Re: [CR]eBay outing: Vintage Cuevas -- Cinelli Frame AND New Old Guy Intro

(Example: Racing:Jean Robic)

From: <TonyCampy@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 00:47:07 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]eBay outing: Vintage Cuevas -- Cinelli Frame AND New Old Guy Intro
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


This is definitely a Cuevas! The beautiful swallow tail treatment to the seat stay and chainstay ends where they join the rear drop outs is a Cuevas signature, never seen it elsewhere. The old man from Spain was a true artist. Sold mine a while back and I've been filled with remorse ever since. Hey, since I never did properly introduce myself to the list: I am Charles Anthony (Tony to friends and family, Charles on eBay and other business situations) Winters. I've been lurking in the shadows of the CR for over a year now, learning all I can from the collective intelligence of THE LIST. Started my vintage bike fixation about 20 years ago with the help of my friend Peter Haynes who had a 1970's Atala Record Professional, a beautiful touring bike with Nisi tubulars and Campy Nuovo Record group. I had never seen anything like it and I was hooked for good after he let me ride it around the block. My first frame was an 80's Atala SL bought in Brooklyn from a guy named Guisepe for a hundred bucks. Built it up with the help of the great Bill Ward, who had a mimeographed vintage parts list he sent in the mail, mostly used stuff with occasional NOS goodies. Pretty soon I was cruising on tubular wheels with Campagnolo NR high flange hubs on my repainted Atala SL (still got it!), now sporting a nice assortment of Campy and Suntour Superbe parts, AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!! Next came a '71 Raleigh International with that great root beer brown color and that sweet laid back ride. Then a mid 70's Cinelli Speciale Corsa from Brad at American Cyclery, the gem of my collection (still got). Somewhere in there Michael Cone (or Kone?) became the big supplier of vintage Campagnolo and other great stuff, with his wonderful Bicycle Classics flyers and catalogs arriving in the mail every couple of months. I would rush to figure out what I wanted/could afford (before it sold), then call Michael and spend 20 minutes talking bike talk with that generous guy. Next came the Cuevas, the Masi GC (whose serial number indicates that it is a Mondonico built frame, pretty funny, that Masi came to California from Italy, achieved super cult status, and had to farm out his overflow business back to Italy to satisfy the demand for California built Italian bikes, still got it), a 3RENSHO road (sadly sold), and many others, including a Waterford 1200 10 speed ergo wonder (bought the frame from our peerless list meister), a '64 Paramount track, a very early Santana tandem, and most recently an 80's Pro Miyata that is rapidly becoming my regular ride (looking for some off topic Superbe Pro cranks for it, 172.5's anyone?). I went to my first Cirque this year and had a fantastic time schmoozing with the illuminati of the vintage bike world, a dream of a weekend, now I'm saving for a Bohemian! I never raced and don't ride as much as I would like, a poseur/collector for sure, but determined to ride more this year. Planning to do some over-nighter touring/camping trips in September, after the tourist season winds down on the east end of Long Island. Thank you all for all the priceless information, history and the great stories! I'll try to contribute once in a while, as my meager experience allows. Happy Independence Day!, Tony Winters enjoying Springtime in July in Center Moriches, NY USA

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