Hello All,
Late this afternoon I was able to squeeze in a ride before my PM responsibilities become reality. I was planning on taking the '69 Cinelli out for the hour spin, but after talking to Steven M. about vintage Bianchis, it had to be the 1952 Bianchi Paris-Roubiax. So in Fremont theres your typical suburban traffic- fat blonde soccer moms under the influence of starbucks and the archetypical souped up honda prelude driver with incoherent distortion emmitting from the speakers. The celeste Bianchi silently glides past such distractions. Soon we are away, spinning, climbing out of the saddle and the satisfaction of completing shifts with Campagnolos delightfully archiac gear changer. A cool wintery wind at my face and I'm on the drops, thoughts of that certain Paris-Roubaix in 1950 come to mind- the victory and my bikes namesake. While enjoying this little fantasy, my ears key into the distinctive and uncommon sound of a throaty single cylinder fourstroke. I sit up, hands now on the tops searching for the source of this beautiful noise. A black Royal Enfield passes at speed with rider in traditional fifities motorcycle garb:falstaff (?) jacket, puddin bowl and aviator goggles. I cant help but think about the old black and white images of the tours and classics past where you see the support motorcycles and their riders sometimes suffering as much as the cyclists. The ride continues into our local Regional Park where I'm mostly away from vehicle traffic and nature becomes prolific. Breaking the silence is the distant drone of what seems like two Pratt and Whitney engines. Looking up, I spot the shimmering image of a Locheed Electra with USAAF markings. Its a magificent sight and sound, the polished twin engine plane with the alpineglow sunset against the green East Bay hills. On my return trip home, I thought luck would be with me and was anticipating seeing a car of that postwar period. But alias no luck. I rode into my driveway, but wait... I saw it, it raced past my house. The Alfa Romeo 6C2500 Freccia d' Oro! The one that was converted into a pickup, and it had BIANCHI painted on the side!
Regards,
Dave Martinez
Fremont Ca