I went to Foothill Junior College in Los Altos Hills, California from the fall of 1973 to June of 1977. You ask why I went there for four years ? I had to be on my mother's employer's dental insurance to be covered for dental bridges for most of my entire mouth.
In the course of my college attendance, in December of 1973, I purchased for $380.00 my first real ten-speed bicycle a 1973 Cilo Sprintx semi-professional racing bicycle from owning a $150.00 Dutch Batavus ten-speed bike from the previous summer as an upgrade. Not knowing a lot about bicycles and what style of riding I enjoyed that most, I found myself selling most all of the Campagnolo componentry within six months of purchase, because the drive train gearing limited me from climbing the foothills above Santa Clara County to Skyline Boulevard SR 35 and beyond. I bought new componentry of the day that was the best of its time for my Cilo, such as Phil Wood hubs and pedals, Super Champion rims, Avocet saddle, Suntour Cyclone f/r derailleurs, T. A. Cyclotourist,crankset, Suntour Bar-Con ratchet shifters, Bluemel fenders and ultimately finding a NIB Campagnolo Nuovo Records side pull brakeset for my sports touring bike. The Campy brakeset was the ultimate cool to have back then. I purchase the brakeset for a bargain price of $75.00, plus tax ! They were going for $140.00 retail. I rode my Cilo to college year round from my parents house and back was 4.4 miles. There were times that I rode my 1966 Raleigh three speed, as well. I did lock up my Raleigh three speed in a bike rack. It never got stolen. With my Cilo, I took it every where I went inside the classrooms and lecture halls, including the bathrooms around campus. It never left my sight. I never locked it up. It never has seen a kickstand either. When I was not attending college on the weekends, I would make my rounds of visiting all the bike shops in the area from I lived in Mountain View to Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, to Palo Alto to see what was new and talk to a few of the owners or staff or ride solo up into the hills of Santa Cruz or ride with a friend out to Woodside and over to the coast through Portola Valley to San Gregorio to Half Moon Bay. Over time, my Cilo became my favorite road bike of all for about forty years. It fit me perfectly in very way. It felt like a European sports car. I honestly cannot tell you how many miles I rode on it. Bicycle computers were not available back then. I never bothered to buy the old mileage/odometer meter. My guess would be between 3,000 to 5,000+ miles ? I retired my Cilo back in 2011, I grew older and riding in the drops was not comfortable anymore. I wanted to find another bicycle for an upright riding position and lower gearing. It took me a very long time for the right moment to purchase a Clem Smith Jr. "L" bicycle last year and fall in love again. Owing a Rivendell bike was the last thing I thought I would ever own. I know now what it like to own a bicycle from Rivendell Bicycle Works. Thank-you, Grant Petersen ! Kim Hetzel .....sheltering inside my the intense heat in the low 90's today in air conditioning. I wish I could have stayed longer in Sitka, AK with grey clouds and rain. Yelm, WA. On Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 10:52:46 AM UTC-7 Davey Two Shoes wrote: > Send Grandpa's Clem! > > On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 6:29:17 PM UTC-4 Will wrote: > >> Oh yes.... it might help a bit if the bike didn't look so new. With a few >> duct tape patches that can be easily solved without hurting the frame. >> >> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 5:24:24 PM UTC-5 Will wrote: >> >>> When I was in college I had a Raleigh Competition and a Raleigh RRA >>> (French metric Raleigh bike). It was a small campus in Williamsburg, VA. I >>> had no problems with either bike. Yes, I locked them. Yes, I didn't leave >>> them out at night and so on, but my point is... with a good U lock and >>> maybe some wheel theft clamps, I think you'll be fine. No one is looking >>> for a classic steel bike these days. Now they want carbon and disc brakes. >>> And there are plenty of those bikes to steal. I'd give him the Clem. >>> >>> Will >>> >>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 4:05:31 PM UTC-5 mmille...@gmail.com >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I've been thinking about this situation a lot. (And thinking back about >>>> 20 years to my time in college.) I was from a small town, and went to a >>>> large public school. I learned a lot, and a lot of learning is through >>>> mistakes. I did lots of dumb stuff, and minus the time I went flying over >>>> the handlebars and got an ambulance ride, I was lucky to escape without >>>> life-altering implications. My grandpa died when I was in college, and I >>>> still treasure a few small items I have from him. Ultimately, things are >>>> things, but some things mean more than others. It will be up to your >>>> family >>>> to decide the best route. I'm not sure it's been mentioned before, but any >>>> thought to taking an entirely different bike first semester/first year >>>> with >>>> the plan to revisit taking the Clem second semester/sophomore year? >>>> >>>> Good luck with your decision. >>>> Matt in STL >>>> >>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 2:56:34 PM UTC-5 Doug H. wrote: >>>> >>>>> Great story Mackenzy! I think many of us started on BMX bikes. I was >>>>> an 80s kid and the group of guys in my neighborhood all had BMX bikes. In >>>>> college I rode a Trek mountain bike (low end) but also had a car so the >>>>> bike was primarily for exercise. I tried single speed a few years ago and >>>>> really enjoy the simplicity of it even with the limitations. >>>>> Doug >>>>> >>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 3:31:13 PM UTC-4 Mackenzy Albright >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Admittedly, I had almost the exact opposite issue as a college >>>>>> student. I grew