Well crew, I guess its @ time I added my 2 cents. My personal highlights: Sally and I made a vacation out of this trip. As we hadn't been to San Diego for 15 years, it was time to scope it out for a possible winter snowbird hiatus spot. Arrived on Sat. and enjoyed four days including Old Town, La Jolla, Downtown, Little Italy ,breakfast at Perry's Cafe; A Breakfast Place(can't get refried beans with eggs in the A.M. in N.Y.C. Tues. afternoon we took the trolley out to La Mesa where we were meet by Brian Baylis in the new Baylismobile. My fun had started! We were then given the unique privilege of a tour of the Cycle store room(spare bedroom) and the Drum Center (living room). This in contrast to my setup; most of my bikes live in the living room and a few are in the closet. I don't have drums. Overwhelming hunger forced my hand and we made Rumpole drive us to a local Italian eatery. As all truly fast sprinters will attest to, the secret to the sprint is in the sauce.After forcing copious amounts of food into the gnomes body,I suggested a tour of the workshop was in order. Both my fears and my fantasies were fulfilled. Fear of seeing stuff I couldn't possibly live with out. Fantasy of seeing things I'd never imagined! Such as Confente's personal ride. Let me tell you all right now, this guy is an Artist. Their aren't really very many higher compliments in my book. Although he seems to be abnormally enamored of triple cranksets right now. Sally returned to N.Y. on Thurs. Brian picked me up with the abomination, ahh, I mean tricycle toestraped to the roof. What baylis,Bresnahan,and Schmidt have been kind enough to do, is to not mention ,at least not on the list, was my trike ridding experience in front of Chuck's house. Well, lets not call it ridding. It was mostly me TRYING to not steer into the curb!! It was a humbling and sobering experience. Forget all your experience @ going around turns. Do the opposite! Right turn: inside pedal down,weight on it all the way, ass off the saddle and lowered down on the right. And pray. Yes I've gained new respect for that wobbly wheeled monster. Just keep it away from me. At least when the saddle is empty and tempting. Yea, the fun had really begun. Then I got to devirgin the Montelatici. Guess it'll have to be an annual tradition; me breakin in a Brian Personal. A tradition just like those Krispy Kreams. Start diggin kid. Keep it interesting for me. While at Gordon Birsch, I too, had one of those BIG beers. Think half-gallon size. Conservatively. All I remember is looking over at Chuck and his glass was always emptier then mine. Then he was done. I had to finish. Its these little personal battles with myself that keeps me go'in. Yea I did it, but I also did stumble out of that place. Hic. Riddin with the boys that afternoon was sheer bliss. Pasadena sure is nice. But SoCal riders just don't communicate with drivers same as us New Yorkers. (Don't worry, I'll learn youse.) Did a similar shout when I was sprinting. Scares ya at first. They always ended up behind me. Another trick. Just like the YAWN. Gets um every time. And their's still a little cork left in this old fart. Other highlights: -Riding w/Mark Petry at the front on Sun. A.M. He really wanted me to suffer up that hill on the way to Beantown. Roadies vs. Sprinters; The Eternal Battle! -Helping Erin get back on the road after flatting on Sat. -Pyramid Heffe Weise at Boca -Dave Staub and Ted Ernst. I used to get those kinds of stories from the N.Y. old timmers. Their mostly all gone. It was sweet, just like old times. I could listen every sat. and sun. morning.(while ridding). -Being able to finish up some long overdue business with a certain SoCal paint spraying entity. Details are limited to the privileged few. Or call me, I'm not sworn to secrecy. -Meet, after a long phone relationship, Jeff Gromman. (I gotta see that tape Jeff). Hung w/Wayne Bingham (lucky stiff new Confente owner) and Karen Schuckman(read the book yet? I expect a report.), Giuseppe Bello(he paints bikes under his American name). Matt "BearHug"Gorski(Imiss you too BIGGUY),Signore Matteo Brandi di Firenze, Steve Thomas,Peter Johnson -Missed a few members who I was hoping would attend: Louie Deter,Sarah Gibson, Dale Whateverhisnameis(yeayouBrown.This I forgive, but you better be there at The Cirque gumbo),Mark Poore, Jan Johnson, Larry Osborn,Ray Etherton and the Mrs. I think the attendance was larger then last year and there are still folks who were there that I didn't meet. We all must try harder. I returned to N.Y.C aweek ago. Left, it was summer. Returned, its fall. I miss 70 degrees. Once again, was it all a dream? Just like last year, I'll let you know at the next Velo Rendezvous. To finish off. the ultimate thanks to Chuck Schmidt for his vision and work,Sherry for Her support of her husbands cycle illness.Sally shares your compassion. Brian Baylis for draggin my ass North (and pointing out the exact location of the first Cal. Masi location on the way) , acting not only as secretary in documenting the events of a very special four days but also for sharing his knowledge, experience, passion with all of us. (Oh, by the way, I'll still kick your ass in a sprint. One on one. Mano a mano. Pedali a pedali. At least it'll give us something to look forward to till May :).
ciao,
John T.Pergolizzi
N.Y.C.