Vintage Bicycle: Early 1970s Bottecchia De Luxe

A Facebook Marketplace find
The pictures on Facebook appeared to show an old bike in unusually good shape. Sure, time had dulled the aluminum parts (stem, brakes, levers, handlebars), but the steel frame, components, and mounting hardware looked rust free, making it a unicorn of sorts. Or at least a Pegasus. So I set up a meeting with the seller and bought it.

It reminded me of Greg LeMond's famous time trial bike
Bottecchia, an Italian brand, isn't well known in the US. But in 1989, many Americans saw news segments and photos of Greg LeMond racing against the clock on a red and white Bottecchia. It was newsworthy because he accomplished the unimaginable--he came back from a 50-second deficit to win the Tour de France on its final day by a scant 8 seconds.

Miracle man

It's important to note that Greg LeMond had nearly died from a horrific hunting accident two years earlier, so his participation in the grueling, 2000-mile, 21-day race was already a miracle and ripe for news coverage.

To be clear, though, the Bottecchia pictured here never saw any racing glory. The De Luxe was an entry-level model. Nevertheless, it's still beautiful, and it hearkens me back to when...

LeMond's inspiring story launched my humble racing career 

I happened to be sitting in front of a television when one of the networks broadcast the final stage of the '89 Tour. Quite by accident, I shared the experience with my girlfriend at the time and her roommate, Suzy. All three of us cheered aloud for the American racer, even though we had never heard of him and had never even watched professional bicycling before.

When the broadcast ended, Suzy asked me if I raced bicycles. Surprised and flattered, I said I didn't.

"Why not?" she asked. "You ride all the time."

I didn't have a good answer for her. But the truth was, I'd never once considered competing before, and I wasn't even sure bike races came to our corner of Ohio.

But that exciting broadcast had made anything seem possible, so I asked myself, Why not? Why don't I try racing? And a few weeks later, after some research and sleepless nights, I entered my first road race (on a sport-touring bicycle I'd bought from Sears). And that was all it took. I fell in love with the sport.

They say, "Never meet your heroes"
Many years later, I met Greg LeMond and shook his hand. I was so star struck, I barely got my first name out. Thankfully, he seemed to understand. And after he signed a poster for me, he gave me a kind smile. Despite the old adage--Never meet your heroes--he was a really nice, down-to-earth guy.

I was honored to have met him and delighted when he told some racing stories, while I stood there just a few feet away.

I never made the headlines, but...
A decade of here-and-there racing, sandwiched between real responsibilities, never earned me more than a few medals and trophies. But those little victories were some of the most confidence-inducing accomplishments of my 20s and 30s; in part, because I hadn't participated in organized sports as a kid (and regretted it); and, in part, because the fast and dangerous sport of bicycle racing allowed me to momentarily escape my cautious and quiet personality. Racing enabled me to see a more daring side of myself, a side I liked, in moderation.

Back to this old, red bike
After 50+ years, the Bottecchia's grease and oil had dried up completely. So I disassembled everything (except for the bottom bracket--a local bike shop took care of the cotter pins and rebuild for me), and I was delighted to find all the cones and races were pit free. Even the bearings themselves appeared pristine (when examined beneath an inspection microscope). So I reassembled everything with new grease and patiently adjusted the load on the bearings. Afterwards, I polished all the chrome and aluminum parts (except for braking surfaces) with Turtle Wax All-Metal Polish and buffed the paint with Meguiar's Cleaner Wax.

Restoration challenges
The rear derailleur's pulleys (brittle, old plastic) were cracked and missing teeth. And Shimano replacement parts wouldn't fit the vintage French derailleur because the bolts that held the original Simplex pulleys were too large in diameter.

 

Fortunately, after searching through blogs, I heard of a place, Love City Cycles, that manufactures conversion kits with wider bushings and drilled out caps. They sell these kits on Ebay, and those modified pulleys fit perfectly.

I also had some issues maintaining the correct tension on the rear friction shifter. It would loosen slightly after several shifts, resulting in chain noise. I have since read that a bit of blue Loctite on the bolt threads will remedy this, and I'm eager to try that in the spring. Note: later Simplex shifters (1971, for example) came with thumbscrews to help with this problem.

