Carlo, The idea to give Jimmy Carter a Rivendell bicycle was Grant Petersen's. Grant felt that Carter has been much more effective in the world as an ex-President than when he occupied the White House and wanted to give him a gift. Carter accepted and asked if Rosalynn could get one also. When Grant told Joe Starck what he wanted to do, Joe was pumped about the project and made two very nice frames for the Carters. Rosalynn's bike required extra thought and effort and is the only Rivendell mixte that I know of. Grant has never used this for promotional or marketing purposes; it was simply a gift from a fan. I wonder if Mario's motive for offering Carter a bike was similar. Jimmy actually rides his bike and gets around pretty well for a 70 something year old man. He rode down the hill from his office to the lake on the Carter property, followed by his Secret Service detail with two men also riding bikes. After a couple laps around the lake it was time to go back up the hill and Jimmy gassed these two agents on the climb to the point where one of the G-Men had to be taken to the ER complaining of chest pains!! These bikes will no doubt be in the Carter library as display pieces a hundred years from now. One interesting thing about these two frames is that the final detailing and clear coats were applied on September 11, 2001. It just happened to work out that way. The Carters sent Joe Starck and I signed letters thanking us for our efforts.
Joe Bell
San Diego
EddyMerckx Bikes
> In a message dated 1/21/2004 5:54:59 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> chuckschmidt@earthlink.net writes:
> Dear Mr. Confente:
>
> Thank you for your letter to President
> Carter.
>
> Although it is not possible for him to
> accept your kindness, you many be assured
> of his appreciation of the spirit in
> which your offer was made.
>
> Former President Carter did however accept a gift bicycle from (former
Trek,
> and Masi) then Rivendell framebuilder Joseph Stark. There's a photo
> circulating the web of President Carter on a brick red Rivendell A/R.
Guess the Confente
> wasn't "bobish" enough for him! Nice gesture by Mr. Stark that wasn't used
> for publicity by either Grant Petersen or Joe. It only came to light when
a
> newspaper published a picture of the former President in downtown Plains,
Georgia
> on his bicycle.
>
> Regards,
>
> Carlo Carr
> New Orleans