Bicycle Quarterly is staging a exhibit of classic bicycles titled "The Art of the Constructeur Bicycle - Alex Singer and Rene Herse" as a farewell to Il Vecchio Bicycles, a wonderful shop that has been part of the Seattle cycling culture for more than 20 years. Il Vecchio Bicycles is closing its doors as the shop's owner, George Gibbs, looks forward to a well-deserved retirement.
The exhibit will feature about 12 Rene Herse and Alex Singer bicycles, selected from the books "The Competition Bicycle" and "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles," including the tandem that came first in Paris-Brest-Paris 1956, Rene Herse's daughter Lyli's personal bike, the frame of Alex Singer's wife Maria's racing bike from the 1940s, team bikes, camping bikes, and more.
This exhibit will be the first time that a comprehensive selection of bikes from these famous constructeurs will be shown in one place. It provides a unique opportunity to study these machines, their outstanding workmanship, their fully integrated concept and their many functional details.
Enjoy George's beautiful shop for one last time before it closes its doors for good! Examine bicycles usually seen only in books before they are dispersed again around the globe as they are returned to their owners! Il Vecchio Bicycles will have a close-out sale during these days, with bicycles, components, tools and photographs for sale.
When: September 24 - 26, 2009, 11 am - 5 pm.
Where: Il Vecchio Bicycles, 140 Lakeside Ave., Seattle WA 98122, phone 206-324-8148. (Leschi neighborhood)
Book signing: Jan Heine, author of "The Competition Bicycle" and "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles" will sign books on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 3:30 until 5 pm.
Hope to see you there.
Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com