John,
I'll join you on the cheerleading squad. Maybe we can perform a pyramid at Le Cirque. I met Chris for the first time at Le Cirque 2002. The first thing I noticed was that he has a wry sense of humor and it's ALWAYS on. He is somewhat quiet and reserved up until you hit upon a topic of his passion; that being handmade bicycles. I'm very interested in his racing adventures and more importantly his background in framebuilding. I have found that pretty much all "old timer" American framebuilders have an interesting explaination as to why they chose this path. Everyone made a "wrong turn" somewhere, a brain fart, that resulted in choosing to become a framebuilder. I'd like to hear Chris' excuse!
I enjoyed meeting Chris more than anyone else I hadn't met before last year. Of course he reminded me that we met back in the early 80's apparently at the New York show. I think it must have been the same time I had the funny run-in with Ernesto Colnago about the club cutouts in lugs. My memory was pretty much overshadowed by that event. Regardless, I did not have the opportunity to get a feel for the real Chris Kvale until Le Cirque. I'm REALLY looking forward to more time and antics with Chris. I plan to ride this year at Le Cirque and I hear Chris is a Ball-buster. Frankly folks, I've begun the transition from testosterone filled youngster (at age almost 50) and I'm not as "competitive" as I once was. I'm taking more time to enjoy the company and the ride these days, but I promise I will be doing my best to suck wheel to hang with you guys. Maybe I can make a pact with Pergolizzi to split the take if he pushes me up the hills.
I for one am very anxious to see and hear Chris again. I hope everyone else giving consideration to attending Le Cirque 2003 will make the move to be there. I spoke with Dale the other day and he mentioned that he has begun checking into having Alberto Masi as a guest this comming year. If you think there is going to be a more international event for vintage biycyles anytime in the near future you may want to rethink that one. There will also be a large number of American heavy hitters in attendance, framebuilderwise. Those who have attended the events on one coast or the other know what kind of energy is generated when groups like this converge. Those who haven't been simply MUST consider Le Cirque this year. I'm predicting a gathering of Woodstock perportions in 2003 relative to the vintage bike scene. I'm totally serious. I can feel the vibes already!
Rah, Rah, Sis, Boom, Bah, Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa CHRIS!
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Oh MY! I split my skirt on that last cheer! How embarrassing.
>
> For what it's worth, Chris Kvale Cycles is Chris Kvale. Not another soul
> ever touches his work from start to finish *including paint*. See his
> work this spring at Le Cirque, where he will be speaking and showing and
> swapping. He wants to speak at length about his theories on geometry,
> offset, trail, etc., but I am trying to counsel him to tell us STORIES
> about his dinner with Merckx, DeRosa, etc, as well as his stint in the
> Pan-Am Trials, his record-setting Trans-Continental ride with his
> brother, his racing against Lemond when Greg was a junior, beating
> Stetina at the line in a sprint, etc.
>
> I understand that these stories don't really fit the topic of American
> framebuilders, (that's the topic, right dale?) but his stories are
> great.
>
> This dude is so quiet and modest, that I have been trying to be his
> cheerleader, (he lives down the street) but his work speaks for itself.
>
> http://www.velostuf.com/
>
> John Barron
> Minneapolis