YEAH BABY! YEAH!! serious mojo-nization from chuckie. austin powers.
oops. i mean... e-RICHIE
On Thu, 08 Mar 2001 13:27:48 -0800 Chuck Schmidt
<chuckschmidt@earthlink.net> writes:
I might add though, that when Mario Confente showed his bikes at the
New York bicycle trade show in March 1977 he had a very definite and
maybe even profound effect on the other framebuilders in attendance.
> From Velo News, March 11, 1977:
>
> "Perhaps the star of the frame show was Mario Confente, who now
> handbuilds custom bicycles in Los Angeles. After a decade as master
> framebuilder for Masi in Italy and America, Confente last year
> opened
> his own modern shop complete with a number of technological
> innovations.
>
> An expressive, amiable man, Confente handles all phases of
> construction
> himself, beginning with a full mapping of the prospective owner's
> physical dimensions and riding requirements. He has thus far
> constructed 32 frames under his own name, with No. 8 having been
> sent to
> longtime friend Eddy Merckx.
>
> Confente has built other frames for Merckx over the years, as well
> as
> for many professional teams in Europe. Though he can hardly be
> called
> an American craftsman, Mario's presence in this country is already
> adding to the emerging prestige of U.S. framebuilding."
>
> The article also stated:
>
> "In attention to detail and design, several American builders were
> rated
> by Show-goers as exceeding those who heretofore have been the
> standard
> of the world -- the Italians. Though Masi, Guerciotti, Colnago and
> Gios
> were all represented, three U.S. craftsmen seemed to draw more
> attention, namely Bruce Gordon, Richard Sachs and Mario Confente"
>
> Chuck "gee I _hope_ this is on topic" Schmidt
> South Pasadena, California