Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Lee Davis on June 15, 2017, 08:23:51 PM
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I live in New Mexico, just south of Albuquerque, and have lived in Virginia, Rhode Island and Hawaii. Been riding for 47 years now. But, I have never seen a Moto Guzzi out on the road. I have taken 6 long road trips (Alaska and Canada), but never saw one. I know they are out there, but must be reasonably scarce in NM. That will change, I am sure, when I go to the Datil get-together in August (100 miles from me). Maybe I will no longer feel like a forlorn Guzzi rider. I personally have 8 of them right now... 6 are projects: 1970 +- Ambassadors and Eldorados, and a V9 and Stelvio. I look forward to the day when I can spot another out on the road... anxious to hear from other riders nearby, of course (and, by 'nearby', I mean within 600 or 800 miles)...
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Hmm , you own 8 MG's , no wonder we never see other MG's on the road :laugh:
Dusty
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I just got back from the Myrtle beach rally and never saw another guzzi out of thousands of bikes. I did have several folks ask what the Calvin was and most were complementary of her. I could care less what the other ones thought either way;)
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Was kind of the same around here, but we are finding each other. four of us showed up at our vintage bike night last night. Four Guzzi's in one place a rarity!
Going to the Virginia Rally next week hope to see a lot more.
(http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp219/Mstarvideo/Bike%20Nights/IMG_20170614_221940_335_zpsqgossibp.jpg) (http://s413.photobucket.com/user/Mstarvideo/media/Bike%20Nights/IMG_20170614_221940_335_zpsqgossibp.jpg.html)
(http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp219/Mstarvideo/Bike%20Nights/IMG_20170614_192145_zpseaklysoa.jpg) (http://s413.photobucket.com/user/Mstarvideo/media/Bike%20Nights/IMG_20170614_192145_zpseaklysoa.jpg.html)
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That's a damn shame, Lee
You meet some pretty odd birds flying aboard the Eagle of Mandello... Hope you find some like minded old coots... Sounds like you have the right idea to locate a few!
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I was in London not too long ago, and I saw five Moto Guzzi's (mostly V7's, but I also saw a Breva 1100 and a Stelvio!)
When I lived in the states, I only saw a few Guzzi's except the ones at the rally's of course.
Mostly V7's in cities as well, but nothing like what I saw in London.
Germany has a fair share of them, I saw a beautiful early V700 ride through Garmisch a few weeks ago!
-Joe
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Funny, I was in Taos for a weekend last year and saw a T-3 café out on the road.
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This quote from the late Douglas Adams may help - just replace "people" with "Moto Guzzi" :thumb:
“It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination.”
― Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
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I went to Autozone last week to get touchup paint for the Eldo and there was a 2013 V7 parked in front. The young owner was deep in conversation with a white haired gent who owned a 2002 Cali.
"Izzat a Greezo?"
"Yep" :)
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I suppose I've seen a relatively large number. One at Newfound Gap in the Smokies. A group of 4 at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort. Hmmm. That's it. I've never passed one rolling. Encouraging local big shop to pick them up. Must say, the big California attracts lots of attention.
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I live in New Mexico, just south of Albuquerque, and have lived in Virginia, Rhode Island and Hawaii. Been riding for 47 years now. But, I have never seen a Moto Guzzi out on the road. I have taken 6 long road trips (Alaska and Canada), but never saw one. I know they are out there, but must be reasonably scarce in NM. That will change, I am sure, when I go to the Datil get-together in August (100 miles from me). Maybe I will no longer feel like a forlorn Guzzi rider. I personally have 8 of them right now... 6 are projects: 1970 +- Ambassadors and Eldorados, and a V9 and Stelvio. I look forward to the day when I can spot another out on the road... anxious to hear from other riders nearby, of course (and, by 'nearby', I mean within 600 or 800 miles)...
Here in Virginia, I never see any "random" ones ... by that I mean Moto Guzzis just out on the road, not going to the same rally as me, and not someone I'm meeting for lunch. There's no room for them ... the motorcycling space here is completely taken up by identical Sons of Anarchy wanna-bes, extended-swingarm Busas and Gixxers, and 50cc Deweys.