Specs as pictured:

 
Weight: 30.1 lbs / 13.65 kg
Frame: lugged steel, fully chromed then selectively painted (no decal declaring metal composition)
Wheels: 27-inch, 36-spoke, steel rims with textured braking surfaces; aluminum QR hubs
Crankset: 3-piece, steel, cottered
Chainrings: steel, 52, 44
Freewheel: steel, 14, 17, 20, 24, 28
Shifters: Simplex, friction, pre-1971 (no thumbscrews to adjust/hold tension)
Front derailleur: Simplex
Read derailleur: Simplex
Pedals: MKS AR-2 (replacements; original steel rat traps were not serviceable)
Seatpost: Origin 8 (replacement; original clamp had nonstandard rail width)
Saddle: Origin 8, Sport Uno-S (replacement; original "Grand-Prix" no longer had padding/cover, only a timeworn plastic base)
Stem: aluminum, 90mm
Handlebars: aluminum, 37 cm (c to c) at drops, 39 cm at hook ends
Brakes: Universal, brake pads are replacements, same color
Tires: 27 x 1 1/4, Carideng (made in Belgium), reinforced nylon, original and still hanging in there

Bell: Crane, Suzu mini copper (new, and wondering if I'll still like it after it patinates)

 

What year is this bike?
I'm not sure. I searched images, blogs, resale sites, and interest groups (foreign and domestic) and narrowed it to 1970-1971, based on catalog images from other years and educated guesses.

Please help if you can
If you know vintage Bottecchias well and can pinpoint the date of manufacture, please enlighten me (and others) in the comments below. Thank you so much.

 

How to Write More Creatively: Easy Brainstorming for Writers

Once upon a time, I struggled with creative writing

Years ago, I earned a degree in psychology. The coursework and research provided insights into my own and others’ thought processes. But those countless hours of studying and observing taught me very little about creativity.

 

Back then, when I wrote stories, I found it difficult to think of things that didn’t feel familiar or cliché. My struggles with creativity were so frustrating, I nearly gave up writing. 

 

Then came brainstorming

I eventually changed careers and attended design school, and my creativity flourished!

Why? Because I learned how to brainstorm, how to reach beyond the first ideas that popped into my head. From that point forward, I could generate many creative solutions to all sorts of problems. It was like I suddenly had a new brain, one capable of so much more.

This book can help you in a similar way

This short book, fewer than 40 pages, will show you the brainstorming process I have used most often and refined over the years. Clear examples and strategic exercises will lead you through it.

 

Learn the simple steps of this technique, and you could be writing more creatively today.

 

 Download a sample or purchase the eBook at Amazon.

 

 

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Marbles in Sunlight

 

A mix of giant handmade and machine-made marbles in a glass vase. Photo from above.

 

I keep these marbles in a glass vase and occasionally stare at them while choosing the best word in a poem or making other writing decisions. Dust collects, so I periodically wash and reset them. I took these photos the last time I did. The dramatic lighting in the pic below was more accident than plan. A lucky moment. Maybe a prompt for a future poem.

 

Marbles in a glass vase and the morning sun saying hello.

Poem: Different Lenses

 

Different Lenses as typed on a Smith Corona, Daisy-Wheel typewriter.
 

 

Find this poem and others in  I'm Not a Kung Fu Badass.

 

 

 

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My Review: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

 

 

I recently started streaming Young Sheldon, a good-hearted, hilarious show. This book had a starring role in the second episode. I remembered reading the book, but I had forgotten reviewing it. Here's my review--a bit dusty but still relevant, I think.

When two different friends in completely separate settings mentioned Dale Carnegie to me, I decided I needed to learn more about him. I discovered that many business majors are exposed to his writings in college or later in manager training.

I found the book interesting, and I really enjoyed the first few chapters. However, as I continued reading, I began to worry about the "How to" part of the book and the idea that some individuals might use it to learn persuasion techniques while discarding the richer message--that you get the most from relationships when you genuinely treat others the way you want to be treated and when you make sincere efforts to understand and appreciate others' viewpoints, motivations, and needs.

