[CR]Pic of the Day - 1950 Paris-Roubaix

> 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