"VRC, we have lost cabin pressure…"
- Thread starter ededwards
- Start date
mtbmaniac":hdo9kadw said:
Go on, what's your angle on all this then? Our GT loving poster has put his cards on the table and it would appear to me that you agree with him (and have done for a considerable period of time).
Price inflation through eBay is as old as the hills, you can spot shill bidding a mile off although some are more subtle than others. Your comment that there are 'fake' auctions aimed at setting unrealistically high 'values' is certainly an interesting one, and I can see how it would work, but when the absolute value of these items is only a few hundred £/$ where exactly is the benefit? The parts are not available in sufficient volumes for anyone to get 'rich'.
The other points seem to boil down to a general cliqueyness and it's inherent snobbery. We all know it exists in VRC (and in every other facet of civalisation in one way or another), they're just a collection of like-minded individuals who have it 'their way' and seem to go to great length to keep it that way.
Surely if the nasty group of boys won't play with you, one should go find some nicer kids to play with?!
I didn't want to fight anyone else's fight, but since GM is treating Retrobike like a VRC lifeboat, I'll throw down.
There has been a lot of talk about 'elitism' and its presence both here and on the VRC forum. I've been called one here, and I although I wont go as far as to say it hurt my feelings, it certainly caught my attention.
I've been a member, elect-person, and and president of many clubs and organizations. I've found when new members of any 'club' are faced with the intimdation of the elder members, they have different ways of learning how to 'fit in.' Some try to patiently sit back and learn, which I've tried to do, and some people feel being defiant and creating friction and drama will ultimarely earn their respect and gain acceptance. Such is the case with GM...
I have no idea what VMBEFG is. The first time I heard about it was from GM's post, which I was fortunate to follow on Sunday morning. My only comment then was 'get a life,' which I truly mean. Dont draw exotic conclusions from little to know facts. If you feel like you've been discluded for whatever reason, move on. GM - what you insinuated over there was absurd, and hurtfully, and cost VRC a fine moderator. You deserve your ban.
Since I doubt this is the first encounter you've had like this in your life, hopefully you'll learn and get on well here. But I doubt it.
I think everyone thinks the VRC is made up of 10 regular posters who sit at the cool kids' table, inspect the secret handshake of any new posters, and turn people away regularly. Its not so at all. Its founding members who are still present and post regularly happen to be friends at and away from their keyboards, and they happen to share the same passion for high-end bike building. This sort of behavior certainly creates a club-like atmosphere, but so what? They've been abused in the past. Their freely-given knowledge has written countless ebay auctions for other people, so I can understand why they'd be hesitant to dish it out to anyone.
Let the bikes speak for themselves. I have found myself migrating from here to the VRC recently simply because I am a fan of doing things complete and proper, which the VRC embraces. There are absolutely a good few on retrobike that take time and care in their builds, but in 2008 I saw a huge decline in attention to detail and quality. New members pop up here, spend $500 in the For Sale section, and throw together a mismatched bike that looks and [likely] rides like sh*t. When its not well-received, these members disappear. The VRC may be smaller than retrobike, but their retention rate is far more than retrobike.
But in the end, people are right. Its only old bikes on the Internet.
There has been a lot of talk about 'elitism' and its presence both here and on the VRC forum. I've been called one here, and I although I wont go as far as to say it hurt my feelings, it certainly caught my attention.
I've been a member, elect-person, and and president of many clubs and organizations. I've found when new members of any 'club' are faced with the intimdation of the elder members, they have different ways of learning how to 'fit in.' Some try to patiently sit back and learn, which I've tried to do, and some people feel being defiant and creating friction and drama will ultimarely earn their respect and gain acceptance. Such is the case with GM...
I have no idea what VMBEFG is. The first time I heard about it was from GM's post, which I was fortunate to follow on Sunday morning. My only comment then was 'get a life,' which I truly mean. Dont draw exotic conclusions from little to know facts. If you feel like you've been discluded for whatever reason, move on. GM - what you insinuated over there was absurd, and hurtfully, and cost VRC a fine moderator. You deserve your ban.
Since I doubt this is the first encounter you've had like this in your life, hopefully you'll learn and get on well here. But I doubt it.
gadro":c42ihfpu said:
I think everyone thinks the VRC is made up of 10 regular posters who sit at the cool kids' table, inspect the secret handshake of any new posters, and turn people away regularly. Its not so at all. Its founding members who are still present and post regularly happen to be friends at and away from their keyboards, and they happen to share the same passion for high-end bike building. This sort of behavior certainly creates a club-like atmosphere, but so what? They've been abused in the past. Their freely-given knowledge has written countless ebay auctions for other people, so I can understand why they'd be hesitant to dish it out to anyone.
Let the bikes speak for themselves. I have found myself migrating from here to the VRC recently simply because I am a fan of doing things complete and proper, which the VRC embraces. There are absolutely a good few on retrobike that take time and care in their builds, but in 2008 I saw a huge decline in attention to detail and quality. New members pop up here, spend $500 in the For Sale section, and throw together a mismatched bike that looks and [likely] rides like sh*t. When its not well-received, these members disappear. The VRC may be smaller than retrobike, but their retention rate is far more than retrobike.
But in the end, people are right. Its only old bikes on the Internet.
SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum
Old School Grand Master
- Feedback
- View
Mr. K,
Noted!
Noted!
ameybrook I take on board your reply mate. Really like being quoted makes me feel special 
The problem with 'attention to detail' though is that it takes a fair amount of dosh. Sourcing mint condition NOS parts can be a very very expensive game. One that due to my bank balance I just can't play. Wish I could as there would be nothing more I would love than putting together a 100% correct build in shop floor condition.
