Just a quick note of public thanks to Mr. Joe Bell.
Some of you may remember my plea to the list about a replacement for my "Forkless" 1965 Schwinn Paramount? Mr. Bell contacted me about a fork in his possession belonging to a friend and would I be interested? A quick exchange of e-mail and I posted a personal check out into the darkness for a part un-seen to a person I have never dealt with previously. Under normal circumstances this would cause a person some moments of disquiet, admittedly a fair price but not an unsubstantial amount. Less than 48 hours after I put my check in the mail the fork was in my hands, expertly packed and better than described. Mind you this was possibly before my check arrived to Mr. Bell and certainly way before he had any chance to cash it.
Say what you want about the judging at the Cirque or the egos of some listers, the bikes are our common language but the people are what give it light.
Scott Mattern
"Avec Fork" in Hacienda Heights, California