Jake Khuon's Casual Ponderings and Pontifications

Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 20:41:31 -0300
From: j@bogus.email.dom
To: khuon@NEEBU.NET
Subject: from Brazil (Nishiki)

Dear Jake Khuon,

Are you there?

Was that you that back in October 2002 (or so) had a Nishiki Ariel Mtb ?

If so, PLEASE reply. I just need to quickly talk to you by e-mail.

Thank you very much for any attention from you.

Sincerely,

ANONYMISED

From: "Jake Khuon" <khuon@NEEBU.Net>
To: j@bogus.email.dom
Subject: Re: from Brazil (Nishiki) 
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 10:12:04 -0700

### On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 20:41:31 -0300, j@bogus.email.dom casually decided
### to expound upon khuon@NEEBU.NET the following thoughts about "from
### Brazil (Nishiki)":

j> Are you there?
j> 
j> Was that you that back in October 2002 (or so) had a Nishiki Ariel Mtb ?

I used to have one.  Unfortunately, I no longer do.


j> If so, PLEASE reply. I just need to quickly talk to you by e-mail.

Certainly.  Do you have a question?


j> Thank you very much for any attention from you.

No worries.


--
/*===================[ Jake Khuon <khuon@NEEBU.Net> ]======================+
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Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 17:45:41 -0300
From: j@bogus.email.dom
To: Jake Khuon <khuon@neebu.net>
Subject: from Brazil (Nishiki) - the reason !

>j> If so, PLEASE reply. I just need to quickly talk to you by e-mail.
>
>Certainly.  Do you have a question?
>  
>

Dear Jake Khuon,

Thank you very much for your reply.

The thing is: let me, please, tell you a short story.

Since 1990, for some reason, I like the Nishiki bikes very very much.
I have a lot of material, magazines, pictures, etc, from those bikes 
designed by Mr. Richard Cunningham.
Today I have several Nishiki bikes, including 3 Alien (XT), an FS-2 (XT) 
and a Cascade (LX).

Back in 1990 I saw a picture in the magazines from the Ariel.

The thing is: I NEVER SAW an Ariel in front of me, although I´ve 
visiting many many bike shops. I know they are not so common (they were 
a kind of expensive on those days...).

For some reason, I started to think about the Ariel, more and more but, 
again, never saw another picture, different from that I saw in the 
magazine. Not a single one!

So I decided then to look closer in the internet !

If you type "Nishiki Ariel", there is ONLY ONE PICTURE that you get: 
YOURS !!!!!!

For some particular reason, I started to have more and more interest in 
finding one. After some time (months) I finally find one here in Brazil !!!
After 15 years !!!!
And, believe or not, it was on super marvelous shape !

Well, I don´t have to tell you that I bought it, of course !!!

I am extremely happy with this bike !
It rides just wonderfully (after I have adjusted a little bit the cockpit).

NOW, the reason I am writing to you, is because I just did something in 
your honor.
That´s because I understand that your picture FOR SURE gave all the 
inspiration, encouragement and very very strong wish to have an Ariel.

So, I took this picture from myself, in a similar way you took yours.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY BEST GRATITUDE FOR SHOWING ME THAT PICTURE !

Very sincerely,

ANONYMISED

From: "Jake Khuon" 
To: j@bogus.email.dom
Subject: Re: from Brazil (Nishiki) - the reason ! 
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2005 06:25:22 -0700

### On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 17:45:41 -0300, j@bogus.email.dom
### casually decided to expound upon Jake Khuon  the
### following thoughts about "from Brazil (Nishiki) - the reason !":

j> >j> If so, PLEASE reply. I just need to quickly talk to you by e-mail.
j> >
j> >Certainly.  Do you have a question?
j> 
j> Thank you very much for your reply.
j> 
j> The thing is: let me, please, tell you a short story.

