I would like to announce a newsletter:
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly - A newsletter about old bikes, French bikes, randonneuring, bicycle touring After the much-lamented demise of "On the Wheel" and "The Bicycle Trader," as well as the "Vintage Bicycle Racing Newsletter," the vintage cycling community has been lacking a printed outlet. I hope "Vintage Bicycle Quarterly" will provide just that. I have material for the first few issues lined up - mostly French topics - but am looking for contributions for future issues. There is a lot of expertise on this list, and I hope the newsletter will be able to make it available in a durable format. Whether you want to write about the different models and ages of Campy cable-guide clips or have a story on riding an old British 3-speed across the Himalayas - please send it in. Historic and technical articles will be referenced to prevent the spreading of misinformation. (And no, there won't be any money in this for either of us, but you'll get a couple of free issues if the story gets printed.)
Some of you may have read my articles in the Rivendell Reader. Chuck Schmidt will also contribute to that publication. My newsletter is not intended to compete with Rivendell - its focus is different. For example, four stories on various French bikes are probably all the Reader should have, and the newsletter will take it from there.
You'll read an interview with Ernest Csuka, nephew of Alex Singer and current owner of the shop, another with Roger Baumann, winner of Paris-Brest-Paris in 1956. Details of the famous technical trials. An interview with a rider on the Singer team. Amazing photos of the old events. Beautiful and adventurous journeys recounted and technical details discussed (not only French ones, either). It won't be glossy, but you'll find information and stories you won't find anywhere else. To subscribe, send $ 24 ($ 30 outside U.S.) for four issues (1 year) to: Jan Heine c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles, 140 Lakeside Ave., Seattle WA 98122.
Issue No. 1 will appear in August, and quarterly thereafter.
Jan Heine, Seattle