[CR]CR Show / Swap Meet at the Cow Palazzo / seconding Ted Baer's ideas

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From: <emeneff@earthlink.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:16:32 -0700
reply-type=original
Subject: [CR]CR Show / Swap Meet at the Cow Palazzo / seconding Ted Baer's ideas

I fully agree with Ted's ideas re: the upcoming show. Get those mountain-bike types and anyone wearing sunglasses (or 1970's platform shoes) outa there !

I am suffering from Gout, Lumbago, and Hemorrhagic Fevers ( the doctors are still divided as to whether it is actually Ebola Virus or Anthrax ), and I too would appreciate some sort of scooter, or perhaps a gurney, to navigate the halls of this fine upcoming swap meet. While my health is deteriorating quickly and I probably should be thinking about estate planning; I can't help but wonder and obsess over finding something truly useful and rare - like the used Flickstand I bought in the Spring at the Cupertino swap meet. Who knows ? - maybe there is another stretched out and dried-up Ideale 39 leather saddle I can score before the lord takes me back home. If I miss the saddle , that's O.K. - I already have 9 of them and I don't even ride the things. Although, if I could only find a suitable Swiss-threaded fix cup for my Astra, another one of those saddles might come in mighty handy.

One thing is FER SURE - if there are Flickstands or sun visors for my Skid Lid - YOU BETTER BELIEVE I TOO AM READY TO SPEND SOME SERIOUS MONEY !

And I second Ted's thoughts about the venue. The Cow Palace will be a much better place to display our "gems". But why stop at the Cow Palace ? Perhaps the CR folks can look into simply renting Candlestick Park and arrange a shuttle bus service ? See the Cow Pallazzo is big, but there will be so many people wanting to see our rides and hear us talk so convincingly about the superiority of the Ballila center-pull brakes or Simplex Prestige derailleur systems, that I'm afraid the Fire Marshall might have to close the poor old Cow Palace due to the overcrowding at our show. How will I ever get my spare aluminum "death-fork" for my Lambert if that happens ? I simply cannot afford to try and outbid the Japanese collectors on Ebay for these rare coveted things.

Finally, perhaps in light of their disappointing book, we can do our own celebration of Campagnolo's 75th Anniversary with a gala tribute to their 1970 Gran Turismo derailleur.

I Can't Wait ! Mike Fabian San Francisco, CA USA

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:38:57 -0700 (PDT) From: "Ted E. Baer" <wickedsky(AT)sbcglobal.net> Subject: [CR]show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco

Hello Phil,

My name is Ted Baer and I live about 20 miles south of the Cow Palace in Pa lo Alto, CA. I am writing to you because I sure hope a show coupled with a swap meet can be arranged and held at the Cow Palace.

The Concourse in San Francisco is too small of a venue for this event in my opinion. The one year the Swap Meet/show was held at the Cow Palace was the BEST one. There were tons of vendors and I bought a lot of stuff.

Then the event was moved to the Concourse where the inside was divided into three areas. All of the vintage road bike vendors (complete with hot dog stand) were crammed into a small strip (on the left) as you walked inside. Then there was a huge section in the center (part two of three) that had about fifteen bicycles or so to be judged later on for various awards. Use of the center section was completely wasted as I saw it. No one was even looking at the bicycles. Sadly, the right side (section 3 of 3) was devoted to mountain bikes, chartreuse fenders, sh ock absorbers from the days of yore, and a bunch of new "assembly-line" fat welded mountain bike frames. You had guys wearing wrap-around sunglasses (indoors) and Bozos blasting heavy metal music right and left. Long story short, the mountain bike crowd should be removed from the event.

So here is what I suggest: Call the Cow Palace, rent out the same two "wings" (that are to the right and left of the arena) and set up up a massive vintage bike show and swap meet.

Lastly, (and I am not joking) try to get some of those electric scooters that us heavy-set people can use to get around it. I would prefer one with a cup holder, but don't stress over it. I would have spent a LOT MORE MONEY had I had scooter last time. This is because many sellers find it more worth their while to chat about nonsense with old friends than to actually tend to their booths. And given my weight issue I simpl y cannot stand there all day. In some instances sellers would be away from their booths for 20 to 30 minutes or so; I did not understand this at all. All I wanted to do was spend money.

Yours in wheeling and dealing,
Ted E. Baer
Palo Alto, CA