Before high school, I only ever knew about Schwinns (loved their catalogs) and the three-speed IGH Sears bikes (from Austria-my sister had one). In high school, when I first got into this whole 10 speed thing, the bike boom was about at its height. The local Schwinn shop was still going strong, so I saw one or two Super Sports and Paramounts there. Another shop opened up about that time that sold Peugeots and some others I no longer remember - possibly Raleighs, but I can't swear to that. One of the tire stores in town started carrying Jeunets, of all things, so there were some of those in town. Among the friends who first got me into this sport, there was a Stella, a Gitane TdF, a Juvela, one or two Paramounts and, a little later, a Ron Cooper and an Eisentraut. Other than the Paramounts, I have no idea where any of them came from. But they kindled a certain, shall we say, covetous lust in me that never went away completely.
My first 10-speed was an in-the-box Benotto bike-boom special (cottered cranks, Suntour Honor RD, Weinmann side pull brakes, servicable gaspipe frame - strictly entry level but a good and affordable introduction). My Dad drove me over to the next town one evening so I could buy it from some guy who was selling them out of his garage. The price was right ($65, as I recall, compared to $100 or so for UO-8s and other comparable machines). A couple years later, when I got my drivers license and started checking out other shops around the Bay Area, I was introduced all manner of stuff - Eisentraut Limiteds, Allegros, Mondias, Bianchis, Italvegas, Bob Jacksons, and no doubt others. I heard about but did not see any Cinellis (since remedied
); they may as well have been made on Mars out of pixie dust. That sparked a desire that never completely went away, either,
Now I have a Paramount, a Ron Cooper, an Eisentraut, and not one but two Cinellis. You've likely seen pics of all of them here in C&V. Along the way, I've also owned an old Bianchi Competizione (literally found in a barn, still have it, but it is currently in pieces) , a Bob Jackson (stolen
) and an RB-1 (destroyed
). Oh, and for about five minutes, a Gitane InterClub track bike, repainted Pepto Bismol pink. (I ended up leaving it with repechage around 1983 -- long story.) I have been very fortunate to have been entrusted by the cycling gods with so many fine bikes..