up without cyclists in my family, and think it's so rad >>>>>> that there are parents like Leah to give a good starting point of living >>>>>> a >>>>>> happily car free college life. >>>>>> >>>>>> I was messy messy messy in my hyperfocus niche interests (bikes). As >>>>>> an adolescent I got into bmx bikes. I had a very high end BMX I kept in >>>>>> my >>>>>> dorm room under my bunk for the first two years. I worked at a skatepark >>>>>> and rode with many professional friends. Eventually, a visiting friend >>>>>> "from the city" brought his IRO fixed gear. I was absolutely smitten. He >>>>>> taught me about fixed gear conversions - so I went to one on one bike >>>>>> studios in Minneapolis and Gene helped me pick out a beat Schwinn Letour >>>>>> in >>>>>> my size and parts I needed to convert it to fixed. >>>>>> >>>>>> Within the next few months - I befriended a local bike shop worker >>>>>> who talked me into buying a 54cm Surly steam roller frame (I am 6' 2" >>>>>> mind >>>>>> you) for nearly wholesale as it'd been sitting for ever a year. My IRO >>>>>> friend came back and took me down the biggest hill in town (sanfrancisco >>>>>> style) on that brakeless steamroller. Literally probably the stupidest >>>>>> day >>>>>> of my life. We continued on a 40+K ride in the country side to a >>>>>> waterfall >>>>>> and it blew my mind. My friend with the IRO was also into racing on a >>>>>> geared bike - and informed me on the magic of "geared bikes" >>>>>> >>>>>> I sold the steamroller and dropped all my savings on a Long haul >>>>>> Trucker. Except - except they all fit weird and I didn't like the >>>>>> loooong >>>>>> top tube after a short period. So I traded it for Cross check. I >>>>>> despised >>>>>> the cross check frame even more - but somebody offered to trade a geared >>>>>> Karate Monkey for my Cross check. I rode the Karate Monkey for a while, >>>>>> but >>>>>> fell back in love with single speeds, so converted it to single speed >>>>>> and >>>>>> rode that a long time. To my detriment "Ride the Divide" came out. Mark >>>>>> Remier's first Generation Salsa Fargo was on display - dirt and all at >>>>>> the >>>>>> premier. Within the week I rode to Angry Catfish and picked up a Fargo >>>>>> in >>>>>> my size. I loved that bike. That concluded my undergrad....I wont even >>>>>> start on my bikes during my "Grad school years" >>>>>> >>>>>> I was quite..."promiscuous" in my bike building because "college" is >>>>>> for experimenting right? (I never drank or did drugs - most of my bike >>>>>> dealings were trade/second hand based being in QBP land) There was just >>>>>> so >>>>>> much to learn and try out - I couldn't get enough. There were >>>>>> definitely >>>>>> other bikes and builds in there I am forgetting like a shogun touring >>>>>> bike >>>>>> etc. and lots of BMX bikes. That was just my undergrad...20 years later. >>>>>> Oof - not going to think too hard about it. But the enthusiasm hasn't >>>>>> stopped. >>>>>> >>>>>> I think it's super cool to have an option for such a versatile bike >>>>>> from the get go and supportive parents for a *much* better starting >>>>>> point. >>>>>> I absolutely believe that Leah's kid is in good hands. Who knows what'll >>>>>> happen, but he's got a great bike to work with and obviously a lot of >>>>>> love >>>>>> and support which is super great. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 11:46:56 AM UTC-7 Joe Bernard wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> This is going great you guys. I think it was clear after many days >>>>>>> and many posts that the question is "what bike?", not does the kid even >>>>>>> want one. It'd be super if we could stick with that. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 11:38:13 AM UTC-7 Patrick Moore wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Sorry, I have to agree with both Johns; the question seemed to be >>>>>>>> serious and without condescension. The triple question marks indicate >>>>>>>> reserve in asking the question and not exasperation or putdown; >>>>>>>> "Perhaps >>>>>>>> you might consider ...?" >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 12:02 PM Doug H. <dhansf...@gmail.com> >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> John, >>>>>>>>> I took the question exactly as Leah interpreted it. The triple >>>>>>>>> question mark at the end of the question was pretty emphatic. Take a >>>>>>>>> breath? Really man? >>>>>>>>> Doug >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 1:57:37 PM UTC-4 John Phillips >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Leah, please take a breath and count to 10. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> John's question wasn't rude, and was a fair question in that the >>>>>>>>>> *strength >>>>>>>>>> of his desire *for a bike at college *could* correlate to the >>>>>>>>>> amount of attention he would give to keeping the bike secure. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> You did ask for people's opinions, so please just ignore those >>>>>>>>>> you don't like. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> John >>>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 2:22:12 AM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle >>>>>>>>>> Ding Ding! wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> John, >>>>>>>>>>> Text makes it hard to tell sometimes, so I suppose I’ll ask. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> 1. Is your question asked because you have the perfect bike >>>>>>>>>>> waiting for him that you would like to gift him? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> 2. Is your question being asked because you are genuinely >>>>>>>>>>> confused about the topic of the conversation? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> 3. Or is your question posed so as to look down on me, as if I >>>>>>>>>>> was imposing my choices on my son? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/fe4ccc02-c130-4157-ad50-dc1bbe06c105n%40googlegroups.com.
