Greetings All,
I went on a vintage ride last Sunday where I was probably the youngest person! Or so it seemed. This ride took place in the Greater Vancouver Area of British Columbia, Canada and was to celebrate the 85th birthday of Lorne "Ace" Atkinson. Lorne is quite a legend around here in that he raced in the 1948 Olympics and was either a rider or a coach in 4 Olympics, a number of Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. Lorne operated Ace Bike Shop in Vancouver continuously since 1946 and had been in the current location (a block from the original shop) since 1968. He was instrumental in introducing Canada to European bikes in the early years and imported many famous brands. He started importing Cinellis in 1958 but said that he had never heard of Spence Wolfe or Cupertino Bike Shop when I asked him. Lorne still work on bikes in his shop and rides 4 or 5 days a week.
The ride was different in many ways to the vintage rides I was used to in California. No one rode a bike that he recently restored or scored on Ebay and no one tried to out sprint anyone else at the end of the ride. There were quite a few interesting on topic bikes but they were bikes that the riders either bought new from Lorne in the 50's, 60's or 70's or bikes that they raced on way back when. Many of these guys were racers in Europe, both professional and amateur, when they were young and before they immigrated to Canada. Most of them are now in their sixties and seventies. What great stories they had to tell! The most moving scene had to be when a guy named Bill Wild was reunited with his Cinelli after thirty years. Bill bought the bike from Lorne in 1962 and raced on it until 1976. He actually won the inaugural Gastown Grandprix in 1973 on that bike. Gastown Grandprix (later Tour the Gastown) is considered Canada's oldest one day cycling classic and had been won by riders like Alex Stieda, Brian Walton, Chris Carmichael and Lance Armstrong. Bill had not planned on riding but could not resist another spin on his old bike. He rode in jeans and street shoes but could not stop talking about how it felt like it was thirty years ago and the bike was just as he remembered it to be. No body could have wiped the smile off Bill's face. The bike of the ride had to be an all-original Atala track bike from the 50's that had been to both the Olympics and the World Championship and is now ridden on the street as a fixie by a 75 year old ex-racer. It is inspiring to see guys in their seventies and eighties still riding strong and still so enthusiastic about cycling.
For my friends that have not heard from me for awhile - I moved to Vancouver, Canada towards the end of last year. I had been traveling quite a bit and now busy trying to get settled. My bikes (and cars) are all jammed in a warehouse and as I get more time, I intend to bring them out and ride them a little. I miss my cycling friends in California and the rides we had. I want to thank all of you that came to my going away to-do so many months ago. Listers in the Vancouver area, please drop me a line and let's get together for some BS sessions and maybe some riding. As they say, I am back in business and opening shop in Vancouver!!
All the Best,
Felix Chiu
Vancouver, BC Canada