Yesterday was the annual CIBA swap meet in Indianapolis, IN - home to quite a few racing and touring clubs and, of course, the Major Taylor Velodrome.
This year's event returned to the Riverside Community Center near downtown Indy - a much less claustrophobic venue than last-year's location. Lots of table - in fact, a few more tables than vendors this year. There looked to be a couple hundred people in the building during peak time, but that's just my untrained guess. Rainy, ugly, cold day - perfect for staying indoors and perusing parts.
Our local contingent of Classic Rendezvous members was represented by the usual suspects, including Greater Cincinnati members Mike Self and Scott Goldsmith (whose shoulder seems to be healing nicely), Indy-locale Ron Gurth, and Middletown members Ed Estoye and Yours Truly. We arrived early, occupied three tables, and ventured forth in search of treasure (with mixed success).
Ed Estoye brought his new Chris Kvale for our viewing enjoyment. It drew quite a bit of attention throughout the day.
Swap meet items of interest included two tables of estate sales, mostly from the 1970s, but it was priced according to eBay high-water marks and failed to find many takers. There was a large Windsor track bike with badged Cinelli track stem and matching bars and a few bits of Campy Record - the quoted price fluctuated between $800 & $900, and it failed to find a buyer. There was also a large Masi (probably from the late-70s), resprayed, with a mix-n-match of period and modern components. Lugwork was not very consistent, with thick-n-thin places, lack of symmetry, and at least one air hole in the seat lug - also no takers at $1,500.
Another table was selling Girl Scout Cookies, and a nice Exxon-Graftek with full 1979 Campy NR group, 59cm x 57cm, center-to-center. Frame looked barely-used, not a mark on it, and included the original Graftek fork. Some scratches on the large chainring, but otherwise a very clean bike. Priced at $700, it, too, failed to change hands. I have contact info from the seller, if anyone is interested.
Late in the day a table in the far corner suddenly filled with bargain 1970s-80s components, including SunTour Power-Ratchet bar-cons (to Scott Goldsmith), NR rear derailleur, and a NOS Regina Oro chain in the box for $5 (my only purchase of the day other than GS cookies).
As you'd expect, there were some track parts, and a handful of mid-level track bikes, but nothing extraordinary. The lads from Recycled Cycles and Service (St.Louis) gathered a dozen or so bargain bikes, including at least two from Mike Self.
Mike bought the oddest bike at the show - some sort of Huffy road bike with 20-inch tubulars, wheel covers, drop bars, and "AeroWind"-style brakes. Mike will have to tell you more.
The swap was scheduled to run from 1:00 until 5:00, but by 3:30 the buying momentum had died and vendors started packing.
Aldo Ross
Blue Ball, Ohio