Nick: That probably was me, as I'm not aware of anyone else here in Michigan at that time, that was as geeky about it as I. I remember faxing my lists to Japan and Europe, as well as all over the US, during the mid - '90s. I spent a lot of time on rec.bicycles.marketplace back then as well. I bought my early Medici sight-unseen there, as well as a nice set of GEL280 wheels for it. I'm trying to remember how I found Bicycle Trader (maybe in Velonews?), but after that I know the sequence of events pretty well. In 1992, I wanted to start a vintage Campagnolo parts business. I had even picked out a name: "Classic Cycles." When I received about my fifth or maybe even tenth Bicycle Trader newspaper, there it was: a full-page ad for Bicycle Classics. "Wow! He's doing what I didn't get off my butt and do!" I said to my understanding spouse. I was already buying from Bill Ward's hand-written lists at the time IIRC (quite a character / multi-talented guy), and was getting hooked, slowly but surely. I started my own "for sale list" of parts and bikes in about 1995 or so. Then I found CR at some point on the Web, and discovered eBay in 1999. I watched Bicycle Classics come up for sale in 2001, and thought about doing something, but didn't (again). Last year, I approached Alan and asked if he might have any interest in selling BC to me.... Greg "memories" Parker Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 17:04:45 -0400 (GMT-04:00) From: Nick Zatezalo <nickzz@mindspring.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Fw:NOW CR Origin & Remembering before CR
My early exposure to us vintage bike geeks was through Bicycle Trader initially and most definitely Mike Kone @ Bicycle Classics. The Bicycle Guide article about Mike's shop was a validation that I was not the only crazy on the planet.
Bill Ward always had some cool goods; as did a guy from Michigan who would mail/fax a stock list. {Greg Parker that wasn't you... or was it?}
The CR site and email list was like finding a long lost friend.
Nick Zatezalo Atlanta,Ga
VBS was really my first exposure to the possibility that there were lots more crazies like me out there, colliding aimlessly in the dense gases.
Wayne Bingham
Lovettsville VA