Wow! I used to hang out at Vito's bike shop on Post Ave in Westbury Long
Island. I was and still am a racer wanna be. I always really was a very poor
rider. I guess I can thank Mom for smoking two packs a day while growing up
in my East Meadow home. Nah I'm not bitter but I guess I will probably never
win the Tour de College at Old Westbury. When I was 'racing' back then I
felt sure my lack of success was the attributable to my Raleigh Competition
and it's Huret Jubile ensemble. All the 'real racers' had Campy NR. Seemed
there was something truly supernatural about the way Vito pronounced
Campagnolo. Closest I ever got to winning was placing last in a race there.
At least my skills have not declined. Good thing I live in Raleigh NC now.
Now I can avoid the demons of my past. I have evolved from a racer wanna be
to become a collector of finely crafted two wheeled machines of many sizes
and shapes. Anyone ever hear of Brands bike shop in Wantagh Long Island? I
used to assemble Schwinn Varsitys and Continentals there.
See Ya!
Randy Blatt
East Meadow Long Island
Raleigh NC
> Sometimes I feel like I am the voice of Long Island on the list. I am
> home sick today and I had this goofy idea to write a L.I. cycling
> history quiz with the intent of showing off my vast knowledge of L.I
> cycling trivia. Winner(s) might get a prize if I can think of something.
>
> 1 - Who, in 1899, rode 60 MPH in the slipstream of a locomotive as a
> publicity stunt in Farmingdale, L.I.? (gift question)
>
> 2 - I'm sure you all know that George Hincapie is from L.I. (Farmingdale
> too). You might not know that his older brother and his father were/are
> damn fine riders as well. In the 1970's, what was Ricardo Hincapie's
> nick-name in the peloton?
>
> 3 - In 1903, the inaugural year of the T.D.F., what Valley Stream L.I.
> rider was being touted by many N.Y.C. newspapers as the "Best Road Rider
> in the World"? Hint; I sold his medals and scrapbook on ebay a few years
> ago .
>
> 4 - What "Patriarch of Cycling" founded the Nassau Wheelman, promoted
> thousands of training races and helped hundreds of youngsters find their
> way in this sport? Hint: first he had a barber shop where he fixed bikes
> and later had a bike shop where you could get a haircut.
>
> 5 - What Huntington, L.I. athlete was the first person to qualify for
> both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in the same year? (1960 -
> cycling and speed skating).
>
> 6 - Who was the premier (only?) frame builder on L.I (Huntington) in the
> 60's and 70's?
>
> 7 - Actually, there was another frame builder on L.I in the 70's. He
> "ghost built" Zeus show bikes that had jewels set in the lugs. (Richie,
> can you do that?) Who was he?
>
> 8 - Who was the 3rd (I think) American rider to compete in the Tour de
> France? (hometown; Dix Hills) Hint; He also won the Coors Classic and
> was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
>
> 9 - What distinguished Canadian rider dropped out (with a stomach virus
> just like I have right now) of the 1984 Tour of Long Island? (7 stages
> in 4 days - yikes!)
>
> 10 - What blow hard Masters rider beat a Senior cat1 to win the bronze
> medal at the 1998 New York State Roller Championship?
>
> If this is moronic and/or off topic I'm sorry. At least its short...
> Jamie Swan - guess where?