[CR]Hartley Alley

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

From: "Todd Teachout" <thteach@sonic.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:22:31 -0800
Subject: [CR]Hartley Alley

I met him at his shop in Boulder. Tall and thin with thinning hair.

He sold racks, fenders, locks and guidebooks. I didn't notice the TA Cranks but it would make perfect sense that he sold those. I'm guessing that his shop was one of the best shops attuned to elite self supported touring out there at the time. He was at the front of his generation in that regard. I think he'd be really happy to see how Bikecentenial/Adventure Cycling, Randonneurs USA and a few of the dealers and frame makers who have picked up from where he left off (Peter White, Peter Wiegle, Velo Orange, Wallingford Bicycle Parts, Il Vecchio, Harris Cyclery, Jitensha, Rivendell, Rene Herse-USA and many others) and extended it. The number of cyclist needing his product is much greater now than then. The market has evolved but his designs are still pretty contemporary.

I bought a set a Touring Cyclist panniers from him. It was 1983. Fine japanese made, japanese and american specified, touring bikes were hitting the american market in a big way, back then. I was working at a bike shop in an easter suburb of Denver assembling a few of these bikes. I decided that the middle grade bikes were really well made. So I wanted to get the top end model. I ended up getting a Univega Speciallisma. The panniers would make it the tourer it was built to be. As much as the magazines were promoting these bikes - getting a top of the line model - was difficult to do. Mine was the only speciallisma the shop got in that year. Many dealers ere wary about stocking such a bike fearing that it would sit on the rack unsold because it was too expensive (at $675). I've read that dealer and makers didn't make that many (I'm guessing that means 300-800 top end examples for a Brand).

Hartley was looking for a buyer for his shop. While I had the resources for a new bike and new panniers, purchasing the enterprise was a bit more than I could handle financially mainly, but business management wise as well. I thanked him for sharing that desire to sell his business but declined. I was familiar with the racing cyclist culture. I had a long way to go before I understood the touring cyclist culture. I understand the business part, a little better now.

I still have those panniers( which were used more as airplane luggage than as touring panniers). I would like to find a TC handlebar bag (red) and TC rack top bag (red) to complete the set.

Todd Teachout
Hercules, CA