On Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 5:35:23 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
On 5/15/2017 11:46 PM, Tim McNamara wrote:
On Mon, 15 May 2017 12:10:03 -0400, Frank Krygowski
wrote:
On 5/14/2017 11:43 PM, Tim McNamara wrote:
On Sat, 13 May 2017 07:45:40 -0500, AMuzi
wrote:
On 5/13/2017 12:38 AM, Tim McNamara wrote:

I have acquaintances who ride bikes from the 30s-40s-50s (mostly
old British stuff) quite often. Couple drops of oil every so often
and those old S-A hubs will practically run forever.


+1

And if not 'forever' at least 'lifetime' after which who cares?

Usually the original owner's lifetime then the lifetimes of several
subsequent owners. Sometimes someone will overhaul one, but I think
it's mainly for entertainment than necessity.

My friend Jon is a rabid British bike collector and has dozens of
bikes, many of them pre-WW II, and has rarely had to take apart an
S-A. 70-80 years old, add a few drops of oil and they work fine.

Some people would say that indicates over-design, which is bad design.

Personally, I love it.

I've ever understood the notion of "if it doesn't break in normal use,
it's overdesigned."


Two points of view on that, Colin Abarth Chapman, "The
properly designed racing car falls apart as it crosses the
finish line first."

Sort of like Colin himself