Concourse d'Elegance and Greg Lemond
It was a great day for TOB (tired old biker). Yesterday when I stopped by the local bike shop to have the book signed by the editor (see Short Stories & Annual Millage for the story.) He mentioned that the next day he was having a Concourse d'Elegance with Greg Lemond, Maynard Hershon and himself as judges. There were four classes:
- Road Stock
- Open Stock
- Road Restored
- Open Custom
When I got home that day I took a look at my old Capo (the first bike I bought back in 1968) and decided that I would enter it in the Road Restored class, which was as close to any of the four classes that it might fit into. So I spend a good part of the night putting back on as much of the original parts as I could. I then gave it a good cleaning and polish. I must admit the old bike looked pretty good.
Just for the record this bike was built sometime in the 1950's in Austria. The Capo Company must have had the contract to build bikes for the Austrian Olympic Team as there are Olympic symbols all over it. The lug work is beautiful. The bike does show it's wear.
Arriving at the bike shop I signed up for the event and sat down to wait, as Greg's plane was one hour late. Soon he and Maynard arrived. The plan was to ride as a group across the river to Waterfront Park for the contest. There I was riding along side the famous Greg Lemond.
The bikes were all lined up and the three judges made their rounds, looking and asking questions of the contestants. While the judging was going on there was coffee and cookies for the nervous contestants.
Soon the results were announced. "First place in the Road Restored Class" goes to Capo. As the judge hung a blue ribbon on the bike I think I saw it smile. On the ride back to the bike shop there seem to be new life in the old bike (and in the rider too.)
That evening Greg held and open question and answer talk for about 2 hours. It was very interesting as he looked back over his cycling career. He was about 30 minutes into this talk when who should walk into the bike shop, totally unannounced and unexpected, but none other than the 1999 Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong. Lance was in town for the day giving a talk before 12,000 people and heard about Greg's appearance and decided to stop by. Lance stayed for about 30 minutes, also answering questions
Greg also autographed my poster of him wearing the yellow jersey during the 1986 Tour de France. This poster has been hanging in my room ever since 1986.
Yes it was a great day for TOB,