Safe journeys Brian and knock em dead in Houston.
Mike " I ain't the saint" Schmidt New York, NY
=> From: "brianbaylis@juno.com" <brianbaylis@juno.com> => Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 16:18:50 GMT
Dearest friends,
Within minutes of my post yesterday, and even before I arrived at the shop to field phone calls, a patron of the arts stepped up to the plate and made a no strings attached offer to sponcer my trip in the amount I asked for. This is a private party and a CR listmember, one who has also in the past made huge efforts to support and assist dedicated framebuilders and bring a greater appreciation and understanding of the art and craft of handmade bicycle frames. I'm not positive at this time wheather this person wants to be mentioned by name in public, but the minimum I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart. If he is not opposed to being thanked openly I will do so, this person is an actual patron of the art of handmade framebuilding that everyone would recognize. Everyone in the vintage and handmade bike community owes this gentleman a debt of gratitude, as do I. Hopefully we can record this demonstration for historical purposes, so that some of the techniques of the craft, the ones nearly extinct now and due to be extinct before too long, are preserved for future generations of bicycle collectors and builders.
In addition I recieved numerous phone calls and emails from CR members offering assistance in either cash, offers of lodging at their homes in Houston, or carpooling to the event. I can not thank these people enough for thinking of me and careing enough about me and the handmade bike craft to make these generous offers. You guys are the BEST!!
Sorry it took so long to make the announcement, but I had to thanks LOTS of people for their kind offers. So, we're all set. We're going to have a great time. Like I've mentioned previously, I promise an entertaing and informative demonstration and a line up of what I think are cool frames build old school. My purpose is to educate those who aren't sure what that means so that it can be recognized and understood by those who care about such things.
Everyone have a Happy Hiloday season! My heart has been warmed by everyone; I hope I can do the same fro all of you.
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA