I keep hearing things I wish I didn't from the CR List, and this morning was another: One of our most respected contributors (on the topic of all French bicycles but especially deep knowledge of Gitane) has passed.

Here he was simply known as "Chas" but his handle was verktyg, and if you search the C&V archives you'll see his was a treasure trove of detailed info freely shared over many years.

He also hosted a website devoted to Gitanes called gitaneusa (dot) com (Looks like the website is offline for "renovation" but that may not happen unless somebody steps up to take over, but there is an active forum with names you'll reco from C&V: forum (dot) gitaneusa (dot) com and lots of info in that pertaining to Gitane)

Even tho he lived only a few miles away I never got to meet him in person, but I hear he would show up at many East Bay venues and events, usually decked out in vintage French gear and on one of his many bicycles, mostly FR but he had some outliers, too.

Chas Colerich will be missed, RIP.

(gotta sign off with this, his tagline: "it's not wrong; it's just French")