Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

Kubrick & B&N. I take your point that, as a semi-exotic, the Quattroporte IV styling is a let down, but I still find it falling on the agreeable side of anonymous and I do have a liking for odd proportions. In fact, if we’re proposing recycled cast-offs, could this actually have been a VW proposal? Maybe Maserati asked for a new Bora and things got confused.

Kubrick. I appreciate the reasons for your antipathy - my own upbringing in the ‘Home Counties’ leaves me entirely immune to the charms of the gently rolling English countryside and village greens. For my part, since I have a fascination for Baroque churches, I’m actually very fond of many of these towns, particularly Bamberg and my very basic tourist German leaves me blissfully unaware of any harshness in the accent.

However, particularly in mid Summer, the Romantische Strasse and allied towns can sometimes feel a bit like a fragmented theme park, joined by sections of pleasant but uneventful (a bit like the Quattoporte IV) countryside. The uneventfulness helps with the cycling I imagine B&N but it’s never entirely agreeable to see your own country served up as a heritage trail for tourists.

Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

@Bert

You'll have no sympathy with my own turmoil then in respect of whether I should go for a £1000 Ribble Sportive, £1300 Canondale Caad10 or a Specialized Rubaix coming in at £1670 then :)

Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

There would be no fun to be had at all for me on an equivelant £99 piece of old clanger.For me cycling is most pleasurable within a group and we have had people join us mounted similarly before, mistakenly thinking that a bike is a bike. The difference is that whilst we skim along at a fair old pace, exerting minimal energy, waiting for the next pedal mashing climb, these poor misguided souls are pretty well flat out and some one invariably has to hang around for them. Sometimes its fun to swap bikes because these people think that its a fitness thing completely but are shocked to discover the joy of pedaling a machine that turns so little effort into so much forward motion.For me, Just like cars aren't only about A to B , all bikes aren't the same.

Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

lokinen said:

 

@Bert

You'll have no sympathy with my own turmoil then in respect of whether I should go for a £1000 Ribble Sportive, £1300 Canondale Caad10 or a Specialized Rubaix coming in at £1670 then :)

 

------ End Quote ------

I think B&N has probably got the right bike for his needs, although I suspect were he to try something more modern and lightweight he might feel less sure in his opinion. But it's all down to usage really. I certainly wouldn't recommend a road-bike to anyone who isn't interested in doing serious miles - they are just too uncomfortable and place too many limitations on the rider. (Position/clothing/footwear etc...)

Lokinen, I can understand your dilemma regarding the three machines you mention. Again, I would say it comes down to usage. If you plan to do regular long rides or indeed a sportive or two, you'll really feel the benefit of a carbon fibre frame. I bought a carbon Bianchi 928 almost three years ago and frankly having been used to alumininium frames, it was a total revelation. I absolutely love this bike, it's been over several Alpine Cols  and one or two sportives in the intervening period and has done me proud each time. Ride all three if you can and don't just go for the cheapest one. Both Canondale and Specialised have excellent reputations - I cannot vouch for the Ribble, although they do appear popular. I seem to recall you saying in the past that you did a fair bit of riding, so I'm sure you know what you're about - also pleased to assume this means you are largely over your leg injury.

Seant: You make an astute point re: cheap bikes. I've lost count of how many people I've seen killing themselves on cheap full-suspension mountain bikes where the vertical effort exceeds that of forward motion. Mind you some people seem to enjoy the misery...

B&N: In agreement with you on the horrors of the building boom in Ireland. What has been done amounts to a tragedy of almost Bee-Gee proportions...
 

Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

I would not do a carbon bike justice, but I would not judge a rider by one either. There is that wonderful thought of maximum efficiency which is so wonderfully highlighted when the effort being put in is your own; that reasin alone jusitifies any extravagance.

Back to cars. The Corolla T18 hatch- forgotten by many, not at least me! What a poor excuse for an HPE