I'll admit that I've had more bikes than most people--in fact, more than some communities. Maybe that's the reason why I don't yearn for bikes I don't have, as I did in my youth. I have a pretty good idea of what I like and don't like, so I have bikes I love and that feel right for me. I still try new components and accessories, as my needs in such areas as gearing change.
Soon, I'll post something about The Bikes of My Life. I'll recollect about some from my past and talk about my recent and current rides. Even though I have bikes I love, I still miss a couple of the old ones sometimes. However, I realize now that those feelings are as much about some of the experiences I had with those bikes as they were about the ride qualities. And, I admit, that my memories of both the experiences and ride qualities have been distorted, if not erased, by time.
That said, I've had a few bikes I don't really want to see or ride again. And there are the bikes I'm glad I didn't get and the ones I've never had the urge to try or buy. Here's one I saw up-close some time ago:
I found this photo of it while surfing the web. I'm guessing that it's a downhill bike of some sort. For all I know, it may be a great bike for the purpose. But then again, I never had any wish to do downhill riding (on what Peter White calls "invalid bikes"), so I wouldn't have any reason to ride or buy such a bike.
Are there bikes from your past that you wish you had now? Bikes you wish you could have had? Bikes you never want to see again? Or, are there any you never had and never wanted?
Soon, I'll post something about The Bikes of My Life. I'll recollect about some from my past and talk about my recent and current rides. Even though I have bikes I love, I still miss a couple of the old ones sometimes. However, I realize now that those feelings are as much about some of the experiences I had with those bikes as they were about the ride qualities. And, I admit, that my memories of both the experiences and ride qualities have been distorted, if not erased, by time.
That said, I've had a few bikes I don't really want to see or ride again. And there are the bikes I'm glad I didn't get and the ones I've never had the urge to try or buy. Here's one I saw up-close some time ago:
I found this photo of it while surfing the web. I'm guessing that it's a downhill bike of some sort. For all I know, it may be a great bike for the purpose. But then again, I never had any wish to do downhill riding (on what Peter White calls "invalid bikes"), so I wouldn't have any reason to ride or buy such a bike.
Are there bikes from your past that you wish you had now? Bikes you wish you could have had? Bikes you never want to see again? Or, are there any you never had and never wanted?
I am not experienced enough to really answer that. But based on my limited experience, I would not get a lower-mid tier 70s-80s roadbike again; all the ones I have owned or tried have been remarkably uncomfortable for anything over 20 miles.
ReplyDeleteIt seems every bike I look at lately I want to try. Right now I'm happy with what I have and fit the purposes for which I purchased them for. I sold two mountain bikes over the years (a Schwinn mtb and a Gary fisher Wahoo) and I have no regrets. Step-through and hub gear bicycles are new to me and I'm looking forward to riding the Raleigh Lady Sports, which I recently purchased as soon as the roads clear of snow and ice. If I like it - I may invest in another high end European step-through model and decide down the road whether to keep the Raleigh or sell.
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