In Praise of Older Bikes!

     During the splendid cycling weather in late summer and early fall, I was pedalling my carbon fibre Trek 5000 (below) along Ontario's Oak Ridges Moraine, when it occurred to me that among my current inventory of ten bikes this was the only "new" one. Then with something of a shock, I realized that in this case "new" meant 8 years old! Upon further reflection I came to the realization  and with an even greater shock that my second newest bike is 22 years old. I therefore decided to go through my bike inventory and give a brief description and provenance of each. 

1). 2005 Carbon Fibre Trek 5000.

Trek 5000 18 speed road race bicycle; purchased new in 2005. It features the same frame as that used by Lance Armstrong and others in the 1999 Tour de France. 

Extremely light -about 17 pounds. Note hollow pedal shaft.

2). 1991 Shogun Prairie Breaker.

 21 speed Shogun Prairie Breaker "Team Issue" mountain bike was bought new in 1991. At the time this model was top of the Shogun line and used by their factory race team. I used it for several years thrashing around the rugged trails and hills in the region. Having miraculously survived the appalling abuse it has now been somewhat tamed. 

Now "civilised' with new bars, gear-shifters and road tyres it used for local trail riding, shopping and everyday transport .

Also used for local tours and general transport as part of my camping ensemble.

3). 1987 Bianchi Vittoria.

Purchased new in 1987, this Bianchi Vittoria was my first real racing bike. In 2000 the original 12 speed Campagnolo Victory was updated with an 18 speed Campagnolo Veloce group. Always a favorite it has been ridden further than any of my other bikes. The precise total is not known but well over 30000km.  

As can be seen, the original Bianchi Celeste colour has withstood the rigours remarkably well

The Veloce chainwheel and front derailleur.

4). 1975 Dawes Kingpin.

Purchased new in England in 1975, was originally configured as a no-nonsense heavy shopping bike. Modified in 2000 to "hot rod" status with alloy rims, seat post, stem, bullhorn handlebars plus Profile TT bars, high performance tyres, Pantour suspension front hub. Complete Campagnolo Victory 6-speed rear derailleur transmission removed from the Bianchi (above), . Modifications saved 10 lb over the original! Over several years used on occasions on club rides with conventional bicycles.   

2012 shot showing revised water bottle cage and pump mount. Front wheel with Shimano 105 hub.


In addition to normal road riding used as back up for towing a WIKE shopping trailer

Current configuration in December 2013 with upright bars, Primo Comet tyres and a Shimano 105 rear derailleur . 

5). 1987 Norco Monterey

 12-speed Norco Monterey bought for the good reputation of the frame and fork. Rebuilt from ground up as a lightweight "credit card" tourer with new wheels including 8-speed Shimano internal hub, Axiom mudguards and rear rack, "recycled" 1980 Campagnolo brakes, chainwheel and cranks.

   

With Cannondale panniers fitted.


Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub installation


6). 1980 Nishiki Ultimate.

 1980 12 speed Nishiki Ultimate featuring race frame and forks acquired locally for conversion into a high performance "fixie".


Fixed gear Nishiki. Ridden extensively for 8 years in this configuration.

2013 conversion into an early 20th century "Scorcher" lookalike. Glossy black powder-coated frame and forks and Schwalbe Cream Delta Cruiser tyres

Three quarter view showing brass bell -plus period handlebars.


7). 1973 Raleigh Twenty.

One of two 1973 Raleigh Twenty folders purchased from "Africycle", an humanitarian charity which supports cycling initiatives in Malawi.  This one has been restored to original specification except for tyres.

Now in daily use as "exective transport" for my daughter who is CEO of a therapeutic farm which caters to people with various mental and physical challenges.

She sometimes picks up hitch hikers too!


8). 1973 Raleigh Twenty.

Second Raleigh Twenty folder which has been modified with new lighter wheels, seatpost, stem and handlebars. mudguards removed and gearing lowered. Total weight saving 6lb. Excellent for local riding and towing WIKE trailer (behind). See also previous description of Dawes Kingpin.

