This brings back very nice memories for me too. I have often thought of that fine shop, with its rows of gleaming Masis on display, or drooling over the cool parts in the big display cases. I had reason to frequently be in the Palo Alto area during the 1970s and always made a point of stopping by to visit. It was lovely how the time could pass by so easily there, not to mention lightening the wallet too. (Where are all those Masis now, I wonder?) Truly a great shop during a great era-- RIP. Thanks, Jan, for bringing it back, if only temporarily.
Cheers, Bill Bryant Santa Cruz, CA
on 11/14/02 6:32 PM, Janis Johnson at picabo58@earthlink.net wrote:
> Ahhhh...Sugden and Lynch. Great bike shop. Nice guys - Nick and Martin
> Lynch.
> Peter said he was driving down Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park a few weeks
> back and an awning company was replacing the awning on the Optician Shop
> where Sugden & Lynch USED to be (until circa 1980). They had removed the
> decrepit awning, revealing the old "Sugden & Lynch Bicycles" sign above the
> door. Peter pulled over and stared at the sign for a moment, reminiscing the
> glory days of the 1970s, when the shop was going like gangbusters. Jim
> Landreth of Menlo Sport, in Menlo Park, later bought S&L, around 1980.
> Sadly, Jim passed away a few years back. First time I ever rode a real
> 'penny farthing' ("boneshaker") was in 1981, behind Jim's shop in the
> parking lot. I was a hot racer chick and thought I could do anything. Well,
> I got launched right over the handlebars on that bike and landed on my
> keester. He reached out and caught the bike but let me take the scrapes and
> bruises. Jim had a good laugh over that one.
> S&L sold Masi, Pogliaghi, Peugeot, Raleigh, Zeus, Vittore Gianni wool
> clothing, Clement tires, and of course, Campagnolo. They sold Clement tires
> mail order and did well at that.
> Okay, back to reality.
> Jan Johnson
> Portola Valley, CA