RE: [Leica] Bike (w/Leica content)

[Tom Finnegan <tomf@piengr.com>]

Rob McClure:
> I was just thinking (a scarey thought)  Does anyone want to talk
> about great bicycles?  I have three Cannondales...

Alexey:
Harumph. You asked for it.

Shimano = Canon; STI = autofocus; Aluminum/carbon = disposable...
Mavic = Zeiss/Contax; Campy = Leica...

..and a handbuilt *steel* frame is what you Leica users really
ought to be riding, and equipped with campy/mavic/stronglight/TA stuff and 
SEW-UP TIRES - *not* clinchers.

************************************************************************  
************

I was going to make a similiar comment, but I refrained since I still have 
a circa '86 Cannondale road frame hanging out in the shed. I did a couple 
rides this summer on my custom lugged steel Eisentraut with the m6 and 35 
in my jersey pocket, but then switched to a Rollei 35se for most of my 
biking. The thought of taking a spill with $3000 worth of camera in my back 
pocket made me a bit uneasy. The $350 Rollei is obviously much smaller and 
lighter, capable of taking nice pictures, and much easier on the pocketbook 
to replace in case of an accident.

My wife and I did a 3-week bike trip around Ireland a few years back, and I 
carried the m6 and 35 in a front bag much like Walt describes, or in a 
fanny pack. Bicycle touring and Leica M's are a perfect combination and a 
great way to see a country. Instead of driving around on major roads and 
zipping from one tourist attraction to the next, you are biking along at 
10mph on small backroads really seeing the people and country. You are 
going slow enough that you can really see photo opportunities unfold 
infront of you, but fast enough to cover a fair bit of ground in a day. It 
was very easy to quickly stop anywhere and take some pictures.

If I were to take a similiar trip again I would probably bring 2 M's with 
35 and 50 in a front bag. I would then pack in my panniers a 21 and 90 for 
the times I wanted a wider or longer lens. The 9 lb Ries tripod and 4x5 
field camera outfit would probably stay at home this time, and I would 
bring along a lighter tripod and perhaps a Fuji 690 for the times I wanted 
a larger negative.

Tom Finnegan
Seattle

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