[CR]more about Peter Rich

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 08:40:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Riccardo Bulissimo" <rbulissimo-bike@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <MONKEYFOOD1yEXUIEAO00003723@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org>
Subject: [CR]more about Peter Rich

I am so glad to see Earle and now Brian putting in a few words about our mutual friend Peter Rich of Velo Sport in Berkeley. Their posts and indeed this one can't even make a light scratch in the depth and breadth of Peter's contribution to Cycle Sport.

In addition to importing Masi's before most of us had ever heard of them ( and Sante Pogliaghi's as well as many other makers) Peter started a mimeographed newsletter from the shop in the '60's which evolved into the Northern California Cycling Newsletter which evolved into American Cycling Newsletter and then American Cycling Magazine and then Bicycling (with Rodale merely the latest owner...). One of the old rubber mimeograph masters was used for many many years as a countertop pad by the cash register and you could read it if you tried. Few knew what it was. I still have issue #1 and some other treasures...

Peter selflessly gave uncounted hours and dollars to race promotion. The list of riders he sponsored would be an impressive list of talent. He organized the first Pro stage race in the western US waaaaay back in 1971, the Raliegh sponsored "Tour of California" and he brought in pro teams from Columbia, Mexico and Europe to race against teams formed from the top available US amateurs. My pal Dan Brown (who currently owns the old Derny motopacer bike that Peter had on display for many years) was a top junior in those days and turned 18 as he competed. The event came over Pacific Grade/Ebbetts from Bear Valley (those of you who know the high Sierra terrain will shudder in fear of the thought of racing that pass. Even the famous "Death Ride" avoids the Pacific Grade part as being to tough and dangerous!)

He set up a frame building shop upstairs over the bike shop and encouraged the art of the custom frame. Though Albert Eisentraut is but perhaps the most famous of the framebuilders who came through, maybe Ed Litton will write something for us about the shop? Where is Brian Decker these days? Rolland Della Santa asked many questions up there! He bought a Masi Special from VS in 1968 with "no-name" C brakes, the first I had ever seen.)

Velo-Sport was the Mecca of Cycling that our little Reno crew always, always made a stop at after a race in the San Francisco Bay area. ( and I remember that 70t chainring, too, Brian!)

I visited with Peter Rich recently at Interbike and my unhidden agenda was to get him to start writing down some of his stories. (The one where he flies to Milano regarding his final transaction with Faliero is priceless. Let's just say he hammered out an agreement with Masi!) He told me he is very busy these days as his landlord quintupled his rent after 30 years and he is physically shrinking the store,( if not himself, evidently). If you are anywhere near Berkeley, you owe a visit to this shrine, and to thank Peter for all the unheralded things he has done over the last 40+ years. Plus snoop around, he has no idea what kind of treasures he has there stashed away, but give him time to get it organized.

The man deserves a wing in the hall of fame. I hope someway, somehow his stories can be told and preserved.

Thanks Peter.

Riccardo Bulissimo, Verdi Nevada

I'll get to that Cinelli story yet!