Greetings all,
I had no idea when I joined the list this weekend that I would read so many emails! :-) It's been fun.
I've been riding 'lightweight' bikes seriously since about 1977. I rode with the Houston Bicycle Club for many years. At one point I worked at the fine Houston establishment, Daniel Boone Cycles. I now live in Charleston, SC where I ride with the Coastal Cyclists.
I most often ride a Colnago Super Record from approximately 1978. I'm looking to eventually restore this bike and put a Record gruppo on it to replace the hodge-podge of parts it has now.
Hanging in my garage is a Jack Taylor Super Touring Tandem from approximately 1978. I've owned this bike since 1980. My wife and I put thousands of miles on it in the early 80's, but it has been largely unused since my children outgrew the kid cranks several years ago. It needs a new paint job, but is mechanically original and sound. The unusual feature of this bike is the Phil Wood disc brake on the front wheel with the Mafac dual-cable brake lever. I'll be asking some questions about this later. The tandem also has Phil Wood hubs, bottom brackets and pedals. I will be trying to sell this bike very soon, once I can figure out the asking price. If any of you have a particular interest in the marque and wish to give me advice or feedback off-list, please feel free to do so.
Other bikes include 1980 Nishiki that never gets ridden anymore and my original touring bike, a funky Gitane frame with honeycombed rear dropouts. It's Reynolds 531 tubing, according to Joy Boone when I bought it, but it had no labels on it. It is outfitted with Bullseye sealed-bearing hubs, Stronglight cranks, and Suntour derailleurs among other things... Basically whatever parts I could afford and scrounge during my graduate school years.
I must add that I was delighted to see Bruce Gordon's name on the list. I was never able to afford a custom frame, but rode alongside several Bruce Gordon frames in Houston. They were each unique and beautiful. We had one in Boone Cycles that had a fade paint job, as I recall, from a turquoise-green to a deep blue. The frame and the Silca frame pump had a matching fade which was quite impressive. Of course there are other builders whose work I have admired over the years, and I'm sure some of them are here as well. I haven't read *all* the archives. :-)
Phil Whirley Charleston, SC, USA
phil@whirley.org