Re: [CR]Velo Rendezvous #1 is in the bag!

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Cinelli)

Date: Mon, 08 Oct 2001 12:20:25 -0700
From: "Brian Baylis" <rocklube@adnc.com>
To: Mark Poore <rauler47@hotmail.com>
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Velo Rendezvous #1 is in the bag!
References: <F198MixUt4KuMFVNW6R0001331d@hotmail.com>


Mark,

Me, trying to make you jealous, oh no not me. Had I been trying to make you sorry to have been anywhere else these past two days, I would probably have mentioned that the weather was by deffinition "perfect" on account of early October is by most peoples' opinion the best time of year here. It's not too hot and not too cold. But there is always a better vibration in the air this time of year. So for starters we experienced two days of perfect conditions. The only slight penelty is the daylight hours are beginning to shorten a bit. No problem, don't dilly dally on the ride.

If I was actually trying to ruffel your feathers, I may have even mentioned how fabulous it is to meet someone like John Pergolizzi from Brooklyn, New York in person for the first time after having gotten to know him over the phone these past several years. We talk a length periodiocally; it feels like he is one of my brothers or something, but I've never met him. We talk bikes and laugh our asses off about all kinds of stuff, and then finally I meet John and his wife Sally. These moments are priceless; I can just imagine their horror as for the first time they set eyes upon this.....this...."thing" who "claims" he's Brian Baylis. No, no it can't be! Is that someones' dog walking backwards? Where is the real Brian? Once the shock subsides and the courage to look directly at the "person" standing before them has returned; they finally realize they must accept the truth. Yes, it is me. As Sally assisted John on with a latex protective glove, he reluctantly extended his hand and we shook. Imagine not being at Velo Rendezvous this year and not having experienced several similar memorable meeting such as this with all kinds of interesting folks. Oftentimes these gatherings cause one or two people to spend extra time in your company and those situations allow one to get to know those people extra well. In this case I had the extreme pleasure of rooming with Maurice Bresnahan and Alan Schaffer, both from the East Coast (Boston and CT) and both of whom I met in person for the first time at the Cirque this year. There are five who were at both events this year. Chuck, Maurice, Alan, Ken Wallace, and myself. Anyway, both of these right side gentelmen are extra special and we had some extra time to learn more about each other. Alan is in the enviable position of soon to be getting some tutoring from Peter Weigle on how to build his first frame. He asked me for some tips on how to do simple but elegant lugwork. I told him to look closely at Peter Johnsons' work for inspiration. There were two perfect examples of work like that from Peter, and one was painted and the other was "in the white". No paint on the frame, you could see every construction detail of Peters unique and refined work. Alan was taking photos on frequent occassions, even during our rides! He's a photo buff of sorts. I suppose if I were trying to rub your nose in what you might have missed, I would have said you probably would have a new closer aquaintence with a few persons you didn't know as well before. Again, priceless; and I mean that literally.

These gatherings bring us all together as a group and helps bind us tighter, which inspires us to work closer together to make our dreams happen. I'm sure many people in attendence will verify that at least for me, these events are all about the people. The fantastic finds during the swap time that I heard several stories of were at least third behind the amazing assembelage of bikes at this event. The East swap seemed "market value" oriented. Out here the real "swap meet" spirit still lives on. Example, any likelyhood a Campy SR seat post NIB, size 27.2, would be offered up for $10 back East. I suspect not. I heard of several such amazing deals. I don't want to make anyone "jealous" after all, so I'll shut up.

The rest of the taunting will resume when I report on day two shortly. I'm just providing a report of what I saw; I'm not suggesting that any right siders drop everything and start making plans to attend next year. That would be too much like an infomercial, I wouldn't do that. (Or would I?)

Brian Baylis (mild mannered reporter for the Daily Planet) La Mesa, CA
>
> “I hope I'm not making anyone who couldn’t make it jealous.” Yeh, right! I
> see through the plot, to get as many of right coasters to your side next
> year. Well it just might work. I will have to save some vacation time just
> incase I can refrain from buying another bike, or if I can sell one or have
> my son skip of year of college to be able to afford airfare to the left
> coast.
>
> Mark, jealous in West Virginia, Poore