[CR]Re: Charlie's Western Philly Ride Report

(Example: Humor)

Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 14:45:03 -0400
From: "Daniel Artley" <dartley@co.ba.md.us>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Re: Charlie's Western Philly Ride Report

Many thanks to Charlie Young and his wife Stacey for hosting another great vintage get together. I always love these gatherings to see people who are fast becoming close friends the more we converse and ride together. Charlie's collection is magnificent. When I pulled in around the barn, there were at least 20 bikes lined up along the fence. What a gathering I thought only to find out that they were all Charlie's bikes. Jealous is not the word, I just don't have that kind of storage space. The people, most who've already been introduced in earlier postings, were a great crowd. The ride was a very social pace, with pretty scenery, lots of Amish buggies, classic bikes and a couple of talkative rest stops. I didn't ride my fixed Taylor after driving over a small mountain to get to Charlie's house, but the ride would have been fine for fixed with a couple of fast downhills.

Steve Maasland had the Cambio Corsa that he was offering test rides on. I was the first. I just couldn't seem to get it to shift until I remembered to back pedal. Clunk! Goes right in! Tighten' 'er up and on your way. There definitely is a reason for spoke protectors on some bikes. No one tried my ASC 3 speed fixed, but compared to the coolness factor of the Cambio Corsa, I was humbled.

Sitting around after the ride with some great beers, watch out for that trappist monk stuff, and talking bikes was great. Charlie and his wife have a lovely home and yard, a true gentleman farmer. All the bikes on stands in the yard didn't hurt the scenery a bit. Thanks to Roy for loaning me a couple of bike stands and providing the name tags. And what can I do to convince Charlie to let me take that Viking path racer home with me. 8o) Boy, was that pretty. There was some wonderful iron there and a low number Teledyne, but we all have our favorites. Can't wait for the next vintage ride I can get to. At least I'll see most of the group at Trexlertown. What's the rumor about a fixed vintage ride?

Cheers,

Dan, The Bikin' Fool, Artley
Parkton, MD