However, if you make as many monthly state breakfasts and lunches as you can, and go to a rally or two, your faith in the existence of Moto Guzzi will be restored! You will no longer feel that you are all alone in the world .....
Lannis
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I thought about buying a HD to be different like everyone else who did so. Things really are different on a Guzzi.
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I was sitting at a traffic light waiting for the light to change and a guy on a then new V11 Sport was attempting to rip his arm off waving at me from the opposite lane. It was funny.
The best one for me was seeing Mr.Hagen heading north from Atlanta and me heading south towards Atlanta on our newish red 2007 Norge's. I had never met Bill, but I new it had to be him and we simultaneously waved at each other.
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I've seen a good number on the road in Madison, WI, over the years. Maybe five.
I also understand Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco have more than their share.
My conclusion is that Guzzies are preferred by the pinko Commies that tend to live in such places.
Moto
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It's been rare in my travels to see another Goose, and less often do I see the vintage stuff like I ride. Rarely see any here in Central Ohio. Heard of a couple over NW of Columbus, but so far, just a rumor, lol. Kind of a stealth brand, don't you think?
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Charlotte, NC has a swarm of them. Went to the local bike night and met these two. Decided to park right next to them :)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g152/Dilliw/.facebook_1460746577448_zpses2n8siy.jpg)
Actually the last time I went out to Carlsbad I saw a Breva on the road from El Paso. They are out there!
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Over the years, I've seen a few in the wild. :smiley: Maybe 20 or so.. One time, I stopped for gas 2 miles from home and saw a Hot Dawg and Mustard EV. He was clueless what a HD&M was, and I've never seen him again.
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When I lived in Albuquerque, I met a bunch of Guzzi riders, including a cool neighbor with a love of Italian bikes and a co-worker who introduced me to the Datil Wells gatherings. The hook was set and when the California Vintage was brought to America I could fight it no longer. After seeing one in person at the Atlanta Int'l MC Show, I bought the first one in Tennessee in February of '07. I met all manner of eccentric Guzzi folk here in the New Orleans area (which is sorta bizarre as the nearest dealer is 190 miles away), one the original owner of an Eldorado and another who had five Guzzis.
Perhaps it's the company I keep...
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Over the years, I've seen a few in the wild. :smiley:
I was trying to think of the right way to say "I saw a Moto Guzzi that was not at a rally or a breakfast meet out on the road and didn't know who it was."
You've got it!
Lannis
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I was trying to think of the right way to say "I saw a Moto Guzzi that was not at a rally or a breakfast meet out on the road and didn't know who it was."
You've got it!
Lannis
Lannis you've been to our former employer's Charlotte office. I pulled up on my EV and parked right next to a 1400 Touring on several mornings. Never knew who's it was or what company he/she worked for.
Like I said a swarm in Charlotte.
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Lannis you've been to our former employer's Charlotte office. I pulled up on my EV and parked right next to a 1400 Touring on several mornings. Never knew who's it was or what company he/she worked for.
Like I said a swarm in Charlotte.
Now that you mention it, I used to part right next to an EV at our Lynchburg office every day ....
Maybe there's more than we think there are, now that we're talking about it ....
Lannis
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In these parts, I see Guzzis on the road regularly, but infrequently.
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A silver Griso two up passed thru our little town while I was walking the dogs last year. The dogs did not understand my excitement.
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I have only been riding Guzzi since 1999. Yet, not counting Guzzi rallies and breakfasts, and weird bike get togethers, I have seen lots.
Nothing even far from aproaching common, but I would bet just riding around northern IL, I have seen 30 or more. Could be some of those where the same bike, but most were not. Just my experience.
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It's been rare in my travels to see another Goose, and less often do I see the vintage stuff like I ride. Rarely see any here in Central Ohio. Heard of a couple over NW of Columbus, but so far, just a rumor, lol. Kind of a stealth brand, don't you think?
Jake,
Over here in Columbus there are a few Guzzis that come out now & then. The best place to find them is at Eurobike night, 2nd & 4th Tuesday nights in Grandview.
