[CR]One more V-Day story

(Example: History)

From: "Stephen Barner" <steve@sburl.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <F1B73E6CCDE5E34BA28738D5F7568A070EA1D2@gcmainsrv.internal.logicoffice.se>
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 08:03:29 -0500
Subject: [CR]One more V-Day story

I have a couple of bikes in my attic that I took in on trade while working in a shop in Burlington, Vermont in the early 80's. An older couple came in wanting a pair of mountain bikes. In passing, they asked if we were interested in a couple of bikes that they had owned for many years. The bikes were too old for the shop to be interested in for resale, but I was taken with the story and the price was pretty cheap, so I snapped them up. They were handmade by a small time Canadian builder and bear the label Gachon. They have really nifty decals and are completely original. The guy had purchased his bike in the late 30's, as he was an avid rider at the time. They had gone back to the builder for a touring model for the woman, when they became a romantic pair. The couple got married during WWII in Canada and used the bikes to ride during their honeymoon in Vermont, as gasoline was in such short supply. I believe it was '42 or '43. They included photos of them standing with the bikes on top of Smugglers' Notch, which was a dirt track back then, and a written narrative of the bikes' history. The smaller bike has fenders and a generator system. The larger bike is all chrome plated, and both bikes are lugged lightweight models with 3-speed derailleurs of the Benelux cable style. 26" clinchers, leather grips (the larger bike has drop bars with grips), and they even included the small boy-scout style canvas panniers that they used on their honeymoon. Very cool.

--Steve Barner, in site of Smugglers' Notch, Vermont