"And you could pick it up with one finger..."

[Paul]

I have identified a phenomenon. A man (and it is always a man) of a certain age who has an opportunity to engage you in conversation whilst you are abike will, at some point in that conversation describe a bike he once had that was so light that "you could pick it up... (etc)".

But that is not all.

No.

In order to complete the phenomenon he must also (and, almost invariably, will) demonstrate the act of picking a bike up with one finger for illustrative purposes.

When he does, you have the phenomenon complete.

Now, there are other aspects that may be present. Typically, he will be vague about what happened to this gossamer glider, and may even struggle to name the machine. He will also usually look as though he has not been very near to a bicycle for some time.

One wonders what happened to all these featherlight cycles. One wonders if, maybe, these men just had stronger fingers. Or just fortified imaginations.

[MSeries]

I bet they also used their arms and back  to do the lifting.

[Charlotte]

I would imagine that these gossamer velocipedes were all eventually crushed under the weight of their exaggerating owners 

[tiermat]

Or they were simply so light they just floated away, like, err lets say, the daydreams that created them?

[Notsototalnewbie]

I've had this exact conversation with a farmer in Runcton that I stopped to buy eggs from!

[Wascally Weasel]

I had this conversation outside a pub in Euxton while riding the JoGLE some weeks back - some old boy was reminiscing exactly as described.

He did get a bit moist eyed on the subject of Reynolds 531 tubing

I was having a relaxing pint outside the pub while he was having a quick fag - I asked him if he thought I would be ok to leave my bike unattended while I nipped inside - he said "Oh the kids round here don't nick bicycles.  They wouldn't f*cking know what to do with them".

[TheLurker]

"gossamer glider"

Ahhh,  what a truly great name for a bike!  I'd copyright, trademark and otherwise stamp dibs all over that name now if I was you.

[Jules]

"gossamer glider"

Ahhh,  what a truly great name for a bike!  I'd copyright, trademark and otherwise stamp dibs all over that name now if I was you.

In case you want to sell lubricated condoms

[clarion]

One wonders what happened to all these featherlight cycles.

*curious, wanders over to 1981 531c Woodrup.  Picks up with one finger.  Puts down.  Raises eyebrow (without aid of finger).  Makes 'Hmmm' sound.  Wanders back to keyboard*

I think I've got one...

[Tiger]

'Oh yes - I used a bit of a rider myself back in the (insert 70's/80's). Wouldn't get on the bike for less than a 40. Reynolds 531 - now that was a proper tube - lovely bike I had - you could pick it up with a finger - bought it from a guy who got it from a Milk Race rider - proper race geometry - blah blah blah'

[mattc]

- bought it from a guy who got it from a Milk Race rider -

Ah, yes, that's another perennial isn't it?!

I heard a good one from a lovely old geezer at the pub in Chepstow Friday night (Ian H may also have met him):
"I used to ride every day until a few years ago - fit as aresholes, I was ... "

[ian]

You could lift up my bike with one finger. Well you could if you happened to be the bastard lovechild of Geoff Capes and King Kong's mother. I'm evidently not because my recent attempt just gave me a sore finger.

[MSeries]

I just picked my 1989 Peugeot Triathlon 531 up with 1 finger.

[Paul]

I just picked my 1989 Peugeot Triathlon 531 up with 1 finger.

*curious, wanders over to 1981 531c Woodrup.  Picks up with one finger. 

I should have had a side bet - just with myself you understand - as to how many (and perhaps specifically which) forummers would try this in response to this thread.

I'd have said clarion was a cert; Mseries an outside chance.

[Ian H]

- bought it from a guy who got it from a Milk Race rider -

Ah, yes, that's another perennial isn't it?!

I heard a good one from a lovely old geezer at the pub in Chepstow Friday night (Ian H may also have met him):
"I used to ride every day until a few years ago - fit as aresholes, I was ... "

Hmm...I recognise the name...

I shall finger my bikes when I get home.

[hairyhippy]

Its the same bloke. With a Tardis.

[border-rider]

Someone on a Denmead 200 a couple of years ago had a carbon bling  dream machine.  The whole thing weighed less than one of my wheels

[clarion]

I should have had a side bet - just with myself you understand - as to how many (and perhaps specifically which) forummers would try this in response to this thread.

I'd have said clarion was a cert; Mseries an outside chance.

  Just in the interests of scientific investigation, ya know...

[Cudzoziemiec]

My bike has progressed beyond this to the point where, thanks to its highly advanced Indian tubing, it can be lifted with not one but two arms!

[bomber]

I just tried fingering my ruddy overweight kona mountain bike.  After lofting it easily with a middle finger, I've concluded that its actually a featherlite carbon dream machine in disguise

[Tom M]

That just sounds so NWS Bomber...

[scott]

I'd have said clarion was a cert; Mseries an outside chance.

There is no way I'm going to attempt this with the Bike Friday tandem. It's lighter than I expected, but the sheer leverage of something that long would probably snap my whole hand off.