[CR]re:'05 Monson swap meet report

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 15:18:22 -0500 (EST)
From: <wheelman@nac.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]re:'05 Monson swap meet report

I think the show was good. True it was not a big as last year but there were choice items if you looked around. One thing I have noticed over the years. The muscle bikes are becoming fewer and fewer as are the balloon bikes. The road bike are more common at this show then ever before. True there was a lot of modern stuff but there were also some real gems. I was looking over a bike with Campy steel cranks, tour de France aluminum shorty fenders and some real nice bits when it was bought out from under my nose. No problem as I was not going to buy it anyway. Then Tom pointed out a green bike that Sam Fitz had for sale. It had some real choice components on it and he was just asking $500. The seat post was a real interesting Spanish version that I cannot remember the name of. I just remember it was drilled and milled with a pretty neat design that was colored in red as was the crank bolts and other bits. Nice campy hi flange hubs, interesting Stronglight cranks and rings, Campy brakes and a lot more for the money. The frame looked to be a more modern track design with these period bits hung on it. I looked it over, walked away and a few minutes later the bike did likewise and went out the door as someones new prize. One table had a collection of neat old road books and about 5 Campy front derailleurs including the 4 hole version that Steve Maasland sold recently on ebay. They went for song. My partners picked up a few things including a set of bars with a French stem and some real neat Simplex bar end shifters. Myself I did not find much that I needed but managed to pick up a modern Campy Record 10 speed triple crank and ring set for $90. A lot of antique track stuff also was available. All in all it was a decent show and I was proud of myself. I have now been to two shows this year and did not purchase a single bike. That is some kind of a record in itself.

Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