Hi all, I meant to send a note about this around Christmas as it was one of my presents. It's not a plastic bike toy; it's a 3D metal bicycle sign, most likely an old bicycle shop sign; a randonneuring bicycle in profile, made out of tin sheets and brass tubing and maybe lead with bits of wire and such. It's about 2 ft long, kind of like a Rebour illustration in 3D. It'd meant to be a kind of bas-relief -- the bags and bars are only on one side, for instance, and they're shallow, like the whole thing was meant to mount on a wall but stand out from it. It's complete with waterbottle, pump, front and rear panniers, and handlebar bag, and it's also got a tube bag cinched up underneath the saddle and a pennant-shaped number board (I guess) under the top tube. Fixed or single gear, too, and really long geometry. It looks like a much older bike, like maybe a racing bike from another era. Paint is rough, but that's OK. My dad found it West Virginia in his travels, but the guy he bought it from said it came from France. (he frequents swap meets, flea markets, etc; says I buy him presents from the Internet and he buys me presents from the Interstate.) I'll try to get some pictures up somewhere soon.
Dennis Ryan
Louisville, KY
Dear CR folk:
What was under the tree for you people?
I received a pair of (modern) riding gloves and a pair of smartwool socks.
Charlie
Charles T. Young
Honeybrook. PA