What great hosts for a beautiful day of cycling. Beautiful scenery, a nice bunch of CR folk & friends, what could be finer? Being touted as a possible fixed gear ride and not sure what I wanted to ride, I packed the Jack Taylor w/ ASC hub, and two of the Italian boys, Ernesto and Falerio (Americanized), my early 70's Colnago Super and Carlsbad Masi driving up from Maryland on the first sunny day in about a week.
The crowd was gathering. Tom Adams was unloading with Mike Schmidt when I pulled up. Tom was tandeming on a keeper of the flame?, fillet brazed (bronze welded?) Land Shark, with somewhat vintage components, with his wife Christine. Mike, with that pretty DeRosa, had picked up John Pergolizzi, so we were honored with his company. Steve Maasland of course had some truly cool iron, the pantographed Colnago team bike for Perg, and riding a really beautiful Fossati w/ Paris Roubeax, freshly repainted, but still a work in progress, so it was a single speed for the day. I walked into the house and was transported, bikes everywhere, a work stand in the living room with what appeared to be a Raleigh Team Professional sans decals. Bikes hanging from the loft's railings, leaning against furniture. As we were all oohing and aahing such a bike friendly house Rita was assuring us that they were leaving the living space as soon as the group was gone!
Back to the folks, Joe Bender-Zanoni with his wife Jan was there riding a DAve Tesch and showing off a late 60's Cinelli, soon to be repainted for his wife, Jan, also present, but not riding. A fellow named Martin was riding one of Gabriel's Ron Coopers. Another guy I don't remember his name, had a pretty late, post CR period PX-10 in purple, but really nice, looked like a true road racing bike, not like the PX-10 of my youth. Sorry Peter K, but I really never considered them racing bikes. 8o) One other gentleman had a Poghliaggi. I'm getting famous for butchering names, but I refoose this time! Gabriel, please help me out with names to attach to the photos. Tom Adams brought his Stan Pike and another I'd never seen, a Nobilette. Lotsa tall bikes in this crowd, Gabriel was riding a Spectrum, and Rita couldn't be convinced to ride her new vintage Ron Cooper, still unaccustomed to friction shifting. Either Rita or Gabriel were planning on holding down the fort while we rode, but we managed to get them both out for the ride, a good idea, since us vintage people needed about three leaders today.
The route was quite nice, more wooded and rolling than I would have expected for this part of Joisey, farm country, old gentrified neighborhoods, light traffic, an old mill we passed and of course lots of talk. John was burning up the road and we split into two groups, me somewhere in the middle. Steven was having no trouble keeping up with his single speed, and even giving a helping push up one of the hills. I was averaging about 15 and a half, good for me lately, and letting them wait for me at intersections. Gabriel was floating back to check for stragglers and roaring past me on the uphills to visit and keep everyone on track. The hills were enough to get me in my low of 42x26 once or twice on the Masi. Rita eventually led a few folks back a bit shorter route, while us hardasses did the long miles! (27).
Back at their beautiful home (an 'A' frame with a cylinder doesn't even
come close to describing it!), the Romeu's had prepared a really
sumptuous repast w/ tortlinni salad, grilled veggies, spiced olives &
dips among other stuff. Brownies for desert, cool beans! Nice bikes
parked everywhere. Life is good. We got a tour of Gabriel's workshop,
and I had to pack up for the long drive home. A really good day. I've
posted photos at: http://sports.webshots.com/
Happy trails,
Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland