Italian Steel!!!!!

Yeah I suck...Italian bikes are Badazz! If you think these are hot you should see what I have in to unveil soon. Winter is coming time to put together some more bikes.

Cannondale John's Memorial ride.

I cried like a baby when John's bike pulled out of the parking lot on top of Kathy Petersons car to lead the ride... the way John always did.







Thanks to Josh from the '"Virginia Beach Wheelmen" for having the forethought to bring his camera to the ride, and shoot some good photo's




We had about 75 riders show up for the casual 13 mile spin. John's wife, three children, and two brothers rode with us as well.
We had Road, Mtn., and beach cruisers in attendance. The ride was escorted by four Suffolk Motorcycle Cops. We thank them for allowing us to pull this off.

John Taylor... AKA "Cannondale John"

This is breaking info... 08.16.2008
John Taylor AKA "Cannondale John" passed away today following the Saturday group ride from All About Bikes in Suffolk Virginia.
Apparently John had not been feeling well a for a few days prior to the ride.

Our thought and prayers are with Melissa and they're three children now as they deal with the loss of they're husband, and father.

I will post more info as i receive it.

There will be a memorial ride, and service for John on Saturday.
The ride will depart from All About Bikes in Suffolk, and will be Police Escorted.
John's Wife Melissa, and his oldest daughter are supposed to ride.
Here is the link to the Obituary:
http://www.legacy.com/pilotonline/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=116080281

Colnago Classic....

Another Beautiful lugged steel Colnago.
I have two of the "Master Series- Gilco Tubed" bikes and this one is a round tube "Classic"
This bike rides awsome.
If I understand correctly the bike uses "Zona" level Columbus Tubes.
It's not light, but it floats down the road and pedals effortlessly!!!
I did 30 miles on it's maiden voyage, and came back with an ear to ear grin.
I was told this frame was Crica 2002 and the decor was "Rabobank"
I am not sure if that is true, but the color scheme is striking.

Bianchi Mega-Pro Steel Cyclocross!!!!

Here is a mid-90's Bianchi Cyclocross bike.
This is a Steel Mega-Pro...
One hot ride...
With custom laced wheels, and Campy drivetrain the bike weighs 22.5 lbs.
I even kept the threaded fork, and quill stem.




Vintage NOS Suntour XC-Pro Cantilever brakes...

Colnago #3 1996 Master Olympic

This is the latest Colnago to the collection. A 1996 Master Olympic. My understanding is that this name was a "Euro only" designation, and any that have made it to the states were brought in Privately. That is what I did. This bike was acquired from a contact in Brazil.
It will look nice sitting with the Mapaei Master Light, and the Classic I have.
The collection has been refined on a whole with a focus on steel. Full Carbon "Plastic" is now gone, Aluminum has been limited to one 29'er and my cross bike.








This bike has an interesting feature... A Seat Tube and Head tube lug extension.

The Sickness

What would be your thoughts if you passed this on the interstate????




There should be a pill or something I could take for this.

Rover...

This truck is a beast....
Rovertym HD springs. Rovertym steering, and Damper kit, OME Shocks, and Rovertym Bull bar, and rock sliders.
This truck has never gotten stuck, and I rarely use the CDL.
This is the most expensive vehicle I have ever owned in terms of how much I have spent since the initial purchase in '05...
I can honestly say that all the stuff I have had to repair is my fault and not the truck...When you have a rig this capable you end up putting yourself in situations that you would pass on.
It has always gotten me home, save for the time I busted the trans....
I have owned a plethora of jeeps over the years, and there is no comparison.
this rig is built old school like a tank...

Fly GTI !!!!!

My wife called my Bianchi 928L a "Plastic bike" today....

Seems someone is monitoring me....

Just to throw off her scent here is a teaser pic of something I am working on...That is all I can say for now...

Fly Ass GTI 16v Circa 1992 the last year of the
A2 generation car. I had one the same color...
Montana Green...After I got married we stupidly
traded it for a family car.





Let the questioning begin!!!!!

The Orbea I can't find info on....

This was a very nice looking Spanish Steel bike (Orbea...Duh!) that I spent months picking out the right combo of parts to build up....
Only to find out that I was too fat to ride this Spanish beauty built with Italian Steel (Columbus Foco)
The bike was very light, and it was very Sexy!!!
But the fist test ride revealed the the tubing spec was more suited to a 150lb (or less) rider!!!

The strange thing about this bike was that it did not have the sloping top tube that Orbea is known for. this was a "Square " bike that had a 55x55 measurement.

Bianchi Italian Steel

I have a fondness for all things Italian
My stable is full of models from Bianchi, Colnago, Casati, and Fondriest.
I have a hankering for bikes of this color though...There is just something about Celeste

This is the model just before the Very last steel bike produced by Binachi in Italy, The EV Boron gave way to the Pinella Boron, and then Steel Bianchi bikes passed into oblivion...Celeste Steel is dead...Long live Celeste Steel!!!!

Gunnar Rodie... Handcrafted AMERICAN steel

A bike made in America by the Schwinn family...This is the Waterford/Gunnar heritage.
This is the best riding bike I own period...
This bike was made for my early this year. Painted the color of my choice VW Vortex Blue.
This bike was built conservatively with a combo or Chorus, and Record
I did not try to make the bike super light, and I ended up at just under 18lbs...








I had the finish upgraded to "Waterford level" and it is the best i have ever seen. the paint is like glass.

Bianchi 928 Carbon L... The 15lb. wunderbike!!!!

Carbon tubes with carbon lugs... Almost looks traditional doesnt it???
A keen eye will note the Carbon SL fork


Full Record 10 speed with bo-bo FSA cranks

Nice shot of the Carbon SL fork


Full ITM control center with celeste accents

Did you happen to see the Shamal Ultras????Hot!!!!

Bianchi 928... My Plastic Bike

Here is one of the three plastic bikes I own... Bianchi 928 Carbon C2C Chorus...
This is a pretty cool nice riding bike... It does not stir passion in me like my steel bikes do, but I still like it.





Nice vintage Vento 16HPW wheels with Record hubs...Adds a touch of nostalga to the all the technology.

C'Dale 29er 1FG!!!

While waitng to finish the details of the custom Gunnar (Steel Baby) and having sold all of my Mtn. Bikes. I decided to pick up an 08 C'Dale 29'er single speed. This should have been one of the last bikes produced by the Pegasus run company before the buyout by Dorel (Schwinn/Pacific)
based on the production date...(first week of Feb 08)
I like these bikes... Mainly because I like the lefty fork a whole bunch, Besides the Girvin/Noleen cross link this is the best I have ridden on.
Missing on the 08 model is the Alcoa tubing logo "Alcalyte"
The overall build quality is OK... not as good as Cannondales of old...
The bike is too heavy, and the wheelset sucks... There is no reason for a single speed bike to weigh 27lbs at this price. This bike at $1699.00 is the same price as last years geared version, and the wheelset is identical. The fork has changed... last years fork was 100% locked out, and this years model has a slight amount of stiff travel while locked.

All in all I will probably rock this bike until I get my Gunnar and then pass it on.

If you are looking for Cannondale stuff, and don't want to deal with C-World Go see Mark at Cycle Gallery in Elizabeth City....He took care of me.

Bianchi Pinella Boron

Here it is... The last Steel frame produced in Italy by the RC "Reparto Corse" division of Bianchi...




This bike has a nice build with Campy Chorus, Deda Control center, and Mavic Open Pro's laced to 36hole Chorus hubs


The bike as pictured weighs in a 18lbs...


Farewell to anything Steel. Celeste, and New as Carbon has nearly taken over...