Today's ride was the Old Goats Ride in Chico California. I was the roadie for 42 years for a band called The Sons of Champlin, who had a performance scheduled in that city, so I caught a ride up with the band.
My host was Steve O'Bryan, only the second owner of a Pullins Cyclery, now a hundred years at that location. With the Sons' road manager doing my advance work, the shop had set up a ride for me to use as a publicity event for my book, ahem,
Fat Tire Flyer.
Since mountain bike legend and my longtime friend Jeff Lindsay lives in Chico, and since his brand name was Mountain Goat, I suggested calling it the Old Goats Ride, and that showed up on the Internet ten minutes later.
The collection of vintage iron was impressive and will take several posts to display. Included was Jeff's first Mountain Goat built in 1980, as well as several more of his early bikes. A strange Ritchey featured a Moots-type suspension. Sevaral Salsas, a Breezer, old Kona, ProCruiser with biplane Ritchey fork, a beautiful Fisher tandem,there were a few Ibises, and even some antique Schwinn iron.
I was loaned a flawless Teasdale-built Fisher Comp for the ride, and of course I wore my jersey from the Repack Clothing Company.
About 60 people turned out in perfect weather, a little cool for the seas, which is a good thing in Chico. Since the demographics of both people and bikes precluded hours of suffering, we rode up some gentle grades amid stunning views in the foothills, then coasted back to the shop for a catered lunch, more beer than could be consumed, and a couple of hours of me basking in celebrity and signing books.
In 1976 The Sons of Champlin performed with Fleetwood Mac on the athletic field at the local university, one of the more memorable gigs of my long service. Several of the people on the ride had also been at that concert and mentioned it to me!