The Cirque sounds like a great "crack"...maybe one year if I ever visit the States. My 1967 Holdsworth Super Mistral is now back on the road,great to be back on fixed wheel for my 20 mile daily commute,funny how this bike feels "nicer" than my 17lb De Rosa Merckx! Just put Campag 10s Record onto the De Rosa,great!Much better than the Dura-ace it replaced,not sure if realy need 10 gears though!!
Regards Steve Clarke St John St Cycles 91-93 St John Street Bridgwater Somerset TA6 5HX Tel: 01278 441544 (Int ++44-1278-441544) Fax: 01278 431107 (Int ++44-1278-431107) email: mailto:ecom@sjscycles.com http://www.sjscycles.com
St John Street Cycles is a trading style of Thorn Cycles Ltd company # 4121096, incorporated in England.
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-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org Sent: 06 May 2003 00:57 To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Classicrendezvous Digest, Vol 5, Issue 8
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Today's Topics:
1. Cirque Diary/Report Friday (major rambling) (Thomas R. Adams, Jr.) 2. ACT QUICK!!! auction ending soon!! Bianchi advertising sign onItalian Ebay. (Mara & Steven Maasland) 3. Whew, long drive and Hot--but I made it 4. Cirque suggestions from a nobody who has never been but wants to... 5. Re: Record price, coolest derailleur ever (David Faulkner) 6. Cirque Ramblings (Tom Hayes) 7. Vintage lugs for sale (Joe Starck) 8. Confessions continued (Ron Gurth) 9. Re: Ban WHAT????? (brucerobbins) 10. WTB wooden rims (Jamie Swan) 11. Re: Cirque/seninily/camera/attaboy (wasCamera went walkabout) (HM & SS Sachs) 12. ebay outing: interesting Mondia frame/fork 13. paint serendipity (ADP) 14. Cirque Report, Saturday (Gotta Ramble On) (Thomas R. Adams, Jr.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 19:18:25 +0000 From: "Thomas R. Adams, Jr." <kctommy@msn.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Cirque Diary/Report Friday (major rambling) Message-ID: <BAY4-F3cWZd0488AqAY0001d3c2@hotmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 1
It's Sunday afternoon, the van is stuffed full of bikes and a moderate amount of swag from the swap meet, CSNR is in the CD player and Greensboro is disappearing in the rear view mirror. What has just happened?
The Cirque du Ciclisme is too wild and wooly for any one person to do justice to the whole. It would take weeks of interviews to get any kind of comprehensive summary written. So I will instead present some mental snapshots in a semi diary format of what I saw. Here then are some memories of one of the best weekends of my life.
Friday. Arrive Greensboro around 11:00 am. Look in at Cirque HQ (Cycles De Oro) and see Dale running back and forth attending to myriad details like a producer with a new show opening on Broadway. On a picnic table are dozens of nicely drawn nametags, a gift of Roy Drinkwater. I snag mine, pin it on and presto, I'm Somebody. (Persons who lost their tags this weekend had a forlorn look about them.) Joe B-Z and Harvey Sachs are arriving about the same time I do. Harvey has so much stuff in his van, he's not concerned when a bike topples over in the parking lot as he digs into the van's innards after his fixed gear. Joe extracts a Rickert fixed from his vehicle, and becomes one of the first victims of the mania this weekend for pictures. The bike rack in front of CDO is filling up with an all star assortment of vintage lugged steel. And this is the informal Friday warm up ride!? What will it be like on the weekend? Items seen include a Taylor curved tube, Bates Volante, Atala Fixie Tandem, Ephgrave, Ray Etherton in a Tam-o-shanter complete with ginger hair side curtains, Brian Baylis with his personal Baylis fixed (gorgeous, of course) and too many other great bikes to count. I dig out my humble Gipiemme-Benotto and a pair of shorts, and get ready to ride. The Battleground Inn says we can't check in till 2:00 pm, so first the 1:00 reception and 2:00 ride, then pedestrian logistical details.
