To All:
Doing some research for an unrelated project-concerning the effect of gamma rays on man-in-the-moon-marigolds-I unearthed this synopsis of the somewhat colorful, but entirely true to form, events that pushed a young Campagnolo into the career path by which we have all come to know him (or, at least, his products) over the ensuing decades. This account does not flinch from telling the unadulterated, and rather messy truth; please take this into consideration before reading the following over your morning latte. Finally, I cannot forget to thank Mr. Jason Darden of Raleigh, NC, a long-time Campagnolo historian, for his assistance in crafting the most careful translation possible; kudos (chocolate-peanut butter) to him. Without further adieu then, read and become illuminated by the exploits of one of cycling's founding fathers:
Tulio Campagnolo broke his rear axle during an ascent on the Tourmalet in the 1923 Tour de France and couldn't flip his reversible hub to allow him to utilize a lower gear for the climb. So he sawed off his thumb with a Victorinox Swiss Army knife and pulled the bone from the meat. After whittling down the bone to match the specifications of the axle, he then installed it in the rear hub with an igneous rock laying on the side of the road. He continued on his way, finishing eleven hours down and two pints of blood low. Subsequently, Tulio invented the bar end plug.
Submitted with all due humility, Dahron Johnson Greensboro, NC
E: djcontraption@att.net
P: 336.218.0892