[CR]Impressions of my first Cirque

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From: <DavidS4410@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2003 12:40:27 EDT
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Impressions of my first Cirque

Bear with me while I outline the events leading up to my attendance at the 2003 Cirque.

In 2001, I was in San Francisco, my birthtown, watching the 1st GP of San Francisco. As I was milling about the start-finish area, I saw a couple with circa 70s Bianchis dressed in wool Bianchi jerseys. I quickly realized that one was Peter Johnson, who I remembered raced in the mid 70s on a bike he built himself called a PeterBuilt. Clever! I yelled out and introduced myself to him and his wife, Jan.
>From that point, I was drawn into this vintage lightweight thing by Peter. He called me periodically to test my recall of cycling events from the 50s and 60s. The next time I saw Peter was at Peter Rich's Velo Sport Cyclery reunion in 2002 in Berkeley, Ca. This was quite an event. Peter (Johnson) was sitting with two other fellows, who turned out to be Chuck Schmidt and Brett Horton.

Next thing I knew I was a guest speaker at the 2002 Velo Rendezvous. This event got me further involved with vintage l/ws. Even though I had accumulated a collection of Schwinn Paramounts and other Schwinns, I tracked down a 1964 Masi that I had just purchased before going to work for Schwinn. Brian Bayliss is currently restoring the Masi. Next in line are a 63 Cinelli road bike and a 70 Cinelli track bike, purchased from, guess who, Peter Johnson.

At the 2002 Bike Show in Las Vegas I chanced to meet Dale Brown at the Waterford booth. Soon afterward I found the CR list. Then I saw Dale again at an informal CR dinner gathering in San Diego. " Are you coming to the Cirque?" Dale asked. I answered no because I was going to Italy in May and didn't think I could do both. I decided a bit later that I could do both and am sure glad that I did.

The Cirque was a well organized event. Great guest speakers. Great bike show and swap meet. Great socializing. Great dinners. I brought along my cycling gear hoping to borrow a bike to ride. Harvey Sachs came to the rescue with his Medici Gran Tourismo. The Saturday ride was great, just the right speed, except at the end. Even thoughI am an old trackie, I was amazed at Pergolizzi's deft efforts on his Cinelli track bike with no brakes. I met many new people such as Jamie Swan, Ann Phillips (who turned out to be a native San Franciscan as well), Steve Maasland, talking both English and Italian seemingly at the same time, Roy Drinkwater, Wayne Bingham, Richard Sachs, Karen Rawls, Larry Black, Lou Deeter, Hilary Stone, Ray Etherton, Mark Montgomery, Peter Weigle, and Sam Fitzsimmons. Also renewed aquaintences with others, Pergolizzi, Maurice Bresahan, Jeff Groman, Mark Petry, Bill Clauson, Alan Schaefer. Probably left some out, and am sorry for that. Of course, it was good to see the "California regulars" in a different environment.

So here I am, an old bike racer, who rode on many of these now collectable things when they were new. In 1952, I bought a used Parkes, made in England, that was one of only three Campy derailleur equipped bikes in San Francisco. I did save a few things along the way, but now I find myself looking for things that I rode hard and either threw away or gave away.

Dale, you have a great event and I am glad I choose to come.

Dave Staub
Orange, Ca