Manufacturing date of the Sturmey Archer hub on hub shell (73:1)


Schwalbe tyres are fitted to both Raleigh Twenties


9). & 10). 1973 Mens & 1979 Ladies Raleigh Sports.

Two Raleigh Sports were acquired at no charge!! They had been stored in a saw mill for about 30 years and were about to be scrapped! Underneath all the sawdust and surface detritus two very restorable bikes appeared.

1973 men's Raleigh Sports after restoration


The chrome is nearly as it was when new.


1979 ladies Raleigh Sports after restoration.


Chrome work and paint restored to nearly new condition.



A,amazing what a bit of TLC can accomplish

The ladies Raleigh Sports was manufactured in Canada (see sticker on bottom of seat tube).

Both bicycles are now in virtually as-new condition and ready for another 40 years of service!

My daughter and me riding the two Raleigh Sports in the Toronto Tweed Ride.

That concludes my current  inventory. However to conclude, here are several additional bicycles that have recently formed part of it but have now moved on; 

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11). 1990-ish Universal Folder

1990 or thereabouts Polish built Universal folder. When received it was non-operational, but a few hours of maintenance returned it to riding condition. Lacks the build quality and durability of the Raleigh folders. Since it was of little use to me, it was donated to Africycle.  

Quite a compact fold but the hinge could be better.

12). 2003 Urbanite Tourer

2003 Urbanite Tourer was purchased new from Urbane Cycles in Toronto. It was custom built to my specification as a full-on touring bicycle. However, as I am not likely to carry out any more loaded touring I disposed of it when I had built up the lighter and simpler Norco Monterey described above. The purchaser has a very fine machine that if looked after will last indefinitely.

It is also a fine all-season bicycle!

13). 1991 Miele Lupa.

My first attempt at a "fixie" Built up using my daughter's Miele Lupa frame and forks.

Very successful but a bit small for me.

14). 1991 Concorde Squadra.

Vintage Concorde Squadra frame and forks.  Amazingly acquired free of charge!! This design was used by the Dutch PDM national team between 1986 and 1992 including winning 1991 World Road Race Championship. Same frame size as Miele. Built up as a "fixie" using components transferred from the Miele Lupa above and given to my daughter. A beautiful machine!  

15). 1987-ish Velosport Courier 12.

!987 era Velosport Courier 12 speed. Overhauled and used initially as a single-speed shopping bike.

After purchase of trailer and fitting trailer attachment to Raleigh Twenty and Dawes Kingpin, this bike became redundant. Given to Africycle with derailleurs and panniers fitted. In excellent condition and perfect for use in Malawi.  

WIKE trailer rendered baskets redundant. High top tube and rear basket make mounting and dismounting difficult. The small wheeled folders with a step through frame are much more suited to the shopping role 

16). Brike recumbent tricycle. 

Last but not least a bizarre recumbent front wheel drive lean-steer tricycle called the Brike. Very cheaply constructed and aimed mainly at the younger set at campgrounds etc. Equipped as a single-speed and with an ineffective coaster brake. Much time spent in an attempt to make it roadworthy, including fitting of three speed Sturmey Archer internal gear, caliper front brake, new rear wheel with internal "roller brake", prototype of new seat. Many efforts made to improve the steering.  

View showing new rear wheel with roller brake and rear view of my revised seat concept. Design scheme to straighten the rear wheels was drawn up

Eventually ridden on roads but poor handling at speeds over 20 kph plus overall mediocre design and materials eventually caused me to lose interest. After deciding to part with it, a purchaser showed up immediately!    

Is it all about Conciousness?

