Bob,
Speaking of the pink bike thing, a quick story. Back at Wizard in about 1974 or so, I painted my first two pink bikes. Pearl pink in fact, which at the time was sort of unheardof in custom American made frames. It was actually a punishment to the two hot-shot juniors who were impatiently awaiting delivery of their frames. They became locally famous and instantly recognizable on their pearl pink Wizards. That's when I realized paint makes a difference.
I have a chance to reaquire another super rare pink Wizard. I built a Wizard Mixte bike for my Mom back in '74 also. The one and only I've ever built. My Mom called the other day and said she was too old now and has stopped riding the bike to the beach like she used to frequently. She said I can have it to sell. I told her, "Are you nuts? I can't sell that! It goes in my collection of ladies bikes." Can't sell it anyway; it's PINK!
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Who has more ladies lightweights than me? 1951 Ladies Rene Herse, 1950 Ladies Sieber, 1968 Hetchins Mixte, 1978ish Cinelli Ladies bike(early version and PINK), '60's JRJ Ladies mixte, 1974 Wizard Ladies mixte. And technically 1/2, since I also have the one and only TESCH tandem (male/female) on the planet.
Thanks to the vigilance and kindness of a fellow listmember, I've already got my "grail" bike, a beautiful old Masi Special that fits me perfectly. With it and a later San Marcos Masi "everyday bike," I suppose I should be a happy camper.
But what kind of self-respecting listmember would I be if I didn't have my sights set on another bike or two (well, not two really... the wife's pressure valve is set to explode at anything over three bikes. This is why I felt it prudent that my preoccupation with vintage bikes should be satisfied with the Masi registry, history and photos rather than accumulating more bikes).
Yet those preoccupations left me unsatisfied... there was a gaping hole between the new Masi and the old Masi parked in the hallway. For some time I've been hoping to find a Carlsbad twin plate in my size (52-53 cm... only about 25 were made). This has been my 'grail' bike. And now, just in time for this thread, one pops up (again, thanks to the kindness of a listmember). I am most assuredly a happy camper.
Of course they say you should always be careful what you wish for. I never thought I would find myself saying this, but I believe I may now qualify for membership, at least partly, in the pink bike club. While the majority of the bike is painted an acceptable metallic gray, I must confess that the head tube (as well as the fill between the fork crown plates) is Pepto Bismol pink.
My joy at acquiring this bike is slightly dampened by the pink paint. Tom suggests that if I find it objectionable I should simply cut a small peephole in the carton when the bike arrives and spray a rattle-can of the color of my choice in the box before opening it.
This measure seems somewhat extreme... other owners of pink bikes seem to have suffered no ill effects that I can tell (though Mark Agree does appear to suffer from a peculiar nervous tic that I attribute to his ownership of multiple pink bikes... perhaps the safe limit is one?). Therefore, I shall presume that being in possession of this bike for the time it takes to get it repainted will do me no permanent harm.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA