For those not familiar with the marque, Romic bikes were built in Houston, TX by the late Ray Gasorowski. He was well established by the early to mid 80's when I bought a junior road bike and a custom track bike from him, so I'm guessing he probably started Romic in the mid to late 70's. He built both standard and full custom models. They are solid and cleanly built, although the lugwork is not elaborate. The standard logo was a ring, or perhaps it is a stylized flower, with the name ROMIC inside. However, Ray sponsored a team in the Houston area, and they rode Romic Team Eagles, which sported basically the coat of arms of the Polish kings, which features an eagle. The connection, of course, was that Ray was of Polish descent. The Team Eagle could be custom ordered by non-team members - my custom track bike has the Team Eagle graphics. Ray was pretty conservative about geometry - I had to argue long and hard to get him to build my track frame with toe clip overlap. Ray painted his own bikes and did repaints of other frames - he repainted a couple for me. I think Ray died in the early to mid 90's, perhaps lung cancer, but I'm not certain. I heard his son has built a few frames under the Romic name, but I think they were mostly TIG, nothing like the old Romics.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
Pete Geurds <raleighpro@dejazzd.com> wrote:
These sound interesting and on topic.
I'm forwarding a post from the BOB list. (see below)
Bikes not Bombs is a non-profit in Roxbury, Mass.
http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/
Pete Geurds Douglassville, Pa.
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I showed up at Bikes not Bombs this morning to help teach the vocational ed class and found BNB founder Carl Kurz very excited to show me some bikes. Someone had donated 5 Romic bikes all 60x60 531 frames, but of differing styles. Tour tourers and three sport/tourers.
I know nothing about Romics but they looked like nice 1980's era bikes.
Most have 80's era Campy shifters, mechs and cranks. Two have very weird drilled out crank arms (.25-.5" holes) all have Phil and/or Hi E sealed hubs. Weird spoking on one. One has a neat-o brushed chrome finish. Two have Campy cantilevers. Neat stuff.
Very eclectic. With high coolio factors. Carl doesn't really know what to do with them, other than try to get me to buy them. Boston area BOBs should stop by and take a look. Please don't call and pick their brains over the phone. They are too busy to have to put up with that. Go in and take a look and make an offer. It'll be a fun trip.
Bruce in Snowy Providence
59 Amory Street #103, Roxbury, MA, 02119 Jamaica Plain/Roxbury line, a few blocks from Jackson Square, where Centre St. ends at Columbus Ave. The Orange Line T stops at Jackson Square. (617) 442-0004