Friday is clear, warm and sunny: too sunny for a Yankee without enough miles in his legs. John Pergolizzi leads us out of the CDO lot, after having briefed us on safe riding procedures for fixed gears mixed in with road bikes. I am concerned that I may inadvertently cause a problem through ignorance, but it turns out to be okay as 90% of the group roars off over the horizon and drop me like a bad habit.
A short distance into the ride Mark Agree on the Torpado flats. Hot dog, and excuse to stop! I stand around wheezing with a half dozen good samaritans criticizing Mark's tire repair technique, but we can't do much damage as he replaces the tube too fast. Back on the road, my tactical error becomes obvious as the group increase speed to try to catch back on with the pack. I'm the anchor in the chase group, and can barely appreciate the nice bikes as my sweat filled eyes are crossed with the effort of hanging on. Weaving our way through the Greensboro streets, our little pack zooms along, frantically consulting the ride sheet to spot our next turn. But after about 15 minutes, we bridge back up (I suspect we took an inadvertent shortcut, but hey, we caught them!) and start through a lovely park and bike path route.
Another few miles and the pack gets frisky as we approach the end of the ride. I get dropped at a stop light, and decide to bail out. I turn onto Battleground Rd, and spin home. I was lucky enough to turn the right way but ended up approaching CDO from the north instead of from the south as I was expecting. My sense of direction isn't what it once was.
It's back into the van with the Benotto and off to the Battleground Inn to check in. The Inn's reputation for quaint practices with reservations lives on, as my room with two doubles has become a single King. Fine, except I'm supposed to be rooming with Mark Poore, who I know and like, but not that well. I stand around the counter looking dumb (my best negotiating expression, I'm told it's amazingly convincing) until they give me a room with two doubles. I don't know what kind of chain reaction this starts, so if you ended up with a single King, I apologize. Three or four trips, and the room is stuffed with bikes and it's time to go to Dale's for the Friday reception.
I only get lost once on the way (getting lost is a theme for this weekend) and pick up one hitchhiker whose rear wheel flatted (I can't remember the name, but he reciprocated the favor at the swap by practically giving me a pair of Patrick touring shoes). Dale's house is a lovely place, with a gracious backyard rapidly filling with bikies. The cookies, beer and other snacks are rapidly snorked up by the hungry bikers, while we wander around looking at gorgeous examples of frame building. Brian Baylis stands up (although it's hard to tell) and delivers an excellent address on the differences between nice lugs and nice lug work, and starts cutting up a blank lug as a visual demonstration. However he does the cutting in Dale's workshop which is packed tight with admirers watching the Master at work, so I'm content to wander around the yard snapping pics. All to soon, it's time to break up the party and eat dinner. Mark Poore, having ridden out to the reception, bums a ride back with me to the Battleground, and I abuse him by having him help me change a tire on the van that went flat. At least it waited until I got to Greensboro, instead of deflating in the middle of, say, Philly. Mark and I race to the inn, change, shower and get to dinner only a bit late.
We eat at a fine Mexican restaurant, in a room crammed full of bike nuts. Several list stalwarts like Dale, Pergolizzi and Bingham are circulating around the room meeting and greeting. We eventually manage to get dinner ordered and eaten, all between laughter and stories. Mark Poore and I head home, and I prepare for what I assume will be an early night given the packed schedule tomorrow. Okay, so I'm a rookie and didn't know better.
The lobby is packed with bikies. Vintage catalogs are out, a few fine bikes are displayed, and someone has brought a little electric bike racing game. Four little bikers race around a magnetic track, speeding up and slowing down in a seemingly random pattern. An amusing diversion you would think, but you're wrong. There is serious business afoot, and hunched around the table are several famous trackies and bike nuts, trying to figure how to get their man out in front, and, in a sign that the apocalypse isn't far away, betting money on this. Jan Johnson seems to be winning all the money, John Pergolizzi is explaining how his rider blew it, and ERichie is enjoying himself immensely.
