Gary,
Welcome to the list. I look forward to seeing the photos of your frames/bikes.
For me one of the wonderful aspects of cycling is that there are so many ways to enjoy it. Unlike you, I didn't race in my youth, nor have I ever built a frame. Yet, I worked in a bike shop in college, and still love to work on bikes. In middle age I discovered time trialing and get a great deal of satisfaction from it even though I will never be one of the fast guys -- even in my age group. At this point in my life I don't think I would ever try a mass start event -- waaay too scary. But I, too, do distance riding for charity and for fun. And my wife and I enjoy leisurely rides together. And then there's vintage bike restoration and collecting -- always another old bike I lust after and want to rebuild (too many frames hanging in my workshop I've yet to get to). And so on -- welcome back to cycling!
Best,
David
David G. White Burlington, VT
Gdglenn201@aol.com wrote:
>
> Since I've been making some comments, I should introduce myself.
>
> Started working in a bike shop (Raleigh) and racing as a jr. in 1971. First
> good bike was a lilac Raleigh Competition. Actually a great bike for the
> money. Got a subscription to International Cycle Sport and Mirior de Cyclisme and
> studied the pics and learned to read french. Moved up to a Paramount. One of
> the ones with the hand pinstriped chrome lugs. It was too big for me but I
> still wish I had that frame.
>
> Went to Europe , mainly England, to race in the summer of '74. I had a
> custom built Mercian waiting for me when I arrived. It was designed primarily for
> crits and time trials. There weren't many road races for juniors then. It was
> a very short wheelbase. The chain stays were so short you couldn't get an
> inflated tire in and out. My rational was: if I flat I'm out of the race, so why
> need to be able to make a wheel change. Jr. races were so short and fast
> (pre gear restrictions as I recall) that if you flatted there was no way you
> were going to get back in. The ABLofA became the USCF some time around then.
> Moved up to a Colnago in '76 and another in '79. The '79 didn't fit me well so
> in '80 I got a De Rosa. That one I still have that one. It was painted Kas
> team colors and I've never seen another that scheme. Anybody else seen one?
>
> By the early '80s I had the desire to build my own frame. I had already
> built my own guitars and cars so I thought I would try a frame. By this time we
> (wife and I) were post grad school (chiropractor) living in Texas. I started
> out to build a frame for myself and my wife and the next thing I know I've got
> "orders" for a dozen from local guys. So this was fun and my hobby for
> several years. In 1986 took the 753 test with Reynolds and was certified a 753
> Master Frame Builder. I don't know about the Master part but it was fun.
>
> In 1990 I had a very bad crash and wasn't comfortable sitting in the pack
> anymore, so I gave up riding and slowly moved away from the cycling community. I
> started playing golf. A chiropractor with a broken arm is unemployed so
> this made good sense to me. We moved to Europe in 1994 and so I sold or gave
> away all my frame building stuff. While in Europe we would go watch races and so
> forth but I never rode. The bikes and stuff was all packed away. We returned
> to the US in 03 and settled in SC.
>
> Back in early February while having band practice (I play guitar in a blues
> band) the bass, who rides and knew nothing of my "previous life" followed me
> into the basement to get an extra amp and there in the corner are my old
> bikes, wheels etc. After some persuasion he and several other guys talked me
> into doing a 300 mile charity ride in June. So I get out the bikes and stuff and
> have started riding again. In addition there is the Internet and so I find
> this huge "underground" vintage bike thing. This is great. The really great
> thing for me is that I was out of cycling before everything became space age.
> I can tell you one thing for sure this new stuff just doesn't look right.
> Where is the art?
>
> Now that I've gotten all my stuff out, my kids who are 21 and 18, are asking
> me to build them frames and bikes and the dentist across the parking lot is
> wanting one as well if I start back. Tomorrow I'm going to see some one about
> the jig they're no longer using. Man I forgot how much fun this stuff is.
> I'll try to post up some photos of the stuff I've built soon.
>
> Gary (Garland actually) Glenn
> Seneca, SC
>
>
>
>
> ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.