buying a bike or parts years ago.....................

[John the Canuck]

.if you are of an age to remember.......

the pleasure of looking at catalogs for weeks
discussing with friends at the bike club each meeting
chatting to your LBS each Saturday

and finally, the THRILL of making your OWN decision

the internet in all its wisdom, now enables anyone to sit at home and ask
''where can i buy ...[ insert small unimportant everyday item ] in [ insert colour of choice]

rant over/ late lunch settled - off for a few hours on the bike

PS...oh which one..?
the blue one with 42/52T
the grey one with 36/50T
or shall i take the TREK as it has a triple chainset...?.........................

 

[surfdude]

take the fastest one

 

[Cycleops]

And this is the same internet that makes everyone an instant expert!

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Ah, the joy of the Ron Kitching catalogue and a well stocked LBS that dealt exclusively in proper bikes and kit (As opposed to the majority who just flogged bikes), and knowing that when you walked in there'd be at least one other clubman in there for a good old natter about the goings on in our little world.

I actually prefered it when cycling was less popular and the preserve of a small but knowledgeable band of dedicated enthusiasts. Snobbish? You bet, but one can only like what one likes.

 

[biggs682]

i can remember going into a bike shop in the mid 70's along the Locking Road in Weston Super Mud and looking at all the Peugoet frames they use to have hanging up , never actually got one , but i still hanker over a tidy Pug 531 framed bike

 

[raleighnut]

Ditto but with the Raleigh/Carlton 531 frames.
Got one now

 

[Vapin' Joe]

i can remember going into a bike shop in the mid 70's along the Locking Road in Weston Super Mud and looking at all the Peugoet frames they use to have hanging up , never actually got one , but i still hanker over a tidy Pug 531 framed bike

Something you very rarely see now that complete bikes are off the shelf. It used to be a joy to wander round among the gleaming frames planning what your next one was going to be and how you were going to kit it out.

Much better for quality now mind, because despite the fact that there were some very good frame builders around then they were matched in number by those who were crap.

 

[Cycleops]

i can remember going into a bike shop in the mid 70's along the Locking Road in Weston Super Mud and looking at all the Peugoet frames they use to have hanging up , never actually got one , but i still hanker over a tidy Pug 531 framed bike

I remember buying a Mercian this way in the eighties. From Madison Cycles West Hampstead I think, all in 531c.