Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
The first issue is at the printer. It will be mailed to subscribers next Wednesday or Thursday.
What is VBQ?
It is a 20-page newsletter, full of information on vintage lightweight bicycles, their makers, and riders. For the first issues, the focus is on French "constructeurs", randonneuring, Paris-Brest-Paris, and the famous technical trials. VBQ includes interviews with the people involved when these bikes were at the height of their popularity in the 1950s, like Ernest Csuka (owner of Cycles Alex Singer), Roger Baumann ("Pilote de Rene Herse," winner of Paris-Brest-Paris in 1956 and holder of the track 24-hour-record), and Jean Olbrechts (rider for Cycles Mignon/Alex Singer in the technical trials). Each issue will showcase a bicycle, like a 1962 Singer randonneur, a 1948 Rene Herse camping bike, a truly amazing Faure from 1952, and the mind-boggling 1929 Integral. However, we will cover other aspects of cycling as well, for example, a fast ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 1902. If it has to do with classic performance bicycles, it belongs in VBQ.
What are the production values?
VBQ will be professionally printed on coated paper for optimal photo reproduction. However, color is prohibitive, so the magazine will be black&white.
Isn't 20 pages a bit thin?
To save paper and postage, it was decided to limit the number of pages for now. However, I worked with a professional graphic designer to fit a lot into these pages without it looking crowded. Furthermore, there is only half a page of advertising, there are no coupons, subscription notices, etc., so you really get 19 pages of information (page 20, the back cover, has to be empty for your address, etc.)
Where do I subscribe?
- To subscribe, send $ 27 (U.S.; $ 31 Canada, $ 37 rest of world) to (check payable to Jan Heine): Jan Heine c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles 140 Lakeside Ave. Seattle WA 98122 USA - Foreign subscribers, please contact the editor for payment information (PayPal or International Money Order). - There is a special! Until September 15, 2002, subscribe for $ 24 (U.S., $ 28 Can., $ 35 rest of world.)! - For quantity discounts (for clubs, newsstands, bike shops, etc.), please contact me.
Where do I find more information?
http://www.mindspring.com/
What if I want to submit an article, a photo, or a story idea to VBQ?
Contact me and we'll discuss it. I am always looking for submissions.
What if I want to advertise in VBQ? Contact me - the rates are reasonable, and you reach a very dedicated audience.
Thank you.
Jan Heine, Seattle