I got into retro biking partly through a love of old bikes but also due to the facts that I am probably still that 15 year old boy staring in the window of my local bike shop dreaming of owning a Psyclone or Xizang.
The differences between VRC and this Forum are there, I mean no disrespect to anyone who can build a stunning bike. In fact I'm in admiration of them. What I'm not particularly fussed on is someone slagging off somebody's bike in an open forum because they've not got the correct seatclamp or their chainset is a 1995 instead of 1992. That to me is elitism and not a love of old bikes.
I have seen a sharp price rise in some NOS parts over the past few years. Some of these parts now cost more than many new spec and far more capable components. I am realistic and 99.9% of me thinks that the price rise is very likely down to the increasing popularity of doing old bikes up. But this post and gm1230126's comments have caused me to raise an eyebrow and the way VRC have reacted by Banning and deleting the thread have caused me to raise it even higher. I mean no disrespect to VRC and it's founding members but surely you must see that this was possibly NOT the best course of action.
I'm not going to post any more on this thread as I don't want to cause any animosity. In fact I'm now going to go for a ride upto Dolygaer to have a fag and a pint (by fag I mean cigarette !!) If you're ever passing my way give me a shout and I'll have one waiting for you by the bar.
The problem with 'attention to detail' though is that it takes a fair amount of dosh. Sourcing mint condition NOS parts can be a very very expensive game. One that due to my bank balance I just can't play. Wish I could as there would be nothing more I would love than putting together a 100% correct build in shop floor condition.
I got into retro biking partly through a love of old bikes but also due to the facts that I am probably still that 15 year old boy staring in the window of my local bike shop dreaming of owning a Psyclone or Xizang.
The differences between VRC and this Forum are there, I mean no disrespect to anyone who can build a stunning bike. In fact I'm in admiration of them. What I'm not particularly fussed on is someone slagging off somebody's bike in an open forum because they've not got the correct seatclamp or their chainset is a 1995 instead of 1992. That to me is elitism and not a love of old bikes.
I have seen a sharp price rise in some NOS parts over the past few years. Some of these parts now cost more than many new spec and far more capable components. I am realistic and 99.9% of me thinks that the price rise is very likely down to the increasing popularity of doing old bikes up. But this post and gm1230126's comments have caused me to raise an eyebrow and the way VRC have reacted by Banning and deleting the thread have caused me to raise it even higher. I mean no disrespect to VRC and it's founding members but surely you must see that this was possibly NOT the best course of action.
I'm not going to post any more on this thread as I don't want to cause any animosity. In fact I'm now going to go for a ride upto Dolygaer to have a fag and a pint (by fag I mean cigarette !!)
If you're ever passing my way give me a shout and I'll have one waiting for you by the bar.
doctor-bond
Feature Bike
Hurt feelings aside, this is fascinating stuff. And while [try as I might] I have a hard time buying the cabal story, the "just old bikes" line didn't ring true either.
So, by way of a baseline and a diversion from the dull chores I have today, I totted up the value of the stuff for sale on a single page of the for sale section on this site.
Now this represents potential turnover, not the value of sold items (bear in mind that some stuff never sells, but lots does days or weeks later) ....
With 47 posts in 21hrs, Retrobikers are trying to make each other punt on ...
8556 quids worth of stuff.
Thats £407 an hour; £9778 a day; £3,569,156 a year.
Is that alot? It sounds like the sort of turnover you'd get in a busy shop.
And if that's retrobike, what is the turnover of this mini industry on the bay and other classified sites?
(oh and the figure above doesn't include that Raleigh Maverick that was on here for over £3.5K: that I'm almost certain has been cabal-bid to a way inflated price: I remember when those used to go for little more than £2.5K ..... )
So, by way of a baseline and a diversion from the dull chores I have today, I totted up the value of the stuff for sale on a single page of the for sale section on this site.
Now this represents potential turnover, not the value of sold items (bear in mind that some stuff never sells, but lots does days or weeks later) ....
With 47 posts in 21hrs, Retrobikers are trying to make each other punt on ...
8556 quids worth of stuff.
Thats £407 an hour; £9778 a day; £3,569,156 a year.
Is that alot? It sounds like the sort of turnover you'd get in a busy shop.
And if that's retrobike, what is the turnover of this mini industry on the bay and other classified sites?
(oh and the figure above doesn't include that Raleigh Maverick that was on here for over £3.5K: that I'm almost certain has been cabal-bid to a way inflated price: I remember when those used to go for little more than £2.5K ..... )
henrysthreeironbands
Senior Retro Guru
Tallpaul":68b3thwe said:
Now who's the conspiracy theorist?
- Feedback
- View
I think we all learn to build nice bikes in time .
my first builds were I now realize pretty poor .
it doesnt cost more to build a nice bike , just more patience .
this site has grown more over the past few years , and instead of just people interested in retro bikes we now have a people interested in bikes in general , hence the builds from 1998 and above .
thanks to John and the mods , with the creation of new sections for newer bikes , this site can please a wider range of audience .
to be honest if you put your bike on a public forum , you need to be prepared to take some slack .
my first builds were I now realize pretty poor .
it doesnt cost more to build a nice bike , just more patience .
this site has grown more over the past few years , and instead of just people interested in retro bikes we now have a people interested in bikes in general , hence the builds from 1998 and above .
thanks to John and the mods , with the creation of new sections for newer bikes , this site can please a wider range of audience .
to be honest if you put your bike on a public forum , you need to be prepared to take some slack .
