I made it to Leesburg (90 miles away) on friday morning, with plenty of time for the fixed gear ride. I was anticipating rain, so I piled the three bikes I brought into the cargo van (I was about 50-50 on good and bad decisions, and bringing the van was one of the good ones.

I was able to get checked into my room early, so I did that, got changed, and prepared for the ride. I saw several folks roll in from an earlier ride, and they were telling how the path was flooded and how the rain was supposed to get heavier later on in the afternoon. Well, some folks may have thought the ride was going to just get bagged, but it's called the "Sheldon Brown Memorial fixed gear fun ride" , and I sure wasn't going to be the person who didn't ride and let the event pass as "canceled due to lack of interest". Well, fortunately, I wasn't the only person, and eight of us rolled out.

I was riding along, and noticed a tall guy in our group a little ahead of me wearing a jersey that said "Ellis" on the back. I caught up to him, and saw that his bike said "Ellis" on it too. I asked him (genuinely - not like two years ago when I rode up alongside Richard Sachs and disingenuously commented "Nice kit. Where'd you get it?" - with a delayed smile) "I see your jersey and your bike say 'Ellis'. I'm curious, what's the significance?". He explained that Ellis was his middle name, and that's what he decided to name his bike company. Dave Wages, (his other names) is a really nice fellow, and he makes some really sweet frames with some outstanding lug and creative joinery work. He won an award at this year's NAHBS, but I skipped it, otherwise I would not have placed that foot into my mouth. On the way back, I was having trouble keeping up. Found out my front tire was going soft. Fixed it, finished well behind folks. When I got back, I realized I was far wetter than I thought I was. No way those shoes would be usable on Saturday morning.

Met up with iab, and after some small talk, realized we were both quite hungry. We bypassed the Vietnamese restaurant (which does have good food, but smallish portions), for Anita's, on the other end of the building. Excellent eats for very reasonable expense. This was definitely a good choice. After that, lots of fun at the auction, but my cheap-skatedness kept me from winning anything. No biggy. More to spend on other things. There was a Jan Heine sighting at the auction. He was there with his son off and on. Chatted with a bunch of folks I hadn't seen for a long while, and iab showed me a bunch of pictures of things he has in reserve for his eventual "big project". Glued a new tubular onto the Fuji, thinking I'd use it in the morning. Then zzzzz.

Great free breakfast at the Leesburg Best Western. Fueled up, and decided to take Shadowfax out for the ride - with the LOOK pedals and the old shoes that I noticed the right one of which wasn't looking so hot. Oh well. It was dry now, and should hold up. There were 25 or 30 people on this ride, and a couple miles in, I noticed Jan Heine was coming up, so I said "Good morning, Jan". He doesn't know me from Adam, but he rode beside me for about a mile, and we chatted a bit about a couple things. His children already enjoy riding to Land's End, and if anyone can connect him with a sub East Hill sized road bicycle, the result would be a very happy young Heine. It was a very happy revelation to learn he is quite a nice fellow.

About 25 miles into the 43 mile ride, there was near disaster. I was starting up after a brief stop to regroup, and my right foot slid off the pedal, and it was all I could do to not crash. My good friend, Kevin, who was right behind me was the first to notice that the sole of my right shoe had separated, and it was still clipped into the pedal. I was perplexed for a bit, and Kevin insisted that they would have to call for someone to come and give me a ride. I was starting to believe that, but then I thought - this is just a unique platform pedal. I wasn't able to crank it up (like I had legs left for that then anyway), but I was able to cruise along for the rest of the ride. Kevin (who coincidentally gave me those very shoes four years ago), now refers to me as "shoeless" at every occasion.

After a shower, waited around for lunch and the seminars. A Panera catered lunch with sufficient quantity for all is a marvelous thing. It was followed by three excellent presentations by Dave Wages, Jan Heine and Peter Weigle. A very good day, and it was not over. As the room was clearing out, Wayne and a young fellow were standing nearby, and I couldn't help but overhear the youngster inquiring about transporting a bicycle to the show the next day. I saw Wayne's brow furrow in thought, and I cut in to say I had room in my van. The young fellow sounded receptive, and Wayne - who no doubt had other things on his mind - saw things looked like they were working out, and went to take care of something else. The young fellow turned out to be Mitch Pryor, a young builder from Portland who had a very cool, and cleanly executed city bike he had brought to display. Here's the link to the 2009 NAHBS awards page. Mitch won an award also, but didn't even mention it to me. He's a very pleasant and humble fellow.

After the builder's reception, where to the surprise of mostly only Jan, he was awarded the annual honor, I showed Mitch the arrangement I have for transporting bikes inside the van, and he was satisfied. We agreed to meet the next morning to load the bike up while he rode his other bike to the show. Morning came fast, and he got there right after I started eating. We loaded it up after breakfast, and I went over to the fairgrounds. Almost as soon as I got there, I learned that there were not liners for the trash barrels, and all the designated helpers had their hands full with other things. I volunteered to go and get them, and then I realized Mitch's bike was still in my van. Didn't want to freak him out by taking off with his bike, so made sure it got put in a safe place before I took off.

