Spreading the Gospel by Bicycle...

[annp]

Yesterday I went riding with a very nice group of people South Of Atlanta, between rainstorms.

Since I ride a steel hand made bicycle built up with eclectic parts (mostly Italian, imagine that) and people riding that unfashionable but reliable material tend to gravitate together, I ended up riding with the only other person on a steel bike.

So I'm riding along with this nice gentleman from Peachtree City and we are getting close to our store stop in Senoia. Now this is a great stop because it is a cafe and they have 2 Astoria machines and lots of anti *$ stickers and such.

However, they don't make very good coffee, or at least they haven't when I've been there before. I had a latte there 2 weeks ago and it was weak and had hard dish soap foam. Needless to say, I've pretty much given up on drinking coffee outside of my house and I go to cafes and drink tea or whatever. I like the atmosphere!

I was mentioning this as we rode up. We stopped talking bike stuff and started talking espresso machines and coffee. I'm a huge geek for bike stuff and just as much as a geek for espresso so I turned my new friend onto prosumer level equipment and coffee. Since he is a bike geek he was able to appreciate the art and science of espresso.

Needless to say we both had fruit smoothies at the stop, which were quite delicious.

So I wonder, do I get referral bonuses if I send more customers to Chris?

Ann

[HB]

Thanks for sharing your story Ann, I enjoyed reading it. As for referral bonuses from Chris' Coffee, you'll have to ask the boss, Chris Nachtrieb. He's a smart businessman and I bet he'll work something out.

On a related note, you've provided me yet another idea for giving away swag. So far in this site's short history we've had:

• Product test giveaways (Urnex Grindz grinder cleaner, Gold Pro 2 steam tips from 1st-line)
• Sink Shots writing contest (winner received Intelligentsia Black Cat demitasse)
• Celebrated 100th member + first time poster (received La Marzocco demitasses from espressoparts.com, Toscano from Counter Culture Coffee)
• Celebrated 200th member + first time poster (each received 1-1/2 pounds Daterra Reserve from Ecco Caffe)

And of course the Big Kahuna, SwagFest 2005 (too many to repeat. I'll allow the sponsors time to cool their checkbooks. Sound good?

PS: I'm having too much fun. There must be a law against it.

[cremacafe]

Hey Ann, what type of bike do you ride?? I owned a bicycle messenger company for 6 years and live on bicycles. I am also a big steel advocate as I've owned a few Independent Fabrication frames and currently ride a mid 90's steel Colnago Masterlight.

[annp]

<g> bad question to ask!

I'm up to 2 storage rooms at my condo, a rental storage room around the corner and the bike room at home - as my sweetie rides too.

Since I've been riding since 1979 and still have high end bikes I purchased back in 1982 AND I'm working at a cool bike shop while I'm in school, well - ok, I really don't know what bike I ride 'cause, well I have a few.

I think I have the number down and then I go to the storage room and find one I've forgotten and it's like, 'hey! I remember you....'

My boyfriend has a rule at home that if I've not ridden it in the last month, I have to put it into one storage room or another. With the exception of a heavily modified, extremely historically interesting, 1950 Schwinn Twin tandem, which is taunting him.

You can find my most thoroughly completed restoration here...

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Montelatici.htm

Scroll down the page and look for the bike belonging to "Ann Phillips"

Anyway, that day I was riding a custom Waterford built out with 9 speed Chorus/Dura Ace mix, my usual ride.

I don't ride this much anymore preferring some full suspension bike from outer space, but my first decent custom ATB came from FAT CITY. I still have it and it is much loved. Its great for smooth singletrack, my tendonitis cannot take much more, hence the full suspension long travel beastie for all the baby-heads and stuff around here.

If I can get as knowledgeable about espresso as I am about bikes, both modern and vintage, y'all are in serious trouble <g>.

You must have some stories from being involved in messenger stuff - hooo boy!

Ann
who needs to spend a day photographing all her bikes