> Your bike may be similar in many respects to those, but I expect the > engineering that went into producing it is greatly improved, > even if the > appearance hasn't changed all that much.
Here's an interesting article called Myths and Milestones in Bicycle Evolution: http://www.jimlangley.net/ride/bicyclehistorywh.html -- Bob > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of John Sessoms > Sent: 17 May 2007 19:39 > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: OT: 2-wheeled journey of hell into the heart of darkness > > > > > From: > > "Bob W" > > The costume certainly has; spandex & aerodynamic helmets, and > > > > bicycle > > > >> > engineering has made incredible improvements. > >> > > >> > > > > I'm not so sure about that. I don't wear spandex or a helmet. My > > bicycle is a steel one and wouldn't look particularly out > of place in > > that film (except for the 21 indexed gears perhaps). I have a Brooks > > saddle and a Carradice saddle bag, same as them. > > > > British cycle touring is a bit of a time warp. > > > > When I was in my 20s I used to sneer at the sort of middle-aged man > > who was a member of the CTC, carried an old camera and was > in the RPS. > > > > > > Now I'm almost 50 and a member of the CTC and the RPS and > have a Leica > > of my own I switch between sneering at my younger self, and > horror at > > what I've become! > > Spandex is the greatest thing since sliced bread as you get > older. Helps > keep certain parts of the anatomy from rubbing and producing friction > burns. > > And I do use the helmet. I was a teenager in the 60s and I'm > trying to > hang on to what little bit of my brain survived that experience. > > Your bike may be similar in many respects to those, but I expect the > engineering that went into producing it is greatly improved, > even if the > appearance hasn't changed all that much. Most modern > "touring" bikes are > a "hybrid" design with straight handlebars that allow you to > ride in a > more upright than the curved under handlebars used in racing > bikes (even > if it is called the Tour de France it's a race, not a pleasant day's > ride in the country). > > The materials and methods of fabrication create a much more durable > bike, generally a lighter weight, and lower cost than those > old touring > bikes. It may look the same, but it's a whole lot better > piece of machinery. > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