    Over the past couple of years, in a number of posts I have touched on this and associated subjects. The following is intended in part as a consolidation and update of several of my earlier observations. 
The seemingly never-ending quest for the  origins of the Universe and our role within it has been and still is the enigma of the ages. However, the relatively recent emergence of Quantum Physics seems destined to solve many of its mysteries. However its non-intuitive nature and overall weirdness will in all probability introduce many new enigmas as it solves the old. One of its leading researchers once commented that  “If anyone tells you that they understand Quantum physics, doesn't understand Quantum Physics!”
Fundamentally, it contradicts the scientific dogma that we are purely mechanical entities, driven by genes and proteins. Now, it is becoming increasingly evident that we and the cosmos are all connected. The new science of particle physics has shown at the micro level that cosmic space variously referred to the Matrix, Cosmic Field, Ether and several others is not a vacuum as previously thought, but a seething mass of electro-magnetic waves and particles, popping into and out of existence and changing from one into the other. In other words, in addition to studying the macroscopic material world, there is increasing emphasis into that mysterious realm of sub-microscopic atomic layers. Known as the Unified Field and Super String Theory neither of which I pretend to understand, it is associated with research into the Big Bang theory.
One of the bizarre properties of Quantum physics can be seen in the famous double-slit experiment where it is shown that when photons are fired at a flat surface containing two slits towards another flat surface positioned a short distance in front of it, instead of the ensuing surface pattern being two strips of light there are several, referred to as an interference pattern. If now the flat surface is viewed through one of the slits, the resulting pattern now reverts to two simple strips as would have initially been expected. In other words, the particles seem to know that they are being watched! This fascinating experiment is covered in more detail on a number of YouTube videos. Here is an easy introduction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc
As another of the original researchers into quantum physics commented "-surely God doesn't play with dice!"
Another is the phenomenon of "entanglement". It has been shown that if two adjacent particles are now separated, regardless of the degree or distance of separation, any action on one particle will instantly occur on the other -not at light speed but instantaneously. This supports the assertion that, at least at the sub-atomic level, we are essentially one. So radical was this concept that it was sufficient to cause an alarmed Albert Einstein to comment that it was "spooky action from a distance". Although Quantum Physics is demonstrable and requires no declaration of faith, could its non-intuitive and "impossible" nature be a little Divine humor from God? 

It is now been suggested that this Matrix could be an expression of a universal consciousness or even intelligence. Indeed many refer to this as the Divine Matrix. For some time I have considered all this and wondered whether this could be the definitive answer to the eternal conundrum of where we came from and why.
Reviewing the foregoing, perhaps the most astounding hypothesis suggests that the cosmos with its ocean of electromagnetic particles is itself, our universal consciousness. Many report feeling something of this connection when looking up at a clear, starlit night sky. Along with the concept of connectedness, could it be that at the commencement of life, each human is essentially connected or "plugged in" to this consciousness where it remains for the duration of life at the conclusion of which the connection is severed.

Putting things into perspective. Cassini spacecraft view of Earth from the rings of Saturn

The Big Bang could have been the result of either of two alternative propositions. Possibly these too might themselves be connected:

1. It was initiated by a particle collision which resulted in a local collapse of the particle/wave formation into unstable particles producing a mass chain reaction. The colossal expansion would ultimately result in the Big Bang followed by the beginning of the generally accepted evolutionary process. This is merely my own hypothesis supported by little more than my own personal observations. 

2. The force referred to above as the Divine Matrix was the prime mover behind the Big Bang. This would have presumably have involved a fairly complex mathematics process leading to the perfection of the evolutionary equations. With all considerations in place, the celestial touch paper would be lit and things set in motion. 

Either alternative would follow the process of natural selection over the billions of years leading eventually to the point on the mammalian branch where the split with chimpanzees occurred. The new branch would follow its evolutionary path towards what would eventually become hominids. 

This is where things become interesting. These primitive humans would inevitably be a little rough around the edges. There would inevitably be some conflict between them in food-gathering, definition of territorial boundaries, sex, etc. Eventually over time, increasing brain capability and in the interest of less abrasive and counterproductive conduct, the radical concept of mutual collaboration might be evolved. 

Initially introduced as a logical way of introducing pragmatism in the struggle for survival, it would be recognized as being essential to their continuing advance. As a consequence it would become second nature, one of mutual support, fairness plus perhaps, feelings of well being. This would be the initial application of The Golden Rule or "do as you would be done by". Further along the evolutionary trail this could develop into a genuine altruistic attitude where to be mutually compassionate and caring would form a normal part of the human psyche and with it the concept of conscience and an awareness of the difference between right and wrong. Was this "conscience" merely an evolution of the mind or did it require a measure of spiritual course adjustment from the force of the Divine Matrix or are both manifestations of universal consciousness?  

