Continuing with cats....this one belongs to the Cats Of Italy lore.
I noted earlier in another thread that I was going to Italy to meet my wife's relatives. And hoped to locate some bike parts while over there. Well, Rome turned up nothing as some predicted. I gave up on the idea. When we head south to Cassino to visit cousins...my wife mentioned I was into bicicletta, and Campagnolo to her cousin while enjoying espresso at a cafe. She immediately turned to the cafe owner and inquired about shops in town. Only one might have what I was looking for. She took us there, where upon I discover an old-school LBS like the ones from my childhood. Simple facade, bikes lined along the sidewalk, dimly lit, full of racks of tires, bikes hanging from the ceiling. Two mechanics resided over the place, a stream of patrons getting their rides fixed in the shop and outside street side. First mechanic (with pony tail) only dealt with MTBs, didn't know much of what I wanted. My wife did her best to translate SR derailleurs, levers, etc. The 2nd mechanic was the owner and road racer, he knew of all the items I was interested in. But unfortunately tells me a couple guys from Northern Italy came into town 2 weeks ago and bought out every last piece of old equipment in the store! NOOOOOO! Apparently, there was a vintage bicycle flea market held during Cassino's anniversary holiday. I got there too late! Feeling dejected, I didn't want to leave empty handed, I told him among the modern stuff, I needed 10 speed Centaur brifters, "cambios" (derailleurs), BB's. He would search his backroom and told us to return after lunch. He did allow me to look through some old Super Record boxes full of loose items. Told me it's just storage of misc. items. He didn't even remember what was in them. I found a pair of Campy DT shifters (either Chorus or Athena) and a partial set of Dura Ace 8 speed DT's. He told me I can take them! @_@
Returning later, we were greeted on the counter by this little cat. I assumed it belonged to the owner, but apparently, it's a stray. It one day wandered into the shop, made itself home and never left. It leaves every night and returns the next day! I petted her while she purred. Then the owner returns with a pair of brifters and DP calipers. I shifted my attention to the parts....the cat in protest takes a paw and pushes the brifters aside, gently bites my hand and guides my hand back to her end of the counter to pet her! The patrons broke out in laughter! It was the cutest thing I've witness a stray cat do. I had to take a pic of her while my wife scratched her chin. The owner was a cool fellow. Although I probably could've gotten the set cheaper if I tried on ebay, I bought them for his great customer service and gifts to me.
Cassino-28 by
WNG555, on Flickr
Cassino-24 by
WNG555, on Flickr
Cassino-25 by
WNG555, on Flickr
Cassino-26 by
WNG555, on Flickr
Cassino-27 by
WNG555, on Flickr
Later that evening, my wife's cousin's best friend stopped by to meet us. We spoke about the day's happenings and things focused once again on bicycles. Turns out her father was a local racer. She wanted me to follow her out back to show me her father's old race bike. Her father in his golden years had gifted the bike to my wife's cousin's only son. It was given years ago when he was still a teen. But he never took to it and it's been sitting in a shed neglected. I took it out into the sunlight to peruse it. It's a Marzano...unknown to me, but the build quality was excellent. The fluted stay caps, lug cutouts, brazing. I estimate it's a 70s era frame. It was in a sad state, rusted and rotting away. The sew ups were falling apart. She was obviously upset and distressed about how her father's old bike was in. I told her the bike was a really nice one, and commented on the recognizable Campy components. She asked if it could be restored. I said sure. Then she offered it to me! Wow! But I couldn't logistically....hauling a bike box back to Phoenix. Hmm, it does fit my wife! Later over dinner, she told us her father loved cycling. But strangely, she didn't know how to ride a bike! He never taught her! Wasn't the proper thing for a girl to be doing. Sad. She also pointed out that her father and the owner of the only bike shop in town were the best of friends. The bike was likely built and maintained in the shop we were at earlier. I must have been served by the son. His father must be one of the gentlemen in the wall photos!
My Italian bike shop adventure got somewhat fulfilled after all.
Cassino-23 by
WNG555, on Flickr
Cassino-22 by
WNG555, on Flickr
Cassino-20 by
WNG555, on Flickr
Cassino-21 by
WNG555, on Flickr