Got back reasonably quickly, and still before the show officially opened. I finished setting up the trash cans, and then did a bit of looking around. Found a neat brass bell for cheap, a couple pairs of Velo Orange elkhide leather wrap "seconds" for $10.00 a pop. Seeing that I wasn't going to find the things I had hoped for to properly do the wheels on the Hetchin's (at least not on my budget), I decided to try a pair of Grand Bois (Cerf blue) tires and get current with BQ. Got a couple other little things, and set up Crayola for display.

Took bunches of pictures, decided to get the pair of shoes that Kevin goaded me to, saw a fair number of people taking note of the information I set up with the display of Crayola, listened to all the awards (John Drake, we're all a bit envious. You have several exceptionally nice bicycles ), and then got packed up to go home.

A great weekend all in all. Much to get done before next year rolls around.

yet. Busy day at work.

btw - what was your excuse for not coming?

p.s. in addition to iab, I know Piccio Special, and Cityoen du Monde also were there. robatsu said he rode there, but not having met him, no surprise I didn't recognize his presence. Anybody else make it there?

Great story, John. The thought of the sole of your shoe still attached to the pedal while the rest of it was on your foot is a hoot. Of course, at the time it might not have felt that way!

Neal

Virginia is a long way away from Texas, and I work in a bike shop (meaning I'm far below the poverty line). One day I'll make it out there for sure.

That's why I need to live vicariously through your pictures!

And yet, you did post ...

I'm sad I couldn't take part in any of the rides. I got very sick early last week and am still on antibiotics, a century on Sunday just wasn't in my cards. I did, however, have a great time just like last year though I didn't buy anything, unlike last year. A friend picked up a nice 38-42 Schwinn Superior track from Philly Curtis that should be a fun project to get road worthy. I had a Yamaguchi cap on for those who have met me at various swaps.

I was teasing, I hope you know. I'll post a couple links to other picture banks.


https://www.cyclesdeoro.com/SundayattheCirque/index.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/1374882...7619354831865/

I rode bicycles you painted and wore your t-shirt, sir.

Where to post 200 pictures that are mostly larger than 2 mb?

Oh yeah, I know.

That Crayola deal was very cool. Ti Raleigh from an alternate universe, come to us from through the worm hole.

It's enjoying Rodney Dangerfield status with the old guard though. Not in any pictures I've seen so far except Dale's shot of us knuckleheads setting off on the fixed gear ride.

Would that be the same Curtis with the mustache from Via Bikes? Every time I go in there (which it usually 2-3 times a year) and no matter what time (usually at night but not always), he always comments on whatever wool jersey I might be wearing and then offers me a shot of scotch or whatever they're drinking out of their flasks over there in the shop.

Nice guy that Curtis. Even if his bikes are a bit pricey.

That would be Curtis.

Zorro, if you can put me in touch with Jan, my brother just picked up a sub Easthill sized custom Bilenky Sterling road bike w/ 24" wheels. It might be what he is looking for.

You da MAN!

Try the e-mail he uses at Vintage Bicycle Press. heine94 at sign earthlink dot net.

Great story and some great pictures.

I was the only person I noticed there wearing anything tye-died to the Friday and Saturday events. For a group containing a large number of children of the 60's and 70's....

I had at least five people ask about either the paint on my bikes or about Ideal Painting from the back of the "Free Corky" shirt. Don't be too surprised if a young builder from Portland looks you up at some point.

Thanks Neal. The shoe thing bothered me for about 45 seconds. Once I figured out how to keep my foot on top of the loose sole, it was no big deal. They wanted me to stop to get it duct-taped, but I declined.

And all the Big Blue share holders and other employees are thankful for this fact!

John,

Great depiction of what occurred. Glad you didn't hit the road with the bottom of your free foot. That could have meant a trip to the ER. Maybe next year I can plan to take off a Sunday and join you. I'd have to fly into BWI. Maybe I could ride shotgun with you?

I'd be quite happy to see you there, and would be fine with giving you a pick-up. BWI is rather out of the way though - it's actually much closer to Reagan, and BWI is not really on my way. Reagan isn't on my way either, but there's a free shuttle from there to the hotel.

Sorry to drag this back from page 3, but I finally put pictures up.

Link to mine is here.

Someone made off with my Paramount

In all honesty, that build is eerily similar to my '70.

-Kurt

Nice pictures. Some really great bikes at that show. I think I'd like to attend next year.

Thanks for sharing.

I did a double take when I saw that picture. I thought, "Kurt didn't fly up from Florida, did he?"