Dear listmembers,
I will be attending the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Cupertino
Bike Shop this weekend. I will be driving up with Chuck Schmidt with a
carload of bikes. This sort of came up in my plans on short notice and
taking the time to do this is difficult. I have so much work to attend
to I can hardly see straight. I've been moving FULL BLAST since I got
home from Greensboro, stopping only to sleep or eat as neccessary, and
still haven't covered even the most pressing projects. I really wish
there were 3 of me because that's what it would take to keep up with all
of this. I'm on the verge of putting out the word for some help with all
of this.
I'm bringing two Baylis bikes, my favorite track bike (as featured in
Bicycle Guide back in about 1994 or so) and my Vibrant-Hellenic road
bike with the Hurlow pattern lugs. I am also bringing my 1970 Colnago
super that has recently been completed. This is the bike I wanted as a
young rider. I actually had a bike like this except mine was orange as
opposed to this killer "electric blue" with yellow decals. Now, after 30
years I finally have the Colnago of my dreams. Rides wonderfully as
well. Since I am probably the owner of more Montelatici frames than
anyone else in the US (I will have 3 once I pay for the last one) I
thought I would bring out the most recent one for show. It is a mongrel
partswise, but that's the way I do it for myself. I can't afford the
time or money to nit-pick every part for period correctness and whatnot,
but I try to capture the spirit of the bike and the era the best I can
with the parts I have in hand. Actually only compromised on the brakes
and levers in order to fit nutted short reach brakes and areo brake
levers to the bike.
I'm looking forward to seeing the gang again and soaking in the Nor Cal
vibes like a sponge. I will be wearing my ceremonial "BS" jersey and
shorts for the ride. Expecting good fun, but one element is missing to
make this molotov cocktail burn. Yeah, you guessed it! We will be
missing Pergolizzi on this one. Nothing quite like having John on the
ride. He's like the whipped cream on your hot chocolate, the chilli
peppers in the salsa, the shot of whiskey in your Irish coffee. Without
the catalyst there make not be a reaction, but we will give it the old
college try. I hear there may be a guest that has not been announcing
their intentions to join us. But rest assured, we WILL have a great
time, see and ride some great bikes, and hang out with a great crowd of
vintage bike lovers. I will write a full report upon my return so that
the listmembers not able to attend will feel fully jealous! Hey, it's
what I do.
ROAD TRIP!
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
Really miss having you out here John. You're like icing on the cake,
cherry juice in the coke, cream filling in the twinkie. I think you get
my drift. The weather IS here (finally), wish you were beautiful, baby!