On everyone of the Battleground's four floors there are bikies wandering in and out of each other's rooms. I make the circuit, and hear lots of good stories. The one stop that stands out was Jamie Swan's room, later that night. In there are two Swan built bikes, with Mr. Swan, Brian Baylis, Richie Sachs, Peter Wiegle and Curt Goodrich (plus a swarm of eavesdroppers) discussing the features and design of the bikes, as well as pontificating on building in general. If I was James, I would have been nervous as heck, but he was cool as the other side of the pillow. And the general consensus of the assembled stars was that James did good. I wish I had taped that session.
Anyway, it was getting late, so off to bed for me much later than what was prudent.
Coming soon, Saturday and Sunday.
Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
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Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 15:52:08 -0400 From: Mara & Steven Maasland <TheMaaslands@comcast.net> To: Classic Rendezvous <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]ACT QUICK!!! auction ending soon!! Bianchi advertising sign onItalian Ebay. Message-ID: <1f411c1f5627.1f56271f411c@icomcast.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT Precedence: list Message: 2
item 3606224109
This is for an enamelled two-sided Bianchi advertising sign from the 30's. It is supposedly in discrete condition. The auction ends in less than 2 hours, so you must act quickly if you are interested.
Steven Maasland Moorestown, NJ
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 16:49:45 EDT From: LouDeeter@aol.com To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Whew, long drive and Hot--but I made it Message-ID: <bd.31e9591d.2be82869@aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Precedence: list Message: 3
What a great weekend. It is too bad it had to end. As I walked out of the Battleground Inn at 0530 this morning, it hit me like a brick that the weekend I had anxiously anticipated like a young kid was over and that I was reentering the "real world". If I ever find Paradise, I suspect it will look something like this Cirque weekend. As I drove home, I didn't think about the bikes, although they were wonderful, I thought about the people and the event. The pieces are all running together right now. What a great group of guys and gals. While it was most satisfying to meet old friends, it was
seeing some folks for the first time that really charged me up. They'll be "old" friends next year!! I know I missed talking to some of you and I regret that as I missed an opportunity--my loss. We are all very lucky to have someone like Dale in our midst. How he keeps his cool is beyond me. We love you Dale!! Many thanks. Having the first ever Classic Rendezvous Vintage Bicycle Award go to Dale was indeed a tribute to someone who sets the standard for selfless service to our hobby. Mary Richardson's gracious participation shows just how much she cares for Mike's hobby. She didn't have to come, but she did. I'm sure there weren't any dry eyes in the hall after she helped John present Dale the award. Mary has class and I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to get to know her. On the other awards front, for those who weren't there, the BS award went to Brian Baylis for Best Stories. I can't recite all of the awardees, but Peter Johnson's 'drillium' equipped bike won Best of Show and Peter Weigle's wonderful bike with integrated-by-design fenders, racks and lights won People's Choice Award. Perhaps Dale can publish the entire list of winners for everyone to see (probably already on the CR website). Left Greensboro with thunderstorms forecast and 52 degrees. After 10 hours of driving, it is 95 and sunny in Orlando--I guess I am back in the real world......Lou Deeter, Orlando FL
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Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 16:55:49 -0400 (EDT) From: wheelman@nac.net To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Cirque suggestions from a nobody who has never been but wants to... Message-ID: <61827.146.152.216.1.1052168149.squirrel@webmail.nac.net> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 4
I would have loved to be there this time around and was planning to but it got away from me. I dreaded the 10 hour drive and did not want to fly for fear of buying more than I could handle. That said I would like to suggest for future events a possible page or site to organize car pools. I could think of a dynamic site that would allow names to be placed in it where one could identify themselves as a captain or stoker, give their general location and use this to contact each other to work out the details. I saw an offer from my location at the last minute but by then I had already alternate arrangements. Sounds like it was a blast and a lot of good vibes seem to be coming from the reviews so far. This was an interesting weekend. There was the flatlands ride here in NJ, then New York had the 5 borrows tour, the Wheelmen of NJ had a meet at the Metz museum. I chose the bike show in Philadelphia, not big but enough so I did not have to go cold turkey through the weekend. I did see some young lady in Philly ride through on a nice new sweet Rivendell bicycle so at least I had a taste of the good life. Thanks for the updates, can't wait for the photos. So far the ones posted are failing on my machine.
