I really enjoyed the swap meet! I got to see a bunch of CR members, local riding friends, and it was a treasure trove of some really nice deals and old stuff. I started out finding and buying a pair of NOS Nike touring shoes at Bobby Phillip's booth, the Baltimore bullet. Like Sean Yates, I was one of the last holdouts for toe clips and straps with my shoes literally falling apart and not being able to be replaced before I switched to spd style shoes and speedplays. Now my bikes'll have the old pedals on 'em for the cirque. Marty walsh walked up and said hello while I was trying the shoes on and got the Silca large barrel floor pump for ATBs, nice wooden handle and another good deal.
I got another look at that robin's egg blue paramount in my size at Harvey's booth. Boy, I'd sure like that one. The Chrome Falcon Track bike was my size too. The chrome and decals were in great shape with an old NR pista group and tubulars on it. Its just as well I didn't bring too much money with me, though I'd like to be picking up a lot of those bikes I keep hearing about on the list.
There was a nice old cambio corsa derailleured bike in the annex, with almost no paint and no distinguishing decals or head badge, very nice lugwork. I loved the curve of the handlebars. I forgot the owner's name, another list member I think. I'm terrible with names, but he demonstrated the shifting for it. Really cool! I am glad that shifting is easier than that now. I'm still almost completely friction with my bikes, but it still beats all the back pedaling and stuff. ... Boy I'd like to own one of them too!
A very nice show!
Dan Artley in Blustery, Cold Baltimore