Send me a PM if you feeling riding in one night.
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Except for when I go to the Guzzi shop near me. In the past 2-3 years I have seen two that I can confirm on the 405 in the Long Beach Ca. area. One was about a week ago. There was another unconfirmed sighting about a week before that. When your closing from opposite directions at about 100mph, we pass in a blink. Otherwise it's seems about a year or more between sightings. Maybe if I went to The Rock Store I might find a few more, been a while since I've been to that area.
Tom
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There aren't many out here, but they can be seen. When I lived at the top of our South Island I used to see them on a regular basis. Still not common though.
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Every time I see someone riding a Guzzi on the road I chase them down and wont let them go until they give me there contact detail.
So far I have about 18 owners with 24 Guzzi,s between Nelson, Blenheim and Greymouth.
They have all recovered after undergoing therapy !
(http://thumb.ibb.co/jjax8Q/IMG_2277.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jjax8Q)
Catch up for coffee in Nelson.
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This thread seems to confirm my belief that Yukon has the highest per capita Guzzi ownership on the continent.
I know of six in Whitehorse and three more in Dawson City. (I've never seen any of those three on the road so I keep prodding the guy for his sidecar). Our Territory is known for attracting independent souls; seems to fit the MG mindset.
Last week I saw a Stelvio in with a Beemer headed north; had some US plate. Caught a glimpse of a purple/orange colour?
.... and for Chris from Wisconsin: bring your woolies... it was -4C on the porch two mornings ago and a local bicycle race was cancelled today due to snow. :) Look forward to meeting you.
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Had a guy come over to me in the parking lot. This was after work. I was about to get on the Strada. He starts to tell me about another Moto Guzzi that he's seen parked in the lot. I told him it's mine. He says "Not that one." He starts to describe it in detail after about 7 long minutes. He ends his monologue. Me - "It's mine." Him - "No. Not that bike." :grin: :grin: :grin: He tries to add more detail to the description. I get on the Strada and he tells me that I should try to find him 'cuz there can't too many Moto Guzzis in town. :grin: I tell him that I'll keep my eye open for him. :wink:
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Had a guy come over to me in the parking lot. This was after work. I was about to get on the Strada. He starts to tell me about another Moto Guzzi that he's seen parked in the lot. I told him it's mine. He says "Not that one." He starts to describe it in detail after about 7 long minutes. He ends his monologue. Me - "It's mine." Him - "No. Not that bike." :grin: :grin: :grin: He tries to add more detail to the description. I get on the Strada and he tells me that I should try to find him 'cuz there can't too many Moto Guzzis in town. :grin: I tell him that I'll keep my eye open for him. :wink:
I think the fact that many of us own multiple Guzzi make it even rare on the road as we can only ride one at a time.
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Just got back from the grocery store, the chip delivery guy comes over and said I was the 3rd one he'd seen in 2 days. I told him it was a trend.
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Reminds me of Harper's potato chip tee. :popcorn:
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Over the decades I guess I've seen dozens of Geese out in the wild. First became aware of the brand shortly after the V twins launched in the late '60s, but I may have seen my first around 1975. Began to see them with fair frequency in the Bay Area beginning around '85. In the Boulder area they're pretty common now -- you can spot one or two each week (probably the same dozen commuting around the area). We have a good dealer in Fort Collins and another in Denver -- both within 35 minutes of Boulder.
Our little town of 1500 souls boasts two Guzzisti and three Guzzis (including my disassembled T).
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I see them all the time! I live in the Seattle Area so there are lots of them around here, but I have seen them in California, Eastern Washington, Europe (France I think) and other places. Just have to keep your eyes open.
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Off subject but when I post a picture I notice its quite small and you need to click on it to enlarge.
So how do I make a picture larger when posting ?
