It is kind of isolated up here in Michigan from much of the classic cycling community.now I know folks all over the state, but when first getting into restoration and such, I only had one other acquaintance who was at all into vintage bikes. Then I went to my first Cirque. I was standing outside the Battleground Inn's front door. I had just met Chuck Schmidt and Peter Johnson, two folks I had long admired from my reading of the CR posts and was immensely pleased to meet. Jan joined us a moment later. Wow! What an athletic person!
Out the door comes long lanky Ray Etherton with a bike. We were kind of in his way for a more conventional mount and he just swung his leg up backward over the bars and right into his pedal with just a clean "Pop!". I had never seen such a thing! I was trying to not let my jaw fall to my chest and reveal just how unsophisticated I was to this very saavy crowd (I doubt they were in much doubt, though).
I later was told this was a method used by Captains of Tandems when the Stoker was already in place. At any rate Ray has continued to be one of my heroes every since.all the more so after getting to know him a bit. Some of these posts just bring back the most wonderful memories! I'd kill if I could get my fat little leg up over my own bars!
Tom Sanders
Lansing, MI USA