Re: [CR] Tommy Avenia Bike Shop

(Example: Racing:Wayne Stetina)

From: "Michael Allison" <cyclo_one@verizon.net>
To: <andy@strawberrybicycle.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:32:47 -0400
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Tommy Avenia Bike Shop


Fellow Bike Nuts:

I got my first classic bike from Tommy in 1956; a Frejus track bike. At the time, I was a nationally ranked speed skater and cycling was the off-season exercise of choice. About 1954, I began cycling in ernest to improve my fitness and found a small group of expatiates in New York's Central Park to ride with. They spoke mostly German, Flemish and French. I had a loaner (a Gitain road) from Raul Galle, whom I met at a bike shop opposite my local church on West 68th Street, run by an Italian named Bob ****, who also made frames in the back. When I showed a sincere interest in cycling, that group of riders told me I should get a track bike "if I was serious."

Eventually, Raul took me to Tommy Avenia's shop on East 119th Street in then Spanish Harlem. Tommy sold me a black and red Frejus pista bike WITH NO BRAKES. I believed my mentors, but my first experience on that bike was terrifying. New York drivers are not known for their consideration of anyone (NYC traffic has only gotten worse). About two years later, I bought a Girendenga road bike for $100 from a new concept discount store call Korvets, located at 42nd Street under the 3rd Ave. El (elevated) subway. Galle went to the store with with me to check out the bike. He said it was a good bike because it had tubular tires and all Campagnolo parts. My parents thought I was crazy. "When are you going to grow up and stop riding a bike?" my father said.

After that purchase, I became a regular member in Central Park's cycling culture. One of those regulars was Tommy Avenia. At that point in time, I was in college and had the time (and not study). So Tommy and I would ride almost daily on his favorite route to Greenwich Ct. Though he was 20-30 years my elder, Tommy could kick my ass, often on a track bike.

His shop was a mecca for New York's bike racing crowd, where he sold Attla, Legnano and Frejus. But Tommy provided a far more important service to the bike racing crowd. He sold parts that were otherwise unavailable: freewheels, tubular tires, built wheels with tubular rims, sold wool jerseys and shorts, cleats and Detto Piettro shoes. In the 1950s-early 60s, Tommy was the only shop in town to provide these important services.

The best representation of his shop can be seen on the August 1983 Sempe cover drawing on the New Yorker magazine.

Michael Allison
New York, NY