Overall, an interesting and thought-provoking read. If people walk away from the experience more self-aware and more considerate of others' feelings, great. Awesome! However, if people try to use it as a roadmap for successful sales and employee management without also absorbing the wider message, I think most of us will see through their insincere efforts--or I hope we will!

 

_______

Old slide from my braver days.

 

I wouldn't be so quick to crawl under a random semi without permission these days.

 

 .

1935 Royal "O" detail shot.

 

 Love this old machine.

 

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Olivetti Lettera 36 electric

 

 

 Thank you, Sarah, for taking this fun shot.

Thinking about this one again today...

 

A poem from my book, In Inks of All Colors. This one was inspired by my experiences at different corporations, where the sun shined so long as the numbers were up, and the ground crumbled the instant profits dipped.

My Favorites (Classic Books)

Three of my all-time favorites. These books continue to inspire me as a writer and as a person who hopes for a kinder, more empathetic world, one governed by high ideals.

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Midwestern Morning

It was so beautiful this morning that I had to pull over and enjoy it. Unfortunately, I only had my phone camera with me...

My Review: The Long Line Of Elk: Poems and Artifacts by Steve Saroff

 

Exceptional. Emotionally Embossing. Full of sincerity, impactful imagery, and powerful metaphors. The storytelling is so good that I feel like I went on a long journey with the author and learned all his secrets and regrets. I also came away with great respect for his compassion, painfully earned wisdom, and Thoreau-like connection with nature. Very moving and provocative. Exceptional book in many ways.

Published by Flooding Island (March 2022)

Here's link to Amazon if you want to read a sample or purchase it yourself.

Vintage Bicyle: Maruishi Road Ace RX-6

Wanting a restoration project for the upcoming cold season, I searched for months until I found this Japanese bicycle for $30. I think it's a 1987 model. It needs some work, for sure, but I think the Tange steel frame is in good shape and I'm hopeful I can get it back to a state where I can use and enjoy it regularly. It has 6 gears in the back, down-tube shifters, and 36 years behind it.

It has a couple things I've never encountered before: 1) a quick release with a thumb screw lock on the end, which actually works quite nicely, and 2) MKS pedals with a flip-aid detail on the bottom side. Maybe these features were more common than I realize? I dunno.

It's still cool to be square--Right? (Plastic Daisy-Wheel Typewriter)

 

 

Collectors often turn their noses up at machines like this one, but I love the chunky, computer-like keyboard and the little chirp warnings when you misspell words. I also love all that wondrous, injection-molded plastic. Why? Because it's cool to be square. 😎

My Review: Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

 

 

A close friend and mentor gave me this book when I was a teen, and I have thought about its passages many times over the years. It's a book of very few words (if you type them all out, they fit on a single page) but the wisdom and guidance in those words is quite powerful.

I have made important life decisions with the words from this book in my head.

Okay, enough of my experience with Desiderata. Read it. And if you're lucky, it'll have a powerful effect on you, too.

 Note: I've also seen updated versions of this book titled:  Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life

Desiderata, 1927, 1954

Five Stars.

My Review: Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

 

 

I searched and found this book after chancing upon the movie (which I enjoyed despite its reviews), and I like each for different reasons. The differences are substantial enough that you can read the book (even after seeing the movie) and enjoy the freshness of it. Great story. Solid writing. I recommend it.

Also noteworthy: in terms of supernatural love stories, this book seemed to be before its time. If you read it, you'll probably understand what I'm saying (I don't want to give anything away).

Blood and Chocolate, Delacorte Press, 1997

Four stars.

 

How to Write Dialogue: The Very Basics and More

 I am excited to announce my latest book...

 

Available here (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5BCGRPZ

 

This concise book, fewer than 60 pages, offers dialogue-writing lessons and examples for aspiring writers of all levels.

Whether you are a new writer eager to complete your first book or a more experienced author who needs a little help crafting varied, publication-worthy dialogue, this straight-to-the-point eBook has been written with you in mind.

How to Write Dialogue: The Very Basics and More begins with a careful examination of a dialogue sentence, including the precise placement of punctuation. From there, brief chapters address additional fundamentals, while gradually progressing to more advanced techniques.

