"Jonathan v.d. Sluis" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Sheldon Brown <
[email protected]> schreef in berichtnieuws
>
[email protected]... <snip>
> > If you wish to create your own definitions for words, that's your priviledge, but if you
> > actually expect to communicate with other people, it is more efficient to use the generally
> > understood meanings.
>
> Well, that's always relative, since the Dawes bicycles site proved that
what
> one might perceive as generally accepted can be completely different elsewhere. After all, you
> wrote: 'The term "trekking bike" is not English...'.
>
> >
> > I was trying to be helpful, understanding that you're not a native English speaker.
>
> And your efforts are appreciated. Note that I did use the term 'touring bike' after you helpfully
> tried to correct me. Know that your words were
not
> in vain.
>
> >
> > Perhaps in Dutch the terms "touring bike" and "trekking bike" mean the same thing, but they
> > don't in English. You might find my Bicycle Glossary helpful:
http://sheldonbrown.com/glossary
>
> Literally translated, that would be 'tourfiets' and 'trekfiets', respectively. I'd say a tourfiets
> would be used for single-day trips, commuting, etc. It would be a bike with a comfortable
> position. A
trekfiets
> would be used for long distances and lots of luggage - the literal Dutch translations refer to the
> opposite of what you hold to be correct. Dutch framebuilder Van Herwerden (www.vanherwerden.nl)
> produces the Roadmaster
and
> Roadmaster X frames. They call them both 'randonneurs', but the version without the X is meant as
> a tourfiets, while the Roadmaster X is a
trekfiets
> (I would not dare to use the english translations in your presence and
annoy
> you even more!) The difference between these frames is small: the rider's position on the
> roadmaster is slightly more a racing position, while the roadmaster X, one sits more upright.
> Neither is like a road ('racing')
bike,
> however. Also, the roadmaster X has reinforced tubes. It's a very strong steel frame.
>
> <snip>
> > Sheldon "Words DO Have Meanings" Brown
>
> Here's a book you might enjoy: 'The Surgeon of Crowthorne', by Simon Winchester. It's about the
> history of the Oxford English Dictionary, a dictionary that does not assume that words have fixed
> meanings, but tries
to
> list in what way words have actually been used. Words have meanings, but
we
> are not subject to them, and the same word can have different meanings to different people. Many
> people contributed to the OED: if a contributor
found
> a word used in a different sense, (s)he would write down the reference and the quote and send it
> to the dictionary's compilers.
>
> Sometimes such differences are only very small, like in our case. I really don't think that
> whether or not a bike has drop bars or not makes such an immense difference - Van Herwerden
> outfits its roadmaster bikes with any type of handlebar and doesn't care about renaming or
> recategorizing them. I'd call the Roadmaster X a trekfiets no matter what kind of handlebar has
> been put on it. That would translate to trekking bike. And since
'trekking'
> means 'making a long and difficult journey' (according to my English dictionary), I figured this
> should cover the meaning fairly well.
>
> And to be honest; you could have figured out I actually want drop bars
from
> the fact that I was asking about campagnolo components, right?
Thanks - I'll look for the book. The other work on the subject, "The Madman and the Professor" is
excellent"
--
Andrew Muzi
http://www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April 1971
