Well, as you all must know by now, the First Annual Velo Rendezvous was a rousing success.
Around 80 attendees for the two day event and over 100 bikes at the show Sunday; a phenomenal turnout for the first event. Hiroshi Ebihara and his wife came all the way from Japan (hands down winner of the "longest distance travelled to attend" award).
My thanks and appreciation go to the enthusiastic speakers at the Velo Symposium held in La Casita (built with wood from the '32 LA Olympic Velodrome). Dennis Crowley, Brett Horton, Rex Gephart, Seth Finkelstein, Brian Baylis and Jim Cunningham. Many commented it was their favorite part of the weekend.
The winners of the bike show Sunday (entrant's first, second and third choice) were First Place, Gino Londi with his beautiful 1936 Umberto Dei with Vittoria Margherita derailleur, Second Place, Rex Gephart with his 1960s Masi Special track bike, and Third Place (blush), my unrestored 1955 Gillott Path Racer.
A few special thankyous: Dale Brown, whose Le Cirque event was the inspiration for Velo Rendezvous. Brian Baylis, who was a co-conspirator in the gestation of the event and helped get most of my bikes to the show Sunday. Maurice Bresnahan from the Boston area, who helped both the day before and during with lots of last minute details. And my best friend and wife of 33 years, Sherry who obviously helped with a lot of the planning and made the event the success that it was.
Next year's event (October 5th and 6th) will be even greater. Sunday's ride will be held on the Pasadena Freeway (closed down for maintenance), from Pasadena to Los Angeles and back; a truly unique event. The Pasadena Freeway was originally the Arroyo Seco Freeway, built in 1938 and the nation's first freeway.
I have yet to put all the photos of the event on my website, but will let you all know when that is up and running.
And finally, thank you to all the attendees, whose presence and support made the event such a wonderful experience.
Can't wait for next year...
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California