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overfedlonghairedgnome

Hi

Just to let you know I am planning on going to the Velo Rendezvous in Pasadena, CA today. It is put on by the Velo-Retro club that I found through the link from here at GitaneUSA.com I've never met any of these folks so it should be interesting. I am going to try to catch some of the morning framebuilder session, too. Hopefully last night's rain will have moved on by this afternoon!

My TdF is not quite ready for riding so I am taking my trusty Eisentraut Limited.

Jim

sandranian · Site Admin

I went two years ago, but only for the Sunday "bike show". I brought a couple of Gitanes, and would have gone this year, but for some reason didn't do it....

The people are VERY knowledgeable about the bikes, but most of them don't ride too often, so the group rides are almost too slow. Chuck Schmidt is one exception...he rides a lot, and a different bike every day! Some of the guys there have 300+ bikes in their collections....

You will see some really nice stuff up there, like Cambio Corsa gears, etc.

verktyg

I ride with some of the CR members here in the Bay Area. Outside of some Rene Herse and Alex Sanger bikes I'm one of the few people that ride French iron.

One of the members picked up that big purple Super Corsa that was on eBay last summer but most of the bikes are Italian or English.

A few months ago there were about 8 or 9 classic Bianchis including TWO 1949 Paris-Robaix models with the single lever predecessor to the Cambio Corsa rear derailleurs.

Bianchi 1949 Paris-Robaix bikes

Early 1970s Gitane SC

The 2 guys riding the 4 speed Bianchi Paris-Robaix bikes were more than holding their own, they were hard to keep up with even in the hills.

Chas.

smilingroadrunner

Steve, I really appreciate what this site brings to my knowledge base, thanks to all those who post. Another example, in today's previous post. I wish I had been aware of this site last summer. I appreciate the link to the E-bay items. I forgot about the "Criterium Violet" paint on the early 70's Gitanes. If only I could turn back the clock to have been able to bid on that Super Corsa. I could sure make some K-State fans around here turn their heads. Thanks for the picture Chas---some wonderfully clean Bianchi's also.
C.A.

overfedlonghairedgnome

I missed the morning framebuilder's show and tell meet but made it for the afternoon raindance, er, ride. Met up with five other members, two of which were riding a tandem, and we went for the 25-mile loop through Pasadena and the surrounding cities. It had been raining hard all morning and although there were blue patches we wound up in a some sprinkles and a downpour. We pressed on and by the mid-tour visit to the coffee shop we had dried out remarkably. Al-in-all it was a fun time and I would like to do it again.

Jim

verktyg

sandranian · Site Admin

Jim:

Glad you had a good time at VR. I think I will show up next year for the bike show. Hope to see you out there!

Stephan

smilingroadrunner

I just received the 70 TdeF from Oregon, looks like the package arrived safely--just haven't had a chance to get into the box yet, hope to check it out in 2hrs. Pretty excited, I like both my '71 & '72 white interclubs, but the blue probably was my 2nd favorite color. Will know more in a little while.