In a message dated 1/5/2003 11:18:42 AM Eastern Standard Time, losgatos@ix.netcom.com writes:
<< 1970-1973, but one of the things I remember is my first "CR"-style vintage bike, actually the first decent ten-speed I ever owned. It was an Aquila >>
That is very interesting ... That is the very first reference to Aquila bikes I have heard EXCEPT in the Flying Dutchman branded frames/bikes as sold by the Big Wheel in Denver...a number of CR members & BOB list folk bought those frames, all part of that shops close down/blow out of a huge number of shop-worn but NOS frames lefty in stock (the store closed 3-4 years ago...) The dropouts on some (not all) frames were stamped "Aquila" and I am pretty sure Jack Van Gent, the owner, had told me that most were made for him by Aquila in Italy... Of course I had never heard of Aquila but since then there has been a lot of speculation about those frames.. Some hinted at the frames actually being sourced from South America...and others think they were not really 531 and Columbus tubing but sport fake decals... Who knows? But that is the first time I have heard of a company named Aquila and that they might be Italian? Anyone else heard or even owned an Aquila?
Dale Brown
Greensboro, North Carolina