Greetings all:
I had business once again in the San Antonio area and was fortunate enough to wind it up in time for a return visit to Hank Cunningham's Helotes Bike. Since Dale was disappointed that I had not taken pictures last time, I made sure I did this time. Link for pics follows, Helotes folder, natch...
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
This shop is a bit off the beaten path. It must have a good clientele else it would not be celebrating 25 years. I would venture to say it is due in no small part to the owner, Hank Cunningham. Be warned...if you are a neat freak, this is not the place for you. Hank is a man a bit after my own heart. His shop is organized chaos. Ask him where something is and he can probably find it right away. Hank is an old bike man, that is he is into just about any old bike. Fat tires share the shop with Legnano, Hetchins, Masi and more. Hmm....no Lejeunes. But Hank said he had one at one time, or maybe he still does. My head is still swimming with all the info I picked up from him. A couple of Peugeots of interest. Check pic 325 and you will find a rather nicely equipped probably 80s Peugeot sitting out on the side. Pic 352 is a full Campy equipped Peugeot. with a Jack Taylor behind it.
Pics 328 and 329 are of a Belgian three speed....the gears are in the bottom bracket and....it is fixed gear. No freewheeling on this puppy
Hank's shop is a mine of goodies. Unfortunately the flash misfired on a couple of pics, so the back room is not well represented. You can see Hank has a sense of humor...interesting bike workstand. Check out pics 335 and 337. And does anyone see anything amiss in pic 336? Ever see a Cinelli badged stem? I have now. Plus some early Campy derailleurs that I had only seen in pics. Check out the disc wheel in pic 355. It's Russian. The former Soviet Union did not have a bike industry to speak of, so the high end stuff was made by the aviation industry. The disc was made by the MiG bureau. Behind it are a couple of wooden rims. Hank's first bike helmet is in pic 342....just kidding..
Hanging from the ceiling you will find Hetchins, Frejus, Legnano, Picchio, Masi, Colnago, Schwinn Paramount, Gios, Bianchi, and I know I did not get them all. And Hank likes the newer stuff, also. His current ride is pic 356 and check out the modernized Mercian in 358 and 359. Guess he isn't afraid of polluting his vintage bikes as a nice Jack Taylor was leaning against the Mercian. Hank rides just about every day. Anyone recognize the marque in 363?
The jersey that Hank posed with is that of Alexi Grewal. If you have time get him to talk about the use of sandwich baggies as air bags. He will probably also show you his WW2 vintage motorcycle out back. The shop is located next to a cantina and the cantina owners had kindly cut a viewing hole in the fence so Hank and friends could sit in back and watch the show. Best seats in the house. While there, it was a steady trickle of customers and calls.
I had arrived a relative stranger, but after leaving felt I had left a friend. But then I think that has been true of most of the vintage shops I have visited. My thanks to Hank for indulging an FNG. I hope to visit again.
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Lynn Travers
Hazelwood, MO