Are there any (very cool) shops like this in the Philly to Boston region?
Angel Garcia Long valley, NJ
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Rich Pinder <rpinder@usc.edu> Date: Sun, Dec 28, 2008 at 10:56 AM Subject: Re: [CR]Today's ride: To: "John T. Pergolizzi" <jtperry1@sbcglobal.net>, classic < classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
John - I was a couple hundred miles north of you today, and rode from Van Nuys up to visit Baron and Cecile at Cafe Velo's shop in Santa Paula. After an overnight stay, tomorrow I'll ride up through Ojai, back down to the coast, then back west to Moorpark. GREAT, clear weather - cool enough to wear my wool cap I got from Shaun Deller up in Portland !
I rode out through Simi valley, then through Moorpark, and then decided to try the 'Balcom Canyon' route. The top 1/4 mile or so gets over 20% grade I was told - the Tour de California comes this way, so I"m told. Baron, Cecile and their two youngest kids were at the shop today. As I suspected, this shop in Santa Paula is just as classy as their other in Santa Barbara. I took some shots (see below). Cafe Velo is a must see destination for vintage cyclists, that's for sure. As I fixed a flat on the Sequoia and chatted with Baron, two enthusiasts came in. One owned a Celo Europa bike from the late 80's (in the shots) - Baron's great eye caught a tiny crack developing on the campy crank spider - which he repaired with a skillful filing procedure (he's a great mechanic with years experience).
After checking in to the Glen Tavern Inn, I headed down to a landmark mexican food place here in Santa Paula called Familia Diaz, and ran into one of the cycling collectors who was over at Cafe Velo. He has quite a group of vintage bikes, and used to be on the CR list (years ago)... so had a nice dinner featuring Carnitas, and some Vintage Steel !!
To the local listers - How bout we plan a saturday ride and lunch up at Cafe
Velo (there's a shop across the street that Baron says has fantastic
tri'tip sandwichs). We could begin the ride at the Amtrak station in
Moorpark, go up to santa paula via Balcon canyon, then return to Moorpark
via the more managable Grimes Road grade - probably around 45 miles or so.
Pics of the journey so far:
http://www-hsc.usc.edu/
Rich Pinder
Van Nuys, CA