Throughout, clear examples demonstrate how to craft solid dialogue, while concise explanations provide the insights writers need to improve their dialogue delivery and to keep readers riveted to their characters’ conversations.

In addition to teaching conventional dialogue, this book also demonstrates how to:

• show characters talking to themselves, aloud and silently
• show characters communicating using only gestures or facial expressions
• pair characters’ thoughts and emotional reactions with their dialogue sentences
• add silence and topic avoidance to conversations
• subtly “talk” to your readers while your characters talk among themselves

Finally, a list of tips is included to further sharpen every writer’s dialogue awareness and skills.

 

Example Chapter from My Latest Book...

 

Below is an example chapter from my latest book How to Write Dialogue: The Very Basics and More. Throughout, this book identifies practical techniques and provides clear examples to show readers each technique in action. My goal from the beginning was to create a concise teaching tool that would help aspiring writers craft solid, well-written dialogue as quickly as possible.

 

Characters Talking to Themselves Using Italics

Real people talk to themselves and so do characters. Sometimes a character will answer himself, sometimes he won’t. Sometimes a character will use her voice while discussing things with herself, sometimes only her mind.

When you depict a character talking aloud to himself/herself, you are, essentially, writing conventional dialogue, whether your character is alone in a room shouting (“I hate this apartment! I hate everything about it!”) or on a noisy subway muttering too quietly for others to hear (“I wish that creepy dude would stop staring at me…”).

In situations like these, if you place quotation marks around the spoken words and use an appropriate dialogue tag, your readers will understand what is happening.

Let’s look at some examples.

 

EXAMPLE (1)

     “I hate this apartment! I hate everything about it!” Jack shouted at the clogged sink.

 

EXAMPLE (2)

     “I wish that creepy dude would stop staring at me…,” Susan muttered to herself as the subway train clunked, hummed, and squealed its way through a turn.

 

 

If, on the other hand, your character begins a silent, one-sided conversation, you may want to use italics to prevent confusion.

 

EXAMPLE (3)

     “No, no, this club will do. I like the music they’re playing. Great choice.” And if we’re lucky, we won’t get stabbed on the dance floor.

 

In EXAMPLE (3), italics show where a character begins talking to herself, but only in her head, silently. Notice how three dialogue sentences of spoken words (conventional dialogue, using standard text and quotation marks) precede her silent words with herself, yet you can easily tell the two different types of communication apart.

In the next example, you will see the tag “she thought” following a silent, italicized apology. I’ll explain why afterward.

 

EXAMPLE (4)

     Sorry, my friend, she thought as she beckoned the glowing clouds nearer and prepared to float away.

 

Here, the character was directing her unspoken words at another person. But, because she never says those words aloud, they remain a thought she only shares with herself. Therefore, “she thought” is an appropriate dialogue tag, especially since “she said” would suggest words said aloud.

Because italics stand out, like an Elvis costume at a wake, it’s generally a good idea to limit how often you use them. This is true whether we’re talking about narration, conventional dialogue, or a character’s thoughts. Therefore, I recommend using italics a couple of times early in your story to teach your readers that you will occasionally use italics to highlight when characters are talking to themselves. After that, only use italics when you need to prevent confusion or need to draw attention to something special your characters are saying silently in their heads.

Take a look at these next examples where some thoughts are in italics and others are in standard text.

 

EXAMPLE (5)

     “You betcha,” I answered nervously.

     Marcie and her entourage of popular girls huddled closer and giggled in response.

     You betcha? Did I really just say that? Ugh.

 

 EXAMPLE (6)

     “Oh, it's you. I never imagined we'd—” My shoe snagged coming down the stairs and I nearly fell on top of him.

     What had gotten into me? Now I couldn’t even walk around him? Really? How embarrassing!

 

In both examples above, italics were applied selectively to emphasize each character’s utter embarrassment. You could use a similar strategy to spotlight a character’s surprise, confusion, anger, even a sudden realization (Oh no! The baby is home alone!). The key is to reserve the italics for the thoughts that are standing out from all the others inside a character’s mind.

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Celebrating today! Both are now available in print.

 

Here are the links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47DWL66

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6448L9M