[CR]Velo Rendezvous IV Thank You

(Example: Framebuilders:Mario Confente)

Date: Mon, 04 Oct 2004 20:38:29 -0800
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Velo Rendezvous IV Thank You

I can't thank everyone enough for coming to my party... err... my event this year. It was very special, made that way by lots of friends that pitched in to help an incapacitated event organizer to make the show happen for the fourth consecutive year.

The show of support was humbling to me and a side benefit to almost getting killed last month ;)

Each year the number of people and bikes at the show have grown and this year was no exception. Everyone mentioned that this year's event was the best ever and I doubt there has every been a gathering of vintage lightweights of this caliber anywhere else on the face of the earth. Awe inspiring!

The high point of the three days? You would have to be there to understand, but more than one person mentioned that seeing a smiling, jovial Bruce Gordon at a vintage bike event was something they never expected to see. I asked Bruce Sunday afternoon as things were drawing to a close, "So what did you think, Bruce?" His reply (and this is classic Bruce of course) was, "People aren't so bad." Bruce brought some beautiful bikes and sold a frame to Charles Andrews before the day was out. Charles mentioned that the frame was "speaking to him." Heck, it was shouting to me ;)

I'm sure others will write in more detail about their own VR experiences.

In closing I'd just like to say that this event only happens every year because of the efforts of one person, my wife Sherry (we've been together for 40 years); I'm sure it must be a mystery to those who know me really well, how I could ever manage to organize an event like this every year. The answer of course is Sherry!

Once again... thanks to all of you for participating and see you all next year.

Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California

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