[CR]Another Bike Visit in Monterey

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme)

Date: Fri, 02 Aug 2002 01:38:11 -0400
From: <LouDeeter@aol.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Another Bike Visit in Monterey

Today I had the pleasure to visit a second CR listmember in as many days--this time to Chris in Carmel. Chris had graciously offered me a bike during my week suffering at this conference, but I wimped out. To start with, Chris has a magnificent view of Carmel Bay and served some great crushed and fermented grapes. After thoroughly enjoyable conversation, we got around to looking at his bikes--and eye candy it was. It was a most interesting bike tour. We started with a Peter Johnson made bike that had a mix of lugs and fillet brazing (the bb was fillet). The lugs were filed so thin that you could not feel the point as you ran your finger up the tube onto the lug--very thin, ala Chris Kvale. Great job Peter. We then went into the first bike room--nice curly stay Hetchins, Raleigh, Santana tandem and a couple of others. Then, the second room produces two more curly stay Hetchins, I think both from the 40s and 50s. Third room produced a very early Bianchi, neat parts including Campagnolo parts I didn't even know existed, a moldy green Brooks saddle that even surprised Chris. Last room was the grand finale--two Ephgraves with unbelievable lugwork, at least 2 or 3 curly stay Hetchins, two from the 30s and one was the first made of the model. A Masi Special and Italian Masi GC, Bianchi Paris Roubaix from about 52, Bates Cantiflex, and a Polgiaghi (sp) track frame completed that room--did I say I liked the two Masi? There were at least 10 others that I didn't mention and I hope I didn't miss one of the stars. The boxes of parts were overwhelming--I think even to Chris~!! Another great visit and enough awe inspiring bikes to keep me going for a couple of months. I was very surprised to see so many English bikes with braze-on cable guides and shift bosses that were 50 years old. Also, the headsets were of particular interest as they seem so integrated--makes me wonder why they took 50 years to come back to those types of headsets. Finally, just great graciousness for a person to open his home to a complete stranger. Thanks Chris. Lou Deeter, "Did I enjoy this trip or what??" Orlando FL