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Well Lee here are two in Alamogordo last night! I have never seen a Guzzi on the road in West Texas in 45 years of riding! Looking forward to Datil! I'm a noob when it comes to these bikes! Shocked at what better gas mileage they get compared to my Duc's! Got 60mpg last night at 70 mph.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170618/65b1c8bcb783666712017be06fcd9a8a.jpg)
Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk
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In my hometown I saw one back in the late sixties, at that time it looked like a giant and I wanted one. I saw another one in about 2013 and yet another two years ago. So, when it rains it pours, who knows I might get to see another one any year now.
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Except for when I go to the Guzzi shop near me. In the past 2-3 years I have seen two that I can confirm on the 405 in the Long Beach Ca. area. One was about a week ago. There was another unconfirmed sighting about a week before that. When your closing from opposite directions at about 100mph, we pass in a blink. Otherwise it's seems about a year or more between sightings. Maybe if I went to The Rock Store I might find a few more, been a while since I've been to that area.
Tom
Not that many show up at the Rock Store, although there were two today. One was a V7II with short little mufflers that sounded very nice, and the other was my Norge. From time to time another one or two will show up on Fridays for lunch and once in a blue moon we'll get a V7, Scura, or Le Mans on the weekends.
I see a couple on a regular basis running around the San Fernando Valley. And from time to time, I see a white Cali 1400 at a PGR mission.
I would expect to see more of them as the dealer (Thousand Oaks (Guzzi) Powersports) is selling them on a regular basis. They sold five in one week not too long ago.
Come on out for lunch some Friday and say Hi.
jdg
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I've seen a couple of different Ambassadors/Eldorado's - couldn't tell which because I haven't gotten a good enough look with my inexpert eyes - on weekdays once in awhile in the Arlington, VA area in the past couple of years. Not going to a rally and, at the time, no nearby MG dealer in the area, so they were just tooling around on personal business.
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I would expect to see more of them as the dealer (Thousand Oaks (Guzzi) Powersports) is selling them on a regular basis. They sold five in one week not too long ago.
Come on out for lunch some Friday and say Hi.
jdg
5 in one week, must have been to the same guy for his collection :evil: :wink:
Might just have to do that and play with the traffic home one of these Fridays. Been years since I've been up to the Store. Many many moons ago I was up there every few weeks on my old Eldo.
Tom
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5 in one week, must have been to the same guy for his collection :evil: :wink:
Might just have to do that and play with the traffic home one of these Fridays. Been years since I've been up to the Store. Many many moons ago I was up there every few weeks on my old Eldo.
Tom
Fridays are a completely different vibe. It's a dozen or so of us regulars, hanging out, bench racing, eating and sometimes a bit of riding. Most of us have been hanging around for decades - I first ran into the place back in the mid-60s when I got my first car. For some reason, Vern still lets me come around.
jdg
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My girlfriend and I play a game each summer called random Guzzi sighting. In the last few years, our average is probably 2 -3. Friends bikes don't count as we all know each other anyways. We even get excited when we see a BMW. Anyone care to guess the most popular bike in our area? :laugh:
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Makes me think of a day just after buying my Spot 1100.
I had heard from the dealer (TrakStar, RIP) about how rare the Sports were and while that didn't sway my decision to buy, i did think it was kind of a perk.
So, not long after, I'm sitting at an intersection on Lake Street in Minneapolis and lo & behold, another Sport is across the way form me. Just before we each get our respective green-lights, yet ANOTHER pulls up on the road to my right.
3 Guzzis, ALL sport 1100s and in only the second year of production. Three different colors to boot.
Todd.
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Makes me think of a day just after buying my Spot 1100.
I had heard from the dealer (TrakStar, RIP) about how rare the Sports were and while that didn't sway my decision to buy, i did think it was kind of a perk.
So, not long after, I'm sitting at an intersection on Lake Street in Minneapolis and lo & behold, another Sport is across the way form me. Just before we each get our respective green-lights, yet ANOTHER pulls up on the road to my right.
3 Guzzis, ALL sport 1100s and in only the second year of production. Three different colors to boot.
Todd.
Probably all owned by medicandy now
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Probably all owned by medicandy now
Maybe the other two. Mine's patio art these days. It will be very tough to give that bike up even though I haven't started it in nearly 10 years!
Todd.
