Tom:
Eugene (Gene) Portuesi did start the Cyclo-Pedia mail order business in about 1954. He also had a bike shop, beginning even earlier than that, in about 1937. He was initially located in Detroit, Michigan, then moved to Cadillac, Michigan in about 1968. He subsequently sold the business in 1981 to Kerry Irons, and it was moved to Midland, Michigan. Gene passed away at the age of 83 in 2000.
Gene was the 1964 US Men's Olympic Cycling Team coach. On that team were Jack ("Jackie") Simes, Oliver Martin, and Jack Disney, among others.
I often purchased my Campagnolo parts from Cyclo-Pedia in the early '80s when I was still in college. A new Nuovo Record rear derailleur was $43.00, and a Fiamme Ergal tubular rim was $11.00 (!!) in 1982.
Regards,
Greg "history buff" Parker Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 16:55:54 -0400 From: "Tom Sanders" <tsan7759142@comcast.net> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]Eisentraut dating...a little help?
I just bought a basement full of cool bike stuff. In with all this was =
a killer Paramount track bike and a small Eisentraut without any decals =
(I have been told that Miji Reoch raced a similar one without decals) =
that was custom built for a racer named Barb Hinson (SP?). It has =
wheels supposedly built by one Gene Portuesi (again SP?) who was =
possibly an Olympic cycling coach and owner of a business called =
Cyclopedia. None of this rings any bells at all for me. Perhaps it =
might for some of the old timers on the list? I have no reason to doubt =
the old gentleman I bought the stuff from.
The bike has a serial # of 040679. I am guessing this places it in '79? =
Might there be a time line someone knows about of Eisentraut serial =
numbers?
Any help sure would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi