Repack to Rwanda

[velotel]

I remember seeing someone post about the mountain bike expo at the San Francisco airport. As I recall people said it was superb. Just opened up a package Joe Breeze sent me, a book, an outrageously beautiful book. Repack to Rwanda. Basically it's that San Francisco airport expo in book form. Actually I'm making an assumption there since I've not seen the expo but from Joe's note, that's what it is. Wonderful book. I suspect it would be well appreciated by a lot of people on this forum since there's a good bit of appreciation for the technical and hand-built here. I have no idea where you could find a copy but if you like photos of bikes and especially photos of mountain bikes (with some text about each), finding a copy could be well worth your while. Cool book. I know all the info was solidly verified by Joe himself because while he was here he spent a lot of time on his computer and on the net working on that project.

[pdmtong]

Had not heard of the book but I can say the exhibit was outstanding beyond words. To see all those bikes, and the clear evolutionary lines was amazing.

[Doug Fattic]

How does the title "Repack to Rwanda" fit into the history of the development of the mountain bike? I thought a bike project in Rwanda was something Tom Ritchey started a few years.

[mike p]

+1 Ritchey's been quite involved in Africa for years. Didn't know Breeze was. Or is he? What's Rwanda have to do with a mountain bike expo at the SF airport? Help out the uninformed.

Thanks
Mike

How does the title "Repack to Rwanda" fit into the history of the development of the mountain bike? I thought a bike project in Rwanda was something Tom Ritchey started a few years.

[velotel]

How does the title "Repack to Rwanda" fit into the history of the development of the mountain bike? I thought a bike project in Rwanda was something Tom Ritchey started a few years.
That's what it's about, Ritchey's coffee bike. He visited there, liked the place and the people, helped them start a bike racing program, some sort of bike festival, and designed and set up production of the coffee bikes to transport the coffee cherries to market. Thus it is one more example of the tremendous global reach of mountain biking. At least that's my interpretation of why Rwanda in the title. Obviously has nothing to do with the development of the mountain bike, just it's evolution in the frame work of society.

[Stan Lee]

+1 Ritchey's been quite involved in Africa for years. Didn't know Breeze was. Or is he? What's Rwanda have to do with a mountain bike expo at the SF airport? Help out the uninformed.

The name of the exhibit is basically stating that what was happening on Repack in the late 70's has now extended all the way to Rewanda (with TR's work). Here is more info, it's a great exhibit and it's only up for a couple more weeks I think.

http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/sfo_museum/exhibitions/international_terminal_exhibitions/north_wall.html

I was fortunate enough to have a bike in the show and go to the opening reception which was a very memorable event. Joe did some restoration on the bike and Ronlau, a forum member here, helped with some parts :beer:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt136/mjanike/Bikes/Koski/05_zps4136b126.jpg

Highlights for me! If anyone has one let me know :rolleyes:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt136/mjanike/SFO%20Exhibit/P1030705.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt136/mjanike/SFO%20Exhibit/P1030710.jpg

Backstage

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt136/mjanike/Bikes/Koski/MJanike_DL2.jpg

[Stan Lee]

Thus it is one more example of the tremendous global reach of mountain biking. At least that's my interpretation of why Rwanda in the title. Obviously has nothing to do with the development of the mountain bike, just it's evolution in the frame work of society.

Nicely put!

[velotel]

Nicely put!
Thanks so much for posting those pics. I was hoping someone would add to this post like that. Must be an impressive show. Had to have been a tremendous amount of work to put it together.

[Stan Lee]

Thanks so much for posting those pics. Had to have been a tremendous amount of work to put it together.

My pleasure! I agree that it must have taken a lot of work and Joe had a HUGE part in making the show happen, he's such a good guy! It's neat to see everything he's done for the cycling community around there.

Since you know Joe you'll get a kick out of this, the day after the show a bunch of us went for a ride which ended up including a great descent down repack and on our way back into town we saw Joe so he came in for a pint. Otis Guy was also there and he happened to bring his series I which had just been restored so Joe decided to through a leg over it.

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt136/mjanike/SFO%20Exhibit/P1030737.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt136/mjanike/SFO%20Exhibit/P1030745.jpg

[mike p]

Stan and Velo, thanks for the info and pic's. Now I get it! Love the pic of Tom R. and kids on bike!

Thanks again
Mike