Ray Homiski Elizabeth, NJ ------------------------------
Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 14:10:34 -0700 From: David Faulkner <dfaulkne@arb.ca.gov> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Re: Record price, coolest derailleur ever Message-ID: <3EB6D34A.169BE25C@arb.ca.gov> References: <CATFOODQujWV1U3iV2K0000269a@catfood.nt.phred.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Precedence: list Message: 5
Dale brown wrote:
> Look at this one...
> This tops them all I think...
>
> http://ebay.com/
> 1554
>
This may be a record price, but that is easily the coolest looking derailleur I ever saw. Campy never produced anything that wonderful! Now If I just get myself on over to the credit union and refinance the house, I can log on place my bid . . .
David Faulkner in Sacramento, where a wet spring has not dampened the spirits of the mockingbirds on our block.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 17:30:38 -0400 From: Tom Hayes <hayesbikes@nls.net> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Cirque Ramblings Message-ID: <5.1.1.6.0.20030505164003.00b507c8@mail.nls.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 6
After missing last year's Cirque and attending this year's, I have wondered or asked myself why I missed the 02 one; whatever reason now seems to pale considering the fun I had at this year's.
The talks were informative, distinctive, and varied. That helps, I think, especially as I have learned now that my accumulation is a collection, though I accumulate instead of collect.
Having taught English literature in a university for over thirty years (please don't correct my grammar or spelling: I am of the era when one did not take typing in high school, and still have only rudimentary skills in it), I recognize that talking to someone not "into" something rarely works, rarely sets some light bulb off in a person's head; one generally only gets benevolent, pitiful smiles and polite head nods of agreement. The masses of humans in the world haven't read Shakespeare and couldn't care less if they ever read "To be or not to be" (the majority on this list, for example, and besides that, I don't teach Shakespeare.) and that's okay with me. I generally keep my mouth shut about it, recognize we all have
our interests. That's why for me, going to the Cirque is worthwhile; you're among the already baptized, everyone is a bike goof, and one can talk bikes, bells, handlebars, lugs, spokes, bottom brackets: the minutia of a filing. And at this year's Cirque we had America's premier builders and advocates of the art, giving freely of their knowledge, expertise, and wit.
What amazes me, especially considering how young the organization is (I'm not referring to the age of the participants, certainly not my own, but rather the organization itself) how quickly this event, the CR list, and
now the West Coast similar event have become the focal points for vintage and classic bike collecting (still accumulating in Chagrin Falls, however) in the United States. Perhaps with a bit of time, and if some of us older folks live long enough, we'll see our side of the pond equal Europe's interest. For all this, we have Dale Brown, whose graciousness and self-effacement, belie the energy, hard work (and now wounds), and hours put into such a event and maintaining the list. And I would also like to thank those who put forth such an effort travel much longer distances than I did; those from the West Coast, New England, places in-between, and for those who crossed the pond to visit Dale's event.
Thanks, Dale, and others.
Cheers.
