Seeing this auction brings back a number of great memories. While cycle touring in Europe in 1982, I stopped by Bernard Croyet's shop in Bourg en Bresse. I had an incredible time. Bernard was great to speak to and he related many great stories of his racing days. He was also very much ahead of his time. I believe he was the first to market these synthetic toe clips. I remember being very impressed by the idea as they were almost indestructible, lighter than regular toeclips and would not compress toes as much. I arranged his first toe clip sales to Canada and also helped him in his dealings with an American distributor which I believe to have been Ochsner in Chicago. Beyond the toeclips, he was also the first to make sunglasses designed specifically for cycling. He gave me a pair and suggested that I try and market them for him in North America. I thought that they would never go and didn't do anything with them. Shortly thereafter Oakley came into town, followed by Rudy Project and all the rest. I certainly missed out.
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Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