry of some draconian punishment for going over a certain speed or the lack of some payment or other to organisations or government body.
To see bikes hung out of reach mocks this freedom. It ties the Bicycle up with all the excesses of the car and ultimately the excesses of man. Not riding a bike makes an animation just a still - it is a waste. Any bike that can be ridden should indeed be so, even if its just on a warm sunny day, your commute to work or some dusty museum display. To leave it smacks in the face of all that it represents, the designers dream and yourself.
velomaniac
MacRetro Rider
Millions of bikes have been made from POS/BSO to top end exotica. Loads gather dust in sheds unloved and others are ridden into the ground. My view is bikes are for riding but there are so many bikes that there is plenty room for every type of bike apreciation. I have a Giant carbon mtb frame thats cracked on two tubes so it'd be suicide to ride but I love just looking at it and hefting it to feel how light it is.
There's room for everybody in the world of old bikes
There's room for everybody in the world of old bikes
NeilM":2ei9fkzb said:
My point exactly.
It seem strange that those with passion to build, find, show off, and collect can see the argument for those that ride, yet many with a passion for riding flat deny that there is any other way!
I love to ride too, but in all honesty given the option I will reach for my Orange 5 over any retro rides. The retro bikes and projects I have undertaken have though given me so much more than a riding experience. Is that so difficult to accept? Admittedly I have ridden them all but I certainly see why some wouldn't.
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the_duke":1x8j047f said:
Exactly my view. I love arseing around with old bikes but ride my Orange 5 99% of the time. If I had the money and space I'd have loads of retro bikes in various states, none of which would get used that much.
trail_head
Retro Guru
I used to think gc's were ridiculous and anyone keeping one hostage in his garage was a wanna be.
Then I found a 93 Manitou FS in a garbage can ( http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0 ) and restored it. I repaired 8 cracks in the frame during the resto. After it's first month back on the trail it had developed a fresh new crack. I repaired it again and now it's a garage queen. My Manitou is taking a well earned rest and I now believe that some bikes are best hung on a wall.
Now a days I only own ridable retros because I still don't like the idea of gq's
I think this is an issue with no correct answer. There will always be opposing opinions. Acceptance of this fact is the only option for me personally.
Then I found a 93 Manitou FS in a garbage can ( http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0 ) and restored it. I repaired 8 cracks in the frame during the resto. After it's first month back on the trail it had developed a fresh new crack. I repaired it again and now it's a garage queen. My Manitou is taking a well earned rest and I now believe that some bikes are best hung on a wall.
Now a days I only own ridable retros because I still don't like the idea of gq's
I think this is an issue with no correct answer. There will always be opposing opinions. Acceptance of this fact is the only option for me personally.