Tom Hayes Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023
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Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 15:12:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Joe Starck <josephbstarck@yahoo.com> To: internet-bob@bikelist.org Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Vintage lugs for sale Message-ID: <20030505221230.2067.qmail@web20703.mail.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 7
10 sets Nervex Professionnel lugs for sale, seat and two head lugs. $70 per set or best offer on all ten sets. Respond off-list if interested. - Joe Starck, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
---------------------------------
--------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
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Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 15:22:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Ron Gurth <rononice@yahoo.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Confessions continued Message-ID: <20030505222254.79908.qmail@web12507.mail.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 8
Friday dawned and allowed time for continental breakfast in the BI lobby with more CR friends. Some did an early ride (looked too fast for me) but I was content to look at the parking lot calvacade of bikes. Soon enough it was time to ride over to CDO for the meet and greet and get ready for the first 'official' ride. Wound up separated (well, OK. Lost) along with a few others, including Aldo (on his outta sight '49 Bianchi) and Jan J. on her fixed Peter Johnson custom. We eventually figured it out with the Q-sheets and made it back to the shop. Back to the BI for more ogling and talking and getting ready for dinner at Pancho Villa's. More new friends met and dined with. I have never seen such big mugs! and hugh beers, too! Table-top track racing in the BI lobby! Now that was a classic moment! Better described by others already, but it was tough to stay upright while laughing so hard! Even though I lost a couple of bucks on the race outcomes.Strange how everyones eyes are a little redder and the bags just a bit bigger each morning, but the spirits and energy are still high. No time to sleep or laze around at the Cirque! Saturday: earlier lobby breakfast (some insisted on going to Starbucks),then off to CDO for the morning ride to see the sights of Greensboro. Thanks to our leader, Mary for doing a good job and her best to keep us together. (Suggestion: Groups this size ought to have a sweep 'leader', as well as the one out front). We all got back to the shop in plenty of time to clean up, and head over to the Lewis Center for the afternoon talks. I was able to offer a ride to Chuck S. and the Peter Johnson bike he was riding, and just before taking off, Brian B. jumped in the back. Without taking time to set up the rear seat on his side, he just folded himself up and got in the cramped Jeep. Took him a full three minutes to unfold and another 5 to straighten up once we parked! Sorry, Brian! He still thanked me for the ride. (good thing he's a good sport as well as short!)Off to home for now, and out of town for business tomorrow, so I will continue this later. If others tell the stories I may just say "Yeah, what he said!" hope to publish photos soon, too.Ron ' Taxi Driver" GurthCarmel (Boring) IN
--------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
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Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 23:42:49 +0100 From: "brucerobbins" <brucerobbins@supanet.com> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]Re: Ban WHAT????? Message-ID: <001701c31357$a89dc420$07bf28d5@bruce> References: <CATFOOD3z8CHP4MZ7tc00002699@catfood.nt.phred.org> Content-Type: text/plain;charset="iso-8859-1" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Precedence: list Message: 9
From: BobHoveyGa@aol.com Subject: [CR]Re: Ban WHAT?????
In a message dated 5/5/03 9:16:14 AM, =
classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org=20
writes:
>I propose that we should, henceforth, ban
>all talk of Masis, Italian bike-boom machines and Campagnolo.
>
Stick it up your kilt, you crazy Scott. ;)
Bob,
I'd like to oblige but there isn't room under my kilt :-)
Bruce Dundee Scotland
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 18:44:26 -0400 From: Jamie Swan <jswan@optonline.net> To: classicrendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]WTB wooden rims Message-ID: <3EB6E94A.FCAE2D8D@optonline.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type=54455854; x-mac-creator=4D4F5353 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT Precedence: list Message: 10
I'm looking for a pair of relatively late model, narrow (approximately 20 mm), wooden rims in 36 holes.
Thanks, Jamie Swan - Northport, New York
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 19:13:23 -0400 From: HM & SS Sachs <sachs@erols.com> To: OROBOYZ@aol.com Cc: ABikie@aol.com Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Cirque/seninily/camera/attaboy (wasCamera went walkabout) Message-ID: <3EB6F013.8080302@erols.com> References: <187.19500570.2be7bf2e@aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Precedence: list Message: 11
The camera was found by Anton's restaurant; thanks to them and to Dale for going beyond and arranging its return. Now, where is my brain? harvey "huh?" sachs mclean va
OROBOYZ@aol.com wrote:
>Glad you got home safely Larry!
>I hope Harv's camera turns up, I will keep my eyes open...
>
>
>Dale Brown
>cycles de ORO, Inc.