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I've only seen three others in the wild and a whole bunch sitting in the dealers, I've never been on mine during a sighting.
First was coming home from the grocery store less than a mile from home, it was another Nevada(red/red) and the owner turned out to be my Father's coworker.
Second was at Clingman's Dome, A man that appeared to be touring on a V7(silver/white?), maybe in his 30s.
Third was another Nevada(black/red) sitting on the street in Portland Oregon, never found the operator.
I always wanted a Guzzi buddy, I guess my partner can ride the Nevada now and I'll have the Quota, problem solved!
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While finishing up my Father's Day ride with my daughter in the mountains, I was stopped at an intersection in town and saw a V7 Café Classic crossing in front of me with a bicycle mounted behind the rider. Looked to be a quality attachment as there was no motion up or down or sideways from the bicycle.
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Ooh! Ooh! I saw a silver 1400 just this morning as I was riding around town on my Cali Stone! On my way to work I pass a house with a skunk-striped 1400 parked next to a couple of Harleys.
I've seen one other Guzzi in the wild since I took up riding again five years ago. At the time I didn't know what model I was looking at, but I think it might have been some version of the California 1100 in white. An older gentleman, not dressed like a pirate, was riding it.
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Ooh! Ooh! I saw a silver 1400 just this morning as I was riding around town on my Cali Stone! On my way to work I pass a house with a skunk-striped 1400 parked next to a couple of Harleys.
I've seen one other Guzzi in the wild since I took up riding again five years ago. At the time I didn't know what model I was looking at, but I think it might have been some version of the California 1100 in white. An older gentleman, not dressed like a pirate, was riding it.
I ride the Yellowhead often (BC). Usually my antique Convert. I've seen V7s and a couple of Stelvios randomly, but the guys I ride with are usually the only other guzzis I see up there.
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I just returned from driving >650 miles from San Francisco to Medocino and back for 7 days. I saw a lot of motorcycles, but only saw ONE Guzzi , nd it was a red Norge riding two-up last Sat. (6-10) along the Embarcadero in SFO. I was driving, so could not take a photo. Anyone here? :1: :thumb: :cool:
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Living in the Seattle area, I do see Guzzis reasonably often, but still rarely enough for me to notice and think 'Ooohhh, Guzzi'. Lots more Triumphs. But now yuo've said it, I'm going to notice when I see my next Guzzi that I don't already know...wonder how long it will take?
- P
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Fridays are a completely different vibe. It's a dozen or so of us regulars, hanging out, bench racing, eating and sometimes a bit of riding. Most of us have been hanging around for decades - I first ran into the place back in the mid-60s when I got my first car. For some reason, Vern still lets me come around.
jdg
Well you got me beat on the first time to the Store. I would have been there on the Eldo in about '80. The last time I was there ?? years ago, I said to myself, boy this place has changed. Add on in back for food and all, alcohol area, but the heads were still the leaky ones with the river down the walk on the side of the diner. Some things didn't change.
Used to go up there with a few riders and have a few cold ones, sometimes go uphill and watch riders fall off in the twisties and then head down to Sagebrush Cantina for a snack and a cold one or two. Wow the memories.
Might just have to mess with the Friday traffic to get up there. The 405 used to be such an easy ride back in the day :wink: :sad:
Tom
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Southern BC (Greater Vancouver area) has a few...not many, but enough to be noticed.
According to my friend who also is the one sold my stone to me, I am one of a handful Asian who rides a Guzzi in the Western side...
Let just say we all have our own perks LOL...
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After about a year I finally have seen one. A year or so ago, I had noticed a CalVin going by on the road at my work. He noticed me. Hew stopped one fay and said he come by with his bike. Never saw him again.
Well he stopped by on his nice looking Calvin today. Figured that I was on my H word today. He was about to drive by but I stopped and he stopped. Heck I thought it might be that guy from a while back.
So we had a nice little chat. The parking lot got busy so we decided it was time to go.
I should have mentioned this board and Mark, but didn't get the chance. I think he may deal with Cycle Garden.
Hope to see him again and have him show up here. Or is he here already???
Tom