[CR]San Diego Vintage Bike Ride

(Example: Production Builders:Pogliaghi)

Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 22:49:25 -0800
From: "Brian Baylis" <rocklube@adnc.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]San Diego Vintage Bike Ride

Hello All,

I'm rather surprised no one who attended the first San Diego vintage ride this past Sunday has sent a report to the list as of yet. Guess I'll post a quick report.

Organized by Sterling Peters, I would feel safe in saying that it was a "sterling production" to be sure. There was a sizable group in attendence, some from as far away as Redwood City, CA; which is in the bay area! That would be my long time and good friends Peter and Jan Johnson. For those who are not aware; Peter Johnson was a pioneer framebuilder from the bay area back as far as the early 70's at least, possibly earlier. He is the well from which several bay area builders drew from for information and inspiration in the early days. His style, and not less than several major innovations, were adopted by such builders as Tom Ritchey amongst others. As a matter of fact, one of the framebuilding "tricks" I will pass along to the group at the Cirque in May which I picked up from Tom Ritchey was in fact "invented" by none other than Peter Johnson. He is a fountain of experiences and knowledge and spent many hours with Spence Wolf of the famous Cupertino Bike Shop in the "old days". He also has quite a collection of "goodies", many the likes of which I've never seen before. His wife Jan (who shares my birthday which we celebrated Sunday) sells a fine selection of vintage style wool jerseys that many of us vintage types are gravitating towards these days. These people are not only genuine and long time vintage cyclists, they are a part of American cycling and framebuilding history which many are unaware of. Peter has a machine shop now, but for special occassions still puts torch to steel and creates handmade frames as if it were still the early 70's. He showed us a work in progress for his wife that was truely wonderful to see without any paint on it.

Several LA area regulars attended including Chuck Schmidt, Phil Brown, Charles Andrews, and Matt Gorski. A special thanks to Matt from me for buying lunch for JB and myself, and treating us both to a couple of VERY fine cigars!

What about the ride? Well, yes we rode, and the weather was acceptable. The route was very well choosen (by Sterling of course) and we all had fun, although I feel every minute of my 48 years today; since I haven't ridden since Matts' ride from Belmont Shore last June or July or whenever it was. For me these gatherings are all about the people and the exchange of ideas and tales of adventures past. The bikes are great also, but again for me it is about getting out of the shop and hob knobbing with other enthusiests.

All in all, it was a great way to spend part of my birthday. I'm looking forward to the next "Sterling Production" where from what I hear, it will be "French" theme. Time to dig out the PX-10 I guess (since I couldn't even approach the $4000 that the Rene Herse fetched earlier today on ebay).

I'm sure others in attendence will fill in the details I've left out. Anyone?

Brian Baylis
Sore butt in La Mesa, CA