Hello everybody,
I'm writing to lament that the best VR7 ever is over. Every year I go back and forth in my mind wondering if it is the incredible bikes or the wonderful people that make the whole experience so magical. It meant a lot to me this year to actually be able to go on two rides, which has not happened in the previous 6 years. Special thanks to Wilson Hubbell and Jim Narlesky for waiting for me after that silly, relentless hill on Sunday morning. (No coffee stop, group? Whazzup with that?)
Ted Ernst's fabulous very vintage bike display, dozens of lovely Colnagos, John Waner's original REALLY old Masi, and more Confentes than I bet you'll ever see in one place again (7? 8? more?) added to my amazement at Sunday's show, as did the super chicken-apple franks and pasta salad. And I'll never forget bolting down pizza in the pouring rain Saturday, camped out under the tiny roofs of several nearby play-house playground structures. Did anybody get a picture of that?
I look forward to more reports about the actual bikes from those with the real knowledge of them. I always seem to see bikes I missed in person when Christine puts up her lovely photographs for us.
Many, many, many thanks to Chuck and Sherry Schmidt for making it all happen once again -- a thankless task graciously performed.
Paulie Davis
in Sunny Again,
Los Angeles, California