Competition for Viscount back in the day...

But not as good as an Aerospace framed bike!!!!
Cheers,
Pete.

Well, I would probably join a Koga-Miyata forum if there was one (I owned one once, but don't anymore). Not sure I would have much to say, and I only have a photo of a bike I once owned, and couldn't show that more than once or twice.

I might even join a Falcon forum but only to admire them from afar. I might buy one if I could pick one up at a good price.

I have had, and still have, a Dawes, but the thought of joining a forum to discuss them just seems...odd to me now I think about it. It never entered my head.

I think we are the only group that has such a devoted following. That thread on CTC is just beyond words.

When I first stumbled into Busaste's CTC thread, I was actually looking for a Vitus forum. Never found a good one and the rest is history. Bonded aluminum frames of the Vitus 979 really intrigued me and there are still plenty out there including my own. Pete and I can form a subgroup!

Conclusion:
There must be something about a Viscount, that sets it apart from other bikes. Not all people can understand this because they have never been on one. Its nice to be a bit unique.

They are special: it's something to do with the combination of extrenely high quality, technical innovation and distinctiveness. Which could all combine to give Viscounts a snobbish, remote appeal - except that they are and always have been affordable to everyone. I think Steve once described them as blue collar hero bikes, and that seems about right to me.

When I first started riding my old Claud Butler, I e-mailed the webmaster at Classic Lightweights and asked if he'd like to feature my bike on the site. He politely declined, citing its post-Holdsworth takeover build date and bottom of the range status. I didn't mind a bit, becuase I'd expected that response.Sometimes even I fall victim to looking at my Claud and wishing it was a "proper" Claud...

But the Viscount ethos is completely different. It's all about making exceptionally competent bikes avilable to as many people as possible. It's inclusive and quietly confidant. I love it. I think the bikes and the people who ride them are just great.

You're right about the glorious failure bit too Pete. It makes the whole ownership experience just a tiny bit bittersweet. I mentally file the Aerospace right next to the TSR-2, Concorde, the Advances Passanger Train and the hovercraft, becuase like all those things they have been touched by real genius; but executed in a slightly flawed way.

Viscounts are special, aren't they? Despite my frustration, I'm still pretty much in love with Viscounts and always will be. For the reasons Goldie mentioned above.