>1410 Mill Street
>Greensboro, North Carolina
>USA 27408
>336-274-5959
>Fax 336-274-6360
><A HREF="http://www.cyclesdeoro.com">cyclesdeORO.com</A>
><A HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/main.htm">Classic
Rendezvous</A>
>
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 19:43:32 -0700 (PDT) From: chasds@mindspring.com To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]ebay outing: interesting Mondia frame/fork Message-ID: <1803283.1052178213079.JavaMail.nobody@wamui07.slb.atl.earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Precedence: list Message: 12
While most of your were having so much fun at Le Cirque, the rest of us were sadly and wearily browsing away on ebay...and I came across this:
Odd dt and st graphics (as in, I've never seen those on a Mondia special before), and lugs that look like they belong on a Mondia Super, while the paint looks like it belongs on a Mondia Special..also note the fork-crown, which is not the same Nervex Pro that came on every Mondia Special I ever saw.
I wonder if this was the very last of smoke/fade Specials...graphics style giving way to the late 70s/early 80s look?
Charles "the beach bike-path looked like Summer this Sunday, in more ways than one" Andrews SoCal ------------------------------
Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 19:45:15 -0400 From: ADP <aphillips9@mindspring.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]paint serendipity Message-ID: <5.1.1.6.2.20030505193535.03a2ec18@pop3.norton.antivirus> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 13
I don't know if you all saw Peter Gilbert's beautiful Moretti at Cirque this weekend, with those nifty pantographed parts and painted that lovely shade of blue, but oh, wow, what a bicycle. That was kind of the epitome of Italian road bike to me.
I pretty much decided right there and then, that whatever blue Peter had - I wanted that color for my Monte, (that bare frame of mine hanging from a park repair stand in the Italian section). So today on my lunch, I called Joe up to find out exactly what mysterious mix of paint he used to come up with that sublime shade of blue. Imagine my surprise that it was Imron Sierra Blue, the EXACT shade I'd picked from a color chart. No wonder I
liked it so much.
I think we need a Monte section at Cirque 04...
It was really hard to sell plain jane aluminum bicycles at work today with visions of Aldo's Bianchi dancing in my head.
Ann Phillips, Atlanta GA I went to bicycle heaven for 3 days and then I had to go home
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 23:50:11 +0000 From: "Thomas R. Adams, Jr." <kctommy@msn.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Cirque Report, Saturday (Gotta Ramble On) Message-ID: <BAY4-F5wFutJLtosJ3I00000643@hotmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 14
Saturday starts early in Cirque land. That is, it starts early if your treacherous back stabbing vehicle got a flat last night 580 miles from home, and you have visions of having to buy an entire new vehicle to get home. In this circumstance you're up at 0600 to be first in line at Parts Plus to get a new tire when they open at 0700. Dale considerately didn't schedule anything until 0900 when there's a see the city tour leaving from CDO.
Fortunately, Greensboro auto parts dealers are honest, as mine patched the flat tire and had me back on the road by 0730 with only a $5 charge for the materials, whereas he probably could have sold me six new tires. Huzzah! Back to the Battleground by 0800 without even having to break out the emergency bike from the back of the van.
At 0800, the Battleground parking lot is starting to stir. Karen Rawls is there with a nifty Bruce Gordon, Roy Drinkwater is warming up on his canary yellow Cinelli fixie, Harvey Sachs breaks out a Sears Ted Williams model with some Campy bits and 2 miles of fork rake and Wayne Bingham trots out a Ryffranck with drilled fork steerer spacers. Take that, weight watchers! Your correspondent was riding his '79 Trek 510, all in basic black. Not because it was the fanciest, best looking or fastest bike I had, but because she's a special favorite and I needed to show her she was appreciated by the occasional "public appearance". Bikes are temperamental, and they need occasional reassurance that you find them attractive. Otherwise they pout, break spokes and get flats. Of course I don't know what they think of me, but I suspect it's "one of you has to get off.".
