Robbie,
Sorry you feel that way. Perhaps someday I will have a collection comparable to the depth and breadth of your vast stash of pre-war racing bikes so I can flippantly disregard a rider who won, among others, 17 Tour de France stages, finished on the podium in Paris four of the eight times he rode the TdF, and was a two time French National Champion on the road. Jean Alavoine achieved these palmares despite missing four of his most potentially productive years due to the first world war.
I guess I must be searching in the wrong places. In 14 years of looking, I have only seen five bicycles outside of museums that were pre-war, untouched, and had credible rider provenance.
So, solemnly bowing to your vast knowledge of cycling history, I will have to be happy with an apparently meaningless bike from an apparently meaningless rider. (Maybe I should spruce it up with some fake Campy brake hoods.)
I remain you humble servant.
Happy Holidays,
Brett Horton San Francisco, CA
Rnitro1969@aol.com wrote: bfd...brilliant ?????? deal.
robbie
bretthorton@thehortoncollection.com wrote:
<snip>Earlier today I closed a deal for a couple of items I have been pursing for several years: Jean Alavoine's race used bicycle and four foot original hand tinted photograph of him.<snip>