Subject: Re: LONG DISTANCE LOOP FRAME
Author: Chris Berry
Date: Dec 12, 2001, 11:15 AM
Post ID: 1709139225
I agree...this is a wonderful book. If you are not into philosophy and such
stuff, it is definitely not for you. However, if you enjoy a thought
provoking, intellectual read (albeit a hard and sometimes dry one) this is
the book for you. It took me about four times through to "get it" with this
book. Now it is time to replace my copy, cos I've read it so much. Maybe a
hardcover this time. I saw a new one at the bookstore the other week that
has some new comments by Pirsig, so I'll probably get that edition after the
holidays.
Btw, I think the Winnie the Pooh phrase "if you don't have anything nice to
say, don't say anything at all" fits nicely here.
Enjoy!
Chris in NC
| From: psabr-@aol.com Reply-To: Loopfram-@topica.com To: Loopfram-@topica.com Subject: Re: LONG DISTANCE LOOP FRAME Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 13:04:25 EST ============================================================ Enter to Win Free Maid Service and More from Pfizer! Win Free Maid Service for 6 Months, a "Day of Beauty" or a Palm Handheld! Enter Now! http://click.topica.com/caaaeHNb1dfltb2Ogs7a/Pfizer ============================================================ OK, Since we have introduced discussions on books and Guzzi vs BMW/Goldwing, I'll bring up the annual "Zen" reference. If you've never read it, sit down with "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". A book of Philosophy intertwined with a study of motorcycles and their riders. The reading can be dry at times, so be forewarned. The author (Pirsig) rides an old motorcycle and performs routine and roadside maintenance because it is an anticipated and expected part of the entire riding experience. He understands that his bike is a collection of interoperating systems that all tie together to make the bike run. If one system fails then the entire "system" fails. Troubleshooting and analysis of problems adds to his pleasure. His riding partners are on BMW's. They enjoy riding but consider repair and maintenance as things that are done to your bike by others and inherently take away from the experience if you have to do them yourself. Their bikes either run or they don't. They do not with to analyze even the simplest problems since they look at the bike as a single entity. When it's broke, it's broke and someone with that knowledge must fix it. I read this book before ever getting a motorcycle and early on, identified that I would never be satisfied with a bike that I did not have the ability to work on myself. It is that reputation of low maintenance and longevity that gives me little desire to own a BMW, Although I respect their bikes greatly. My experience with HD is that one must perform the same basic tasks (i.e. replace primary cover bolts) nearly everytime the bike is ridden. That, to me, is silly stuff. I want a machine that when properly "repaired", will hold that state reliably until another "repair" is needed. Moto Guzzi fits nicely somewhere between the two. Generally when a repair must me made repeatedly to a Guzzi, then perhaps there are other factors which must be contributing to the problem. We can see this, in that many of us have started with neglected bikes, but with time and persistence, the bikes end up being very reliable and consistent. The owners grow in knowledge and through familiarity and experience, begin to anti cipate when items must be worked on and why. This may be a little deep and long-winded, but in my mind, it is this common experience and and ATTITUDE which binds the members of this list together. To paraphrase the author one one of my favorite statements: "When working on a motorcycle, the first and foremost tool one must have is Gumption. Without that, no other tools will do you any good." Thanks for the bandwidth David Whitmore '71 Ambassador (still gathering up the Gumption) ============================================================ Introducing Adobe DesignTeam, the Web-based collaboration service from Adobe Studio(r).Try it free for a month and see why it's the easiest way to manage your design projects. Get your free 30 day trial now http://click.topica.com/caaaeFLb1dfltb2Ogs7f/AdobeDesignTeam ============================================================ |
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