Imagine getting started in cycling (or just about anything else) without the Internet.
Well, if you're of my generation, you don't have to remember. You relied on books and magazines--and your local club (if you had one) and bike shop.
I was reminded of this when I came across a page that archives some old articles from Bicycling magazine.
I thought about the bikes I learned about--and, in most cases, never actually saw--while reading the magazine. Their names alone were journeys into places I had yet to visit and times I would never see. I mean, when you thought the choices in bikes were among three-speeds, Columbias, Murrays and Schwinns, names like Hetchins, Routens, Jack Taylor, De Rosa, Alex Singer, Mercian, Pogliaghi and Rene Herse seem other-worldly.
And, of course, there was no way I could have afforded those bikes. All I could do was to save those copies of Bicycling and read about them--and look at the photos.
and the top tube
Note the placement of the shift levers!
The Bicycling article makes folding the bike seem easy. I wonder just how easy it--or, for that matter, transporting it--actually was. If nothing else, I'm sure it was a better ride than just about any other folding bike ever made.
The demontable I'd really like to see is this women's model.
I can only imagine what some Japanese collector would pay for it.
Well, if you're of my generation, you don't have to remember. You relied on books and magazines--and your local club (if you had one) and bike shop.
I was reminded of this when I came across a page that archives some old articles from Bicycling magazine.
I thought about the bikes I learned about--and, in most cases, never actually saw--while reading the magazine. Their names alone were journeys into places I had yet to visit and times I would never see. I mean, when you thought the choices in bikes were among three-speeds, Columbias, Murrays and Schwinns, names like Hetchins, Routens, Jack Taylor, De Rosa, Alex Singer, Mercian, Pogliaghi and Rene Herse seem other-worldly.
And, of course, there was no way I could have afforded those bikes. All I could do was to save those copies of Bicycling and read about them--and look at the photos.
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| From Laek House |
To this day, I haven't seen some of those bikes. One I'd really love to encounter is the Rene Herse Demountable.
Yes, it's a folding bike. The mechanisms used to collapse were found on the down tube
and the top tube
The Bicycling article makes folding the bike seem easy. I wonder just how easy it--or, for that matter, transporting it--actually was. If nothing else, I'm sure it was a better ride than just about any other folding bike ever made.
The demontable I'd really like to see is this women's model.
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| Super-rare Rene Herse women's Demountable. Photo from Bikeville. |
I can only imagine what some Japanese collector would pay for it.
Interesting contrast today. We both made posts with a French theme, less than a half hour apart, though from opposite ends of the exoticism spectrum.
ReplyDeleteHello, Justine:
ReplyDeleteBoth bikes are quite beautiful and rare, no doubt. I would describe the Demountable as "separable" rather than foldable, because it appears to lack a hinge. Thanks for sharing. It was fun reading about your Mercian fleet on Lovely Bicycle! I was tempted to bid on a Mercian frame in my size on ebay the other day, but I opted to pass. I have too many bike projects backed up and not enough storage space.
As always, a great post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLovely bike, always wanted something which could be taken into my tent when camping. Bikes are human too...
ReplyDeleteColine--I feel the same way. I bought Vera because I didn't want to see her go to someone who wouldn't appreciate her.
ReplyDelete