Wow!  That is exactly like my old bike.  I'm very honoured and happy that I
inspired you to seek out an Ariel.  That was one of the best bikes I've ever
had and have been mourning its loss for quite a number of years.  I bought
it right before I left for college and used it for everything including
racing and commuting as it was my only bike.  About five years ago, I gave
it to my brother after I had purchased a new full-suspension bike thinking
that I was "upgrading" and no longer needed my old Ariel.  I couldn't have
been more wrong.  Riding FS isn't necessarily better.  It's just different
and I should have kept my full-rigid Ariel.  To top it off, while I took
immaculate care of my Nishiki, my brother did not.  He abused it by leaving
it out on his front porch unlocked where it promptly got stolen so I can't
even ask for it back from him.  I also had one of the best cycling computers
on that bike when I gave it away... the CatEye CC-8000 ATC which has also
been discontinued long ago.

I have to admit that I am a little jealous you were able to find one in such
great condition.  Now I am compelled by the results of your own personal
quest to go out and re-acquire a 1990 Nishiki Ariel.

I hope you enjoy your bike.  As you've already discovered, it's a wonderful
machine.  I have always loved Richard Cunningham designed bikes and felt
they exhibited the epitome in XC handling.  I purchased the Ariel because I
could not at the time afford a Mantis.  The Nishiki being a mass-production
version of the Mantis XCR was much cheaper, and I didn't have to sign up for
a two-year backlogged waiting list to get one.  Some other bikes I really
dreamt of having were the Nishiki AlienACX, its sister, the Mantis Flying V
and the full-suspension thermoplastic carbon fiber Mantis Screaming V. 
Apparently these are very rare bikes.  And in the grand scheme of things, I
believe even the Ariel was a pretty rare bike despite being mass-produced.

May I ask a favour of you?  May I have permission to post our email exchange
in my public blog?  This is a wonderful story.  I will of course anonymise
your name and email address.  I will also blur out your face in the picture
if you want.


--
/*===================[ Jake Khuon <khuon@NEEBU.Net> ]======================+
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Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 16:50:51 -0300
From: j@bogus.email.dom
To: khuon@neebu.net
Subject: from Brazil (Nishiki Ariel)

Dear Jake Khuon,

Thank you very much for your attention and for accepting my considerations 
about your Nishiki Ariel.

Also, thank you for all your explanation and the story about your Ariel; I am 
sorry to know that it was gone. I had a Trek 970 stolen a few months ago I 
know how you feel.

Well, I have to tell you that it seems that we have some similar feelings 
about bikes; I have a full suspension bike (the Nishiki FS-2, full Y2K XT 
components) and, yes, for some reason I usually prefer to ride the hardtails 
that I have.

Let me tell you that I DO HAVE A RED ALIEN ACX!
The problem is that, unfortunately, the 7000 series aluminum frame cracked. 
Really really too bad. I love that frame and I still have it with me.

Another point is that, me too, I tried for many years to put my hands on a 
Mantis Flying V. I still have the Mountain Bike Action magazine (1990) that 
brought its picture in the front page, plus a nice report about it. I also had 
a significant chance to buy a full suspension Mantis Screaming V thermoplastic 
frame (black) but unfortunately it was gone before I reached the store (and 
also it was too expensive...).

Well, I also agree with you that, although the new bikes (like yours) are 
incredible machines, those 90's cromoly hardtails had such a special handling. 
I feel this, including at the Ariel.

Now, as far as the posting of my message in the public blog is concerned, IF 
YOU THINK that it is worthy, although I was not expecting that, I don't see 
major problems. You can leave my face in the picture if you want, but I would 
ask you, please, to do not post my name and e-address for now. Also, I would 
appreciate if you could correct my English mistakes.

Let me also take this opportunity to send you another picture from the Ariel; 
I hope you enjoy it.
This is a 17" one; it seems from the picture that yours was one size larger, 
i.e., the 19".

Once more, thank you very much for reading my messages and for all your 
attention with me.

And, again, thanks for posting that Ariel picture !

Sincerely,

ANONYMISED

P.S. I actually do not wear glasses; I just put one to get closer to your 
picture !