At the CDO parking lot at 0900, we divide into two groups, fitness and tea party (thank God!) Overcoming my aversion to tea, I extend my pinkie and we're off. Dale has recruited a couple of local riders to lead the way, we we wind our way through scenic downtown Greensboro and into some lovely tree roofed streets, trails and parks. Lovely, just lovely. Larry Osborne on his one owner Eisentraut Limited rode with me much of the way. We both were riding sentimental favorites, it's just that Larry's had his since it was new, whereas I'd recently acquired "the bike I wanted when I was a kid". Past the Lewis Rec Center, site of the afternoon seminars and Sunday's doings, we near CDO when the ride leader announces it's time to sprint. I get close to the front, but Roy Drinkwater has the bit between his teeth and I won't catch his Cinelli. I take a strategic shortcut through a parking lot, but am foiled when I have to gear down to get up the hill (they make steep parking lot entrys in Greensboro). Ann Price on her early 80's Trek 715 takes advantage of my strategic gaffe to slingshot by me into second place. I guess that proves that Treks made from Reynolds 531 are faster than Treks made from Ishwata 022.
The ride runs about 100 minutes, getting us back to CDO and the Battleground in time for a quick shower and then off to the seminar site. I fight the urge to skip and take a nap, and I'm darn glad I did, as Dale had lined up some great speakers. I'll give you what I remember, but I'm sure I'm leaving some stuff out. There was a great presentation on six day racing. This is important research material, because the last of the racers are passing away every day now. Two Drysdale Track bikes are used as illustrations.
Then, Brett Horton (sorry for name goof ups in earlier posts) brought some of the jewels of his Bike Racing Memorabilia collection to show. So what, you say? How special can that be? How about an authentic Merckx Maillot Jaune? Freddy Maerten's Rainbow Jersey? A Godefroot Belgian National Champions jersey? A Giro Maglia Rosa? (Can't recall the rider, but it had a collar, buttons and front pockets). The 2003 Paris Roubaix winners jersey from Peter Van Petegem, complete with cobblestone dirt on it? The flag used to start the first 30 or so TDFs? When Brett ended his talk and invited us up to the table for a closer look, there was a stampede.
Next was Peter Johnson, to discuss his evolution as a bike nut/frame builder over the last 30 years or so. How often does someone qualify for the Olympic trials, and then run out to the garage and build himself a track bike to use? And he HAD that bike there for us to look at! Then, although he hasn't built a bike in several years, Pete announced that he had taken a deposit to build a frame, his re-emergence promoting a bunch of cheers.
Chris Kvale spoke, clearing up misconceptions on frame geometry and why more trail and drop is good, but too much is bad, and how everything has to be just right, which is often completely different from production frame design. Grant Peterson got up and gave us his philosophy on bikes, practicality, Rivendell history and the future of lugs. And all of a sudden it was 5:00 pm, we were an hour over our time in the hall and we had to dash out. Where did the time go? I believe Dale was taping the presentations, and I hope copies of them are available soon. I know I'll get at least two.
We charged down to that night's restaurant, an Italian place with lots of cozy ambiance. Luckily CR folks aren't prone to claustrophobia, as we all sat close indeed. The food was good, and the conversation was fine, a great time.
Back to the hotel now, and the obligatory last minute chores before Sunday's big ride. Retape the white handlebars, add sealer to the new Tufo tubulars, lay out the kit, look again for the spare tire, start packing up a bit to facilitate a fast get away in the morning, all of a sudden you look up and it's 9:30 at night, and you have to ride, swap and drive 10 hours tomorrow. But you can't really go to sleep too early. Pergolizzi has the fourth floor lobby festooned with bikes as he tries to get his sales stock organized for the swap, there are several bottles of Masi wine being drunk, and everyone is happier than the kids in a Disney movie. But before long, I slip off to bed, closing another great day.
Coming soon: Cirque finis (wah!)
Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
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End of Classicrendezvous Digest, Vol 5, Issue 8 ***********************************************