Dave Patrick wrote:
Gene Portuesi is a Michigan legend!!!! He was a co-founder of the Wolverine Cycling Club out of Detroit, as well as a co-owner of a high-end bike shop in Detroit w/Mike Walden (the Continental Bike Shop, I believe). After a falling out w/Mike, Gene went on the open Cyclopedia, which was first located in Detroit and then in Cadillac, Michigan. Cyclopedia was known as one of the early high-end shops in the U.S, having a mail order catalog that was very well known. Gene was also the first to import Urago bike frames into the U.S. Unfortunately, Gene passed away a few years ago. ++++++++++++ Gene did a world of good for many of us in the hinterlands. I bought my first sew-up equipped bike in the summer of '63, and took it back to college in Houston TX. Without supplies like tires and the weird and wonderful essays in the catalogues, I'd have had trouble keeping the thing going.
I still have two of the catalogues, and still enjoy browsing through them.
I also consider myself fortunate that I actually was able to meet him and his bride in Cadillac, when family affairs took us within striking distance of that remote place. I hope I thanked him suitably for great service and teaching so much, so well.
harvey sachs
mcLean va