[CR] WAS: Locktite, Seat posts and general musings, Now: Introduction

(Example: Humor:John Pergolizzi)

From: "Emilio Bozzie" <emiliobozzi@hotmail.com>
To: <freitas1@pacbell.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 11:14:11 -0700
In-Reply-To: <4A045CB4.90504@pacbell.net>
References: <4A045CB4.90504@pacbell.net>
Subject: [CR] WAS: Locktite, Seat posts and general musings, Now: Introduction


Hi Bob-

I know that we have only emailed personally over the years and never on the CR list, but with the recession, my unpacking of bicycle boxes since my 2005 household move and the realization that I have way way way too many bikes--less than 25, but thats way too much for me, I thought I would get onto the CR list and see if I could trade parts, sell some bikes, share info with like minded folks and learn a thing or too more about my begrudgingly focus on Bianchi (1970--1980 mostly).

Oh, and as far as my email moniker goes, yes, its true some people think I was killed by the red guards, but really it was I who killed them and have been hiding in seclusion for all these years until the international statue of limitations had expired (deep sigh of relief here). Yeah, they had me in prison for a while trying to teach them how to make bikes which they aptly named "Gerridingos" in honor of their investors of somewhat dubious Munich and Sydney traditions. I tried to tell them that names like Calzoni. Gamozzi, Zamboni and Cinelli had more flair, but they told me that those names had already been taken. Oh well, April 1st only comes once a year, so I will leave the rest of that story for some other time.

In real life, I have had very little time for all things biking for the last several years, but hopefully that will change. I am trying to switch jobs right now for a position downtown and so on my way back home I can stop by and visit Elliot Bay Bikes, home of Bob Freeman and his wise compatriot Bill Davidson. BTW, this part of my intro is not a joke, Bob and Bill have their minds and profession drenched in all things biking and I am but a mere visitor as I peak into their psyche. In fact many of you on this list are in the bike profession, so please bear with me if I take for granted things that are truly important to you. BTW, Bill taught me a thing or two about what it takes to give a bike a good paint job, and a lot of what he showed and told me has stuck to me this day, regardless of that fact that I now wear reading glasses for anything up close.

OK, back to my bike mess for a moment. Besides finding all sorts of things in boxes I did not know I had, I just set up my work bench, and hopefully will get the proper lighting buffing wheel and bench vise set up soon. When I unpacked my boxes, I soon found out that it appears that I have a pedal fetish, something I was not even aware of, lotsa old campy, some zeus, KKT, sheffield, etc. Oh and btw, I STILL ride sew-ups even though I also have tried the new modern "they ride just like sew-ups" clinchers. I have been riding sew-ups exclusively more or less since I was a pre-teen-ager in 1974. For making a quick turn on a gravelly road, they out perform (on my bikes) clinchers any day of the week. But I digress.

I first got into "10-speed" biking about 1973 (thats a long fudging time ago!) at the suggestion of my late uncle. A caging old fart named Al Hatos, 6-day racer of somewhat fame back in the late 20s and early 30s. Apparently Jeff Groman knows more about his professional record than I do. In any case, first real (expensive) racing bike was a Nishiki Pro, but was worked in a bike shop in Longmont CO that sold Olmo, Gloria, Legnano, Urago, Falcon, Nishiki and Columbia at some point or another. I can remember hearing about Super Record derailleurs, but never having seen one until 1976. I first started riding toe-clips at about age 13.

By the time I was in my late teens, I figured I was worth a try at formal bike competition; attended a few races around Boulder and the front range, never placing adequately and besides, climbing the local 14ers (14K ft. peaks) under the influence of nature's magical bounty was much more exciting. Nonetheless, continued bike riding through the service (USNavy) and college (CSU) and then when I moved to Seattle in 87, I picked up a Readers Digest by accident one day and read and article that was titled, the "top things to do in life to be satisfied" or something to that effect. It had the normal things like, eat a good breakfast, enjoy your job, exercise, go to church, sleep well at night, etc., etc. I figured I was doing all those things and then at the bottom, it said, "have a hobby". Whoa! I didn't have a hobby. Something happened that day because I immediately went and picked up a beat up 81 Bianchi Tipo Course for about $250 and commenced to restoring it. The rest they say is history.

I have written a few articles about bike related stuff, the most recent Dale put up on his his website under Way-Assaulto, (thanks Dale). Over my biking history, I am probably a lot like many of you, I can not remember all the bikes that I have had, and I am not sure where to begin either. But I can say this much, I don't know didly about bikes older than about 1968 and newer than 1995, and I don't pretend to either. Probably a lot like many of you, I bought many vintage parts from Mike Kone when he had his thing going in the early 90s. During the mid 90s and the discovery of the web, I soon found out that buying directly from Europe was the way to go and a lot of my stash was bought from Germany, Italy, Spain and then of course discovered Baron C. when he got started. I joined the CR list when it first got started, but the winds blew in a different direction for me shortly after and have more or less interacted with a few of you since that time. BTW, what ever became of that Lou Deeter man dammit!!

Some of you may know that with all the different brands of bikes out there, I had to limit my attention span to Bianchi just to keep things simple. Finding the different nuances between Bianchi sold in the US, Germany, Japan, Italy, England and even Canada has been simply fascinating to me, (yeah I know easily amused). I have had about 10 Specialissima/Superleggeras from 1982 to 1985, but never one of those nice chromed lugged 1981 models! One of my favorite bikes is the 83/84 X-3 Specialissima. I have only seen 4 of them in my life, and I have 2, (one day I will sell one). In any case, I think I have about 18 Bianchi in various stages of rideablity, my assortment is no where near than of Akihiko; but then agin, he is an MD and can afford a lot more than me too! I also have a GPM equipped Faggin that gets ridden a lot and a couple of Concordes that turn heads for some reason. On that note, I better sign off as now you know everything about me that might allow me to run for public office, the rest is just isn't important at this time. Have great day.

Nels Cone Seattle WA
  
> Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 09:24:20 -0700
> From: freitas1@pacbell.net
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR] Locktite, Seat posts and general musings
>
>
> Members keep mentioning Locktite and I have a couple
> recommendations
>
> * there is a purple product #222 which is for small fasteners
> (<6mm) that would make a light''lock'' for larger items like fixed
> cups, this is much easier to remove than the usual medium #242
> (blue) product
> * Locktite has a number of products in stick or solid form and the
> one I really like is the Bearing mount #39150 (version of the
> bearing and sleeve 600 series) this is perfect for securing lose
> head cups (but is readily removable) I apply to the cup and then
> twist in place until it locks, I think this is much more
> satisfactory than shimming (or glue!)
>
> Seat posts and seat post sizes come up frequently and
> bent seat post lug ears I think usually point to incorrect size seat
> posts being used. One of the best investments
> I have made is a reamer handle and assorted reamers
> (26.8,27.2 and 27.4) so after realigning the ears ,I reinstall the
> binder bolt but not tight) and ream to the proper
> size. This eliminates the nasty seat post scratches and
> gives great grip on the post. Only issue here is an almost total lack of
> vintage 27.4 seat posts (I have only seen
> Campagnolo and Shimano, did SR ever make one?)
>
>
> Have a great Weekend All!
> BOB
> FREITAS
> sunny MILL VALLEY, CA USA
>
> Funny how spell check suggests
> ''Humanoids'' for Shimano and ''Espagnol'' for Campagnolo