I know people have already boasted about how great the weekend was and
how great the people were, but I cannot help to also touch upon it,
from a youngster/keeper of the collectors flame.
The bikes in the show are always so overwhelming to me every year,
even if there was only 10-15 bike there just for show, I am pretty
much sure we could all spend they day talking about them, especially
Eddie Albert's fleet of 7-8 bike that he brought. Eddie is doing an
invaluable service in documenting the local bike scene from his area
back in the day. We need people from all over the country to do this,
and if I was better at doing stuff, I would attempt to do it. So a big
round of applause for Eddie in chronicling that.
Of course, thanks to all involved with the planning and execution of
the weekend, everything went seamless. I cannot really comprehend the
amount of effort it must take to do this.
I am always glad to see the sellers bring stuff there to sell and
there were many deals to be had, unless people like Ken Sanford,
Steven Maasland, Mike Kone, Joe Bender-zoni, Eric Elman, Billy rounds,
and various other sellers were just being nice to me.
I must also thank John Barron for allowing so many people to look at
and touch his private parts. . . bike parts. For so many people, even
the older guys, to see the subtle differences on what makes a rear
derailleur $2000 and the same looking model name (Gran Sport) $100 is
one of the most invaluable things. I cannot count how many times on
the CR list I have read someone asking the same questions over and
over, why does this sell for this and that for that. It is all in the
fine eye of the collector to notice this stuff and notice the
progression of differences and realize that there are people out there
that want to collect those subtle difference. John being one of them,
as am I.
Final thanks must go out to all the people that took photos and
uploaded them to the internet for all those who did not have the
fortune to attend to see what they are missing so they will know next
year to go. It also allows for people like me, easily confused by the
sight of so many shiney objects, and more prone to talking to people
about bikes than looking at them, a chance to see them again for the
first time. Thanks so far to John "Maddog" Waner.
I will also post the story of how we got the Delong paramount soon as
well, plus the excellent story of the 1958 Frejus we had there, it was
one serial number away from Joe Bende-zoni's one that was stolen many
decades ago. Ours was one owner, bought new, and i assume we will have
this one until Curtis wills it to me.
thanks again, and see most of you guys next year.
joel flood
Philadelphia, PA