[CR]introduction

(Example: Humor)

From: "Jeff Nye" <jnye@frii.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 11:55:52 -0600
Subject: [CR]introduction

-----Original Message----- From: Jeff Nye [mailto:jnye@frii.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 12:16 PM To: 'classicrendezvous@bikelist.org' Subject: introduction

Hello List,

My name is Jeff Nye and I am new to the List.

I am 48 years old and I live in Ft. Collins Colorado having moved here from Indiana after college. My interest in cycling started during high school with social touring, and century rides to neighboring towns. My first jobs in Colorado were in the various local bike shops where I received some great training to work as a mechanic, I enjoyed seven happy years working with some really great folks during some pretty interesting times for the industry. Years well spent I think.

My friend Keith Stewart has said that he is more of an accumulator of bikes rather than a collector and I guess that goes for me as well. The majority of my bikes are track and road bikes from the 1930's but I also have some machines from the 1890's and up into the 1970's including some English, Italian, French, US, and Swiss bicycles. I ride most of what I have with only a few exceptions and I enjoy riding my accumulated bikes on club outings and centuries throughout the year as well as on my daily commute into work. Sometimes I have the opportunity to take the old track iron out on century rides and onto velodromes and spin around with other vintage and antique enthusiasts in The Wheelmen club where we dress in our Victorian riding togs, another great group of folks.

For me the fun comes through finding a nice old bike that would benefit with some TLC, I get to do some detective work researching and then preserve or restore the bike back to it's former glory, then at last I get to ride the machine that I have gotten to know about through the process. In my stand now is an English track bike from the 20's-'30's (so far unidentified) this one is getting a fresh re-plating of its head lugs and crown, then a new coat of paint that I have matched from small samples left on the rusted head and BB. Next in line is an 1898 Crescent roadster. What these different era bicycles have in common to me is that the individuals that designed and built them worked through the same set of problems to try and create a better, or faster, or more efficient machine using the skills available to them at that time.

Many thanks to Dale and to you list members for providing such an interesting and diverse forum for our hobby.

Cheers,
Jeff Nye
Ft. Collins, CO