Perhaps because it wasn't on Super Bowl Sunday, there were far more people at the Westminster Swap than the previous years of my attendence. The parking lot had more cars and the crowd inside was larger, including the number of vendors.
On the right side after entering, there appeared a guantlet of CR folks, selling their wares: Harvey Sachs, Sanford brothers, Eddie Albert, Billy Rounds, and a few others whose names escape me right now. The bikes and parts from the Grangers were, I thought, interesting and well-priced. Did someone from the list buy the Jack Taylor? The Flying Scott, as mentioned in Dan Artley's previous email, still should have his name on it; his second-thoughts on his trip home must still bother him. While the wares, for the most part, were dominated by the mountain bike, non-steel road bikes, there was a lot more of the vintage steel and appropriate components. Certainly more this year than last year, and far more than I expected to see.
As usual it was fun walking around with Larry Osborn, blending his skewered world view with mine. Charlie Young, Larry, and I did offer much encourgagement to others to buy. Always fun to watch others buying, and lots of the CR folks selling stuff. Speaking of that, Roy Drinkwater appeared a little late but sold a very well done road frame with track drop-outs, and it was spotless, though I do not remember the brand. Steve Maasland also showed late, but as usual, had interesting rare Campagnolo parts and stuff.
I missed watching Joel and Curtis from Via bike load the van for their trip back to Philadelphia, though I did run into them (literally) while they were leaving with about five frames, one a Frejus track from the sixties. At Trexlertown when I saw them at a gas station, the van looked like a bicycle version of the Joad family moving to another place.
All in all, well worth it for me: lots of fun, beautiful drive from Ohio, and terrific company, and I picked up a set of FB Bianchi labeled track wheels from Eddie Albert (anyone have a Bianchi track bike?).
Cheers..
Tom Hayes
Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA