[CR]The Post-Cirque blues...

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Cinelli)

From: "Jan Johnson" <picabo58@earthlink.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 19:05:46 -0700
In-Reply-To: <BAY4-F3cWZd0488AqAY0001d3c2@hotmail.com>
Subject: [CR]The Post-Cirque blues...

What an amazing four days it's been!

The 2003 Cirque is over and I'm experiencing that melancholy feeling often felt after leaving your best friends behind after a wonderful visit. Just got off the phone with Chuck Schmidt and he feels the same. It's just so sad to leave Greensboro and resume our regularly-scheduled programming.

Dale....how can we thank you for another incredible Cirque? Your dedication to making this event a success does not go unnoticed. We had a great time! Thank you very much.

The magnetic bicycle race was indeed one of the highlights that stands out in my mind. Actual parimutual betting on plastic bicycle racers wiggling around an oval track. It was great fun. And contrary to an earlier post reporting that I was winning the money, I actually lost FIVE dollars because my stupid racer kept falling over in the home stretch, strangely similar to a couple of my race finishes on the track! Maurice Bresnahan was the big winner that night and should have immediately driven to the Kentucky Derby to place a few bets...he would have won, for sure.

I can't possibly mention everyone's name who made this past weekend unforgettable. Getting lost on the Friday Shake-Down ride with Aldo and the Guys in 80-degree humid weather was embarassing but fun; being silly with Brett Horton all weekend; hugging adorable Brian Baylis and making him blush; hangin' with Chuck Schmidt....you're SUPERISSIMO; meeting Steven Maasland for the first time and hearing him speak Italiano; meeting fellow 'Bike Chicks' Ann from Atlanta, and also Paul Lee's wife, and seeing Karen Rawls again; talking with Peter Wiggle (tee hee hee); Kirk Pacenti and Kathleen; Alan Schaeffer and his son with the miniature Detto Pietro shoes; Maurice B., John "Who Loves Ya, Baby" Pergolizzi, Jeff Groman, Mark Petry, John Barron, Chris Kvale; Nick, Wayne, Harvey, Larry, Tom, Richie, Ron, and everyone I've forgotten to mention. Oh yeah, and that HOMEBREW in the hotel room down the hall from us with Karen and Lou Deeter + Company....Woo hoo! That should be the OFFICIAL CIRQUE BREW! yum yum!

Reuniting with old friends and making new ones is what the Cirque is ALL about (well...scoring a few choice components for a good price and making deals on Sunday is fun too!). Congrats to Brian Baylis for all the awards (you deserved them all), and congrats to all the other winners as well. Peter Weigle ROCKS like a HURRICANE!

I am so happy that my husband Peter agreed to speak at the Cirque this year. I've known for 25 years that he had an incredible talent and everyone in attendance at Saturday's presentation got to hear his story. I met Peter when I was a freckle-faced wide-eyed young gal of 19, with no comprehension of what it meant to be a "bike racer" or a "framebuilder" or an "inventor". Those words were not in my vocabulary. But I soon learned what those words meant because he taught me and enlightened me. Soon, his friends became my friends, his Kucharik Helenca cycling shorts and silk Belgian national champion jersey became mine, and 'Campagnolo' was a word that r-r-r-rolled off my tongue quite easily. Thanks to everyone who paid their compliments to him for his talk. That means a lot to him and me. Maybe it wasn't the most polished presentation, but it was real and from the heart and he told it like it was. We celebrate our 25th anniversary of being sweeties on Wednesday. He promised me he'd finish repairing my PJ road bike with new chainstays (with wider spacing) and a new Ed Litton paintjob. A PJ bike as an anniversay or birthday gift beats diamonds or perfume ANY day.

Thank you Dale (and your wife and everyone in the kitchen who helped) for ANOTHER great Cirque. I think a good time was had by all.

Amen.

Jan Johnson
Portola Valley, CA