What a day! I just spent an hour with Ted Kirkbride
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 1,912
Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1044 Post(s)
Liked 1,712 Times
in
624 Posts
What a day! I just spent an hour with Ted Kirkbride
Wowzers,
It all started with the daily Craigslist post I check out each morning and saw an ad with a bunch of frames and wheels. I called the number who was really a screener to make sure that the callers weren't jerks or thinking they were going to get a piece of history for measly money. I passed the test and gave him my name and number.
Five min later, I get a call from Ted Kirkbride himself. Man in his 80s. Wealth of knowledge. Sure, books have been written about the Masi bikes and the men who both built them and rode them, but hearing his stories in first hand was an incredible experience.
BTW, I have a degree in journalism (U of Oregon) and haven published regarding food, wine, Vespas and architecture. I have never been published writing about bikes.
Two things: I plan on writing up our conversation (wish I had taken better notes) and I'm trying to organize a lil meetup at his shop where he will tell some stories, answer some questions and of course, sell us some vintage frames, wheels and boxes of campy parts.
Hoping to have this in about 2 weeks. I'll keep you posted.
It all started with the daily Craigslist post I check out each morning and saw an ad with a bunch of frames and wheels. I called the number who was really a screener to make sure that the callers weren't jerks or thinking they were going to get a piece of history for measly money. I passed the test and gave him my name and number.
Five min later, I get a call from Ted Kirkbride himself. Man in his 80s. Wealth of knowledge. Sure, books have been written about the Masi bikes and the men who both built them and rode them, but hearing his stories in first hand was an incredible experience.
BTW, I have a degree in journalism (U of Oregon) and haven published regarding food, wine, Vespas and architecture. I have never been published writing about bikes.
Two things: I plan on writing up our conversation (wish I had taken better notes) and I'm trying to organize a lil meetup at his shop where he will tell some stories, answer some questions and of course, sell us some vintage frames, wheels and boxes of campy parts.
Hoping to have this in about 2 weeks. I'll keep you posted.
Likes For Robvolz:
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 1,912
Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1044 Post(s)
Liked 1,712 Times
in
624 Posts
I also plan on better cataloging what he is offering. He is too old to deal with a bunch of people asking if by chance he has a 1972 NR rear, Etc.
Likes For Robvolz:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,323
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3449 Post(s)
Liked 2,800 Times
in
1,974 Posts
Ted is aligned with history is written by the victors. Or at least those who are still alive get to have the last word.
had key involvement, then not.
good chance was responsible for the errors in judgement that almost killed off the brand in the USA.
had key involvement, then not.
good chance was responsible for the errors in judgement that almost killed off the brand in the USA.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: SoCal
Posts: 3,215
Bikes: Cuevas Custom, Cimmaron, 1988 "Pinalized Rockma", 1984 Trek 510, Moulton custom touring, Raleigh Competition GS, Bridgestone Mb-2 & 3, 1980's Peugeot - US, City, & Canyon Express (6)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1061 Post(s)
Liked 3,546 Times
in
1,766 Posts
Wowzers,
It all started with the daily Craigslist post I check out each morning and saw an ad with a bunch of frames and wheels. I called the number who was really a screener to make sure that the callers weren't jerks or thinking they were going to get a piece of history for measly money. I passed the test and gave him my name and number.
Five min later, I get a call from Ted Kirkbride himself. Man in his 80s. Wealth of knowledge. Sure, books have been written about the Masi bikes and the men who both built them and rode them, but hearing his stories in first hand was an incredible experience.
BTW, I have a degree in journalism (U of Oregon) and haven published regarding food, wine, Vespas and architecture. I have never been published writing about bikes.
Two things: I plan on writing up our conversation (wish I had taken better notes) and I'm trying to organize a lil meetup at his shop where he will tell some stories, answer some questions and of course, sell us some vintage frames, wheels and boxes of campy parts.
Hoping to have this in about 2 weeks. I'll keep you posted.
It all started with the daily Craigslist post I check out each morning and saw an ad with a bunch of frames and wheels. I called the number who was really a screener to make sure that the callers weren't jerks or thinking they were going to get a piece of history for measly money. I passed the test and gave him my name and number.
Five min later, I get a call from Ted Kirkbride himself. Man in his 80s. Wealth of knowledge. Sure, books have been written about the Masi bikes and the men who both built them and rode them, but hearing his stories in first hand was an incredible experience.
BTW, I have a degree in journalism (U of Oregon) and haven published regarding food, wine, Vespas and architecture. I have never been published writing about bikes.
Two things: I plan on writing up our conversation (wish I had taken better notes) and I'm trying to organize a lil meetup at his shop where he will tell some stories, answer some questions and of course, sell us some vintage frames, wheels and boxes of campy parts.
Hoping to have this in about 2 weeks. I'll keep you posted.
Last edited by SoCaled; 08-18-22 at 02:51 PM.
#5
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,641
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4670 Post(s)
Liked 5,769 Times
in
2,272 Posts
Love it, bike shops and brands come and go. Committing these memories to the written word (and pix!) is something we can have forever.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Likes For gugie:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,323
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3449 Post(s)
Liked 2,800 Times
in
1,974 Posts
#7
Senior Member
I'll have to go read that Haro article. Ted is one of the people who might have built my frame, in 1980.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: In transit
Posts: 1,897
Bikes: 07 Vanilla, 98 IRD road frame built up with 25th Ann DA, Surly cross check with 105 comp, 78 Raleigh Comp GS, 85 Centurionelli
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 87 Post(s)
Liked 923 Times
in
191 Posts
Subscribed, I anticipate this being interesting
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 637
Bikes: Trek 400 Elance, Losa Winner, 1994 Schwinn Paramount, Specialized Tarmac Pro, Miele SLX, Ibis Ripley, Colnago Oval CX, 84 Masi GC, 1986 Schwinn Voyageur, 1988 Schwinn Tempo, 1998 Schwinn Peloton, 1991 Paramount Ser3
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Liked 88 Times
in
53 Posts
He does seem like a cool guy. I got the MASI/Haro book a few years ago and it had a nice handwritten note inside, but not signed. I had a hunch he had included it.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: SoCal
Posts: 3,215
Bikes: Cuevas Custom, Cimmaron, 1988 "Pinalized Rockma", 1984 Trek 510, Moulton custom touring, Raleigh Competition GS, Bridgestone Mb-2 & 3, 1980's Peugeot - US, City, & Canyon Express (6)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1061 Post(s)
Liked 3,546 Times
in
1,766 Posts
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: California
Posts: 993
Bikes: '87 Serotta Colorado,'96 Moots VaMoots, Bertoni MAX, Eddy Merckx Grand Prix Team USA
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 170 Post(s)
Liked 331 Times
in
146 Posts
I also answered the ad and was also screened by Mike, a few days later received a call from Mr. Kirkbride. We had a nice chat while he explained the history of several of the bikes. I had inquired about a couple of the smaller road frames, as most of the frames pictured are larger track bikes, and much too tall for me. According to Mr. Kirkbride, the smaller frames were built for his son when he wasn't so tall, those frames were small wheel frames, 24 inch/650 wheels.
So unfortunately none of the bikes were a good fit for me, but it was really nice speaking to the man himself. I wished I was closer and could have made the trip over to meet with him in person, he's a very pleasant guy and I would have loved to hear more stories from his career.
So unfortunately none of the bikes were a good fit for me, but it was really nice speaking to the man himself. I wished I was closer and could have made the trip over to meet with him in person, he's a very pleasant guy and I would have loved to hear more stories from his career.