[CR]Re: Beer

(Example: Framebuilders:Pino Morroni)

From: "Joe King" <joeking@fastmail.fm>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:24:45 +0000
Subject: [CR]Re: Beer

First of all my apologies for being off topic? The email was sent to individual members and to CR by mistake. But beer has always been linked with Cycling and more especially racing. Lets just start the ball rolling on this one. These are a few that I can remember well that sponsored pro cycling from the 50's onwards. Weil's, Buckler, Pelforth this stuff was so good at clearing our guts out on our frequent visits to France to see the Pro's I would give it a go as chain cleaner possibly its cleansing properties are better than petrol. Porter 39 now there is a very on topic Bertin sponsor. Mackerson-Whitbread, Condor Mackerson didn't Bill Hurlow build the early frames for this team. Watney, Watney-Maes, Pschorr, Buckler and Lowenbrau. Chuck in McMullens who use to put on the Hertford Crit when Nigel Dean and the Engine Sid Barras use to scorch round this very tight dangerous circuit. Then you have all the long days and nights when we as club kids use to hand up the beer in 24's and 12's to the riders. We absolutely hammered 12 miles out to find a pub which sold Stewart & Patterson s Farm House Stout for one rider because he thought it would ease him over a rough patch. Arch Harding with his lighted fag and beer was one such rider and this was a champion who could knock out in excess of 465 miles and yes he did ride a very on topic Mal Rees Rameles I think these were built by Hurlow. Claud Butler lost his business partly due to drink. Lots of his builders use to sneak out for a pint and would often bump into Claud in the local and far from reprimand them he use to buy em a pint for a bit of company. Now who remembers Albert Smith the Clerkenwell Enameller to the trade I very much doubt if any off them could enamel a frame without at least 4 bottles of Abbott in them. The paint booths were littered with empties and Smithy enamelled for the best makers for years. I always use to take him in Paynes xxxx in the 60's to jump the wiating list for an enamel. One east London builder who shall remain nameless had a terrible reputation for rubbish building on a Friday after 2pm due to the sherbet consumed. Sorry but our modest club-run on classic bikes is very on topic to me as is the beer and fellowship. Now I will annoy you all and say that the Coors Classic Race does not count as you can't really call that stuff beer not like the Amstel! The best event of the year in the VCC calendar are The Cambridge 50, Boot and back and any other of the make rides organised by the cambridge members all fuelled by good pub food and real ale on route. Where else will you see 15 classic Ephgraves are 7 Paris's but outsid a suffolk pub. Beer and Bikes like it or not are forever linked. Cheers Joe. Croeso Cymru Joe King Nr. Maenaddwyn Ynys Mon Wales