re: [CR]Re: Beer and belated VS report

(Example: Framebuilders:Cecil Behringer)

Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:32:43 -0800 (PST)
From: "Ted E. Baer" <wickedsky@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: re: [CR]Re: Beer and belated VS report
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


Hi Joe,

You wrote:
> But beer has always
> been linked with
> Cycling and more especially racing.

This is true. There was a cycle jumble here in San Francisco recently. I think it was the annual Velo-Swap. They had a beer garden if I remember correctly. I don't drink but I did muse around long enough for some sellers to drink and then start selling their items for pennies on the dollar.

I know a lot of hard work goes into putting on an event like the Velo-Swap.......something I could not possibly orchestrate myself. And I do give credit where credit is due for those who put on the event. But there were a few things that I did question about the event:

1. The floor plan for this jumble was such that the vintage buying section was way too small to maneuver around in. I was accidentally knocking things over, tripping and falling, and almost knocked a row of bicycles over. There were three sections to the San Francisco Velo Swap: Vintage, Mtn, and an "open area in the middle. The "open area" is where the problem was. That particular area looked big enough for Arena Football. Yet there were a mere four--count 'em four vintage bicycles on stands and about 7 or 8 of these bicycle dignitary-looking Bozos sitting around on folding chairs drinking beer. Point is, the vintage jumble drew about 80% of the interest, the mtn bike 19%, and the open space/bike contest(?) about 1% of the people. With that the vintage jumble should have covered at least 2/3's to 3/4's of the entire area indoor part of the building.

2. One guy in the vintage section had nothing but really cool French vintage bikes. I come to these events "loaded" (cash--ready to buy) and it extremely frustrating when the guy(s) selling these bikes are having conversations with people (who have no intention to buy) over things like "Where did you come across this bicycle?" All of the sudden some big college-bound, let's exchange 11-syllable words, and become one with the saddle conversation ensues. It is really frustrating.

I was walking past one area and some girl started yelling at me and was asked if my hands ever get cold when I ride. I said "Never." She said "Never? You must wear good gloves then." To which I replied, "No, I don't ride bicycles."

I saw a lot of people parking 10 blocks away from the entrance to the Concourse Event Center. I parked right smack across the street. I hate walking.

3. Lastly, I think it would have been nice and I would have spent more money had they had those sit-down scooters for rent at the door. When I stand up too long my body starts aching because of my weight problem. I would have spent more money if I had a scooter.

4. They should give out chartreuse colored bags when you walk in the door. This is because I was walking around with my dark green Harrods shopping bag and I'll be damned if ever' time I turned around some ol' boy had his hand in me bag! I guess I could strap on one of them giant 70's aluminum framed back-packs.

Ted E. Beer, I mean Baer
Hoping for more rain in
Palo Alto, CA


--- Joe King wrote:


> 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
>
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