[CR]Carter & Rivendell , from Mr. Grant Petersen

Raoul, Only thing I'd add is that Mr. Carter didn't ask for Rosalynn, it was offered. Just for the record. Also for the record (not that any of this was done "for the record,"): The Carters were completely, thoroughly gracious throughout the process. If you could clear this up on the list or the group, that would be good. Either copy this or paraphrase, no matter. Best, Grant

on 1/22/04 6:57 AM, Raoul Delmare at Raoul.L.Delmare@worldnet.att.net wrote:
> Hello There Mr. Joe Bell ,
>
> I'm forwarding this along to Grant & the Riv. bunch . I just thought
> they'd like to know they're the subject of recent gossip .
>
> :^)
>
> I'm also sending it along to other folks .
>
> And SERIOUSLY - - chest pains to the emergency room ?????? I
> thought those guys were all required to be in pretty darned good physical
> condition ?!?!?!
>
> And that is an odd thing about the date . . .
>
> Speaking of odd things about odd dates - I have a Schwinn Black Phantom
> , which I bought cheap , since all of the most expensive pieces had been
> stripped from it . That's o.k. , I like it as a stripped
> "lighter-weight" . Anyway , I researched the serial number . It was
> made in the early to mid-morning of 11 September 1951 . Exactly 50
> years , almost to the hour , before an event which has received an awful
> lot of media coverage here in the U.S.A . Just an odd bicycle coincidence
> .
>
> Anyway , thanks Joe , for the interesting details !
>
> And hey , do you ever do any paint jobs on say maybe Rivendell Custom
> Quickbeam bicycles ??????
>
> :^)
>
> Raoul
> Kansas
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Joe Bell
> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 1:22 AM
> Subject: [CR]Carter, Confente and Rivendell
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 6:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Now: Confente and the Pope Was: Confente
> Labeled as EddyMerckx Bikes
>
>
> Former President Carter did however accept a gift bicycle from
> (former Trek, and Masi) then Rivendell framebuilder Joseph Starck.
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Chuck Schmidt
> Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 6:56 PM
> Subject: [CR]Now: Confente and the Pope Was: Confente
> Labeled as Eddy MerckxBikes
>
>
> Jim Cunningham wrote:
>
> (cut)
>
>> Although Mario was a Catholic and always wore a gold crucifix he had
>> made himself, I doubt the Pope story. As was common at the time,
>> other bike builders have given the Pope gifts, usually gold plated
> specials.
>> There are no Confente design cards for "Il Papa" nor was I ever asked
>> to gold plate anything while with Confente.
>
> (cut)
>
>
> I have an envelope addressed to Mr. Mario Confente with a return address
> of "The White House" and postmarked May 7, 1977. The letter inside:
>
> --------------------------------------
> THE WHITE HOUSE
> Washington
>
> May 5, 1977
>
> 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.
>
> The President sends his best wishes to
> you.
>
> Sincerely;
> (signed)
> Valerio L. Giannini
> Staff Assistant
>
> Mr. Mario Confente
> Custom Bicycles by Confente
> 3238 Union Pacific Avenue
> Los Angeles, California 90023
> --------------------------------------
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, Southern California