[CR]Classic cars and bikes?

(Example: Framebuilders:Richard Moon)

To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 19:22:19 -0700
From: Mark A. Perkins <bicyclemark@juno.com>
Subject: [CR]Classic cars and bikes?

Hello everyone:

Since this group has decided to wander a little bit away from the main topic of this list, I thought I might share a bit about myself with the rest of you. This probably won't matter to most of you, but before the bicycle took hold of my life I was more into vintage cars than anything else. I still am, and I build model cars too, but the bicycle has a bigger hold on me now.

I currently belong to three clubs. The first, and the one you all know about is the Fresno Cycling Club, which I have been a member of for 30 years this year, more than any other person, and that's why I am the Historian and an honorary Lifetime member. I maintained my membership throughout my two moves to the San Francisco Bay area, and when I moved away from Fresno the third time, the club's President made me both Historian and Lifetime member, whether I like it or not. Of course I love it.

The second club is The Wheelmen, and I have been a member for 24 years this year. Anyone else out there a member of The Wheelmen? Now we're talking classic bicycles! I only own a few bikes that fit this group though, and the main one is my 1888 Columbia Light Roadster, with it's 53" front wheel, and 19" rear, it's my oldest bike. I also own a 1920's Winchester ladies coaster brake bike, an almost exact match (for the Winchester, component wise) 1920's Central mens coaster brake bike, and my most recent acquisition, a Columbia Junior Roadster, which has a date on one decal of 1915, which makes it slightly more recent than 1915, and it's got original paint, decals and components.

The third will probably surprise everyone, and I have only been a member for 7 years. I was given a membership application at a bike race in Northern Calif., and had never heard of the club before that day. This club is known as West Coast Willys, and I have now owned my 1951, 4-wheel drive, Willys Overland Jeep Utility Station Wagon (long name huh?) for 24 years (and it's my second one). Last Sunday I attended a pancake breakfast out near the foothills East of Clovis and Fresno, Calif., which was put on by WCW. But alas, I had to take the Nissan pickup because the current motor, a Chevy 283 V-8, is in pieces in my garage (surrounded by bicycles of course), and in the process of being re-assembled after cracking a head real bad.

Oh yea, I've never owned a Ferrari, but I did get to drive one once, and I once owned an 1961 Austin Healey "Bug-Eye" Sprite, for about 12 or 13 years (wrecked by a careless woman driver - sorry ladies, but it's the truth).

Enough of that car stuff friends, this list is about Classic Lightweight bicycles, so let's talk bikes again. Please?

"Bicycle Mark" Perkins Fresno Cycling Club - Historian Fresno, California, U.S.A.

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