Over thousands of years of continuing evolution, the first paintings, sculpture and music would appear in primitive form. Could these art forms spontaneously evolve into the amazingly complex classical creations of recent time. Are the inspired works of Michelangelo, da Vinci, Shakespeare, Shelley, Byron etc. naturally selected outcomes of evolution or have they required a further cosmic hand on the tiller? Even more remarkable are the truly exquisite, sophisticated, densely structured, mathematic creations of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart etc. Are they too merely a result of natural selection alone. 
Perhaps the most remarkable and quite unique manifestation is that of a sense of humour? How did laughter evolve -surely not from kookaburras and hyenas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0ZbykXlg6Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONFi8N2FQsc

If the God of some traditional religion was solely responsible for all the diverse lifeforms, why is the work so flawed? Why are there thousands upon thousands of people suffering from countless diverse illnesses and bodily malfunctions? This can be seen in the full car parks outside every hospital and the waiting lists of those waiting for treatment. This is the best scenario. In many parts of the world, the availability of such a waiting list however long, would be a massive improvement on the status quo. This alone would seem to point strongly in favour of natural selection alone. Evolution has been and continues to be an ongoing transitioning of each life form hopefully to improve and eventually correct its shortcomings. 
The Divine Matrix alternative broadly follows the concept of Deism. In summary, Deists find that personal reasoning, the order and complexity of nature coupled with individual experiences of the amazing world in which we live, provides sufficient reason for belief. The emphasis is on free thinking and not so-called divine revelations and ancient holy texts.

Does this Divine Matrix possess any sympathy or compassion or is it a gigantic, disinterested onlooker? The notion of a part-time divinity is difficult to comprehend but is more logical when compared with traditional religious examples. Within the Abrahamic faiths in particular, the use of fear and primitive superstition are nothing more than devices to coerce, restrict individual thinking and control the mind. This brief list is shocking. Rather than offering help, support and love, in addition to the the lengthy list of "Thou shalt nots", the portfolio consists of warnings of divine retribution, torture, pain, hell-fire and damnation. 
The concept of worship is flawed too. What gives humanity the overweening arrogance to feel that this omniscient being called God possesses a fragile ego which needs repeatedly massaging by puny accolades? Why aren't expressions of sincere thanks and appreciation sufficient. Sycophantic groveling on the knees is demeaning and employed for mainly self-serving reasons aimed at securing itself a spot in eternity. 

Anyway, what is the fascination with eternal life? What and where does it take place? What is the schedule for eternity? The first 6 months might be acceptable but what about after 6, 60, 600 or 60000 years? At least Muslim males will have something to entertain them! It would seem that their heaven would also serve double-duty as hell for their 72 partners! Will they still be rutting away after 10000 years and beyond. Wear and tear must surely become a factor! 
As for myself I will be happy to rest in eternal oblivion. I was not aware of the year 1920 and didn't miss it one bit. The same can be said of 3 am last night. it fact I was glad to have been unaware of its passing!  

An unlikely alternative would be re-incarnation. However should it exist it would seem to involve a total erasure of the memory hard-drive and a start from scratch, devoid of any previously acquired wisdom. Moreover, prospects are looking increasingly uncertain for the world. There is increasing indication that there could be a tipping point in the not-too-distant future. Indeed from a meteorological point of view, we already seem to be closing in on it. 

I will finish as I began. The one possible source of enlightenment could come with a (currently unlikely) comprehensive understanding of Quantum Physics. Should this happen, all that remains is to convey its meaning to the world at large, an equally challenging task.

At the end of the day, does any of this really matter? Other other than human curiosity, why do we really need any of this knowledge, theological or otherwise? It makes no practical difference at all in our daily existence. As I see it, our lifetime's goal is to truly appreciate the privilege of being alive on this wonderful vibrant blue planet, to do the best we can in all our endeavours, to enthusiastically apply the Golden Rule in all dealings with each other, show respect to all living things and aim to leave this world in better state than it was before our arrival. 

Amen.

Bon Echo Provincial Park, Ontario.