Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
My phone rings, an English speaking but heavily accented Italian is on the phone.
Who the heck could this be ? I am in the Australian Cycling Team workshop in an old industrial building near Varese in Northern Italy towards the end of a 3 month team mechanic stint, preparing equipment for the 2009 World Championships.
“Dazza, when are you coming to visit?”
I ask who is this ?
“It is Dario”
Dario who? Heck, out of the blue an Italian is ringing me, the first thing that I am thinking, have I forgotten to collect something, perhaps one of team vans at the garage or ????
“Pegoretti, when are you coming to visit……………..? ”
Then, finally all starts to become clear in my dim cranium. After 5mins of phone chat I promise to visit Dario Pegoretti after the World Championships are done and dusted and my work with the Aussie U23 team is completed.
Cadel wins the big one, Jack wins the U23 time trail, we Aussies were pretty happy. Mary Ann and I have a couple of weeks holiday after and in our travels we book into a hotel in Dario’s workshop town of Caldanozza.
After breakfast Dario comes, he takes us to his workshop in the morning. Dario askes me about my new lug project I am thinking of completing when I get home. It is 10.30am and a bottle of fine wine comes out! I am working on an OS tube lug set, Dario wants one for XL tubes (double over size) like my previous 2004 Crescendo lug set but he wanted it with a level top tube. The wine lubricates me (no doubt, his intention) we discuss and I am now working on two lug projects. Mary Ann recognised the moment and she got up from the table to capture it, hence why there are three glasses on the table.
Then it was lunch and then dinner …………………………………. and much laughter and many stories. So began the Cadenzia lug and Columbus XCr for Lugs tube collaboration with Dario and myself. I am extremely flattered and honoured to have been invited and encouraged into such a collaboration by such a highly recognised frame maker. This is beyond my visions could have ever comprehended as a 16 yo lad when I started on the frame making journeymany years before. When one was a bit worn down by work, circumstances, Dario always had an encouraging message via the phone or email.
construction and painting reputation, however I gained a little insight of how much he assisted many people outside and inside the bike industry. He gave a lot of assistance for many who were having a rough journey in life. There was a lot more to Dario than just his marvellous bikes. He was kind, caring and thoughtful.
I am extremely fortunate to have had a wee bit of time with Dario and Mary Ann and I will always have fond memories of our time. I will always remember his grin.
We have lost a good man. We have a lost a friend. We will miss you but we will always have good stories to recount about you with our friends. I am sure this is how Dario would want it to be like now that he has gone.
Dario, we are better for having known you, we are better for having you giving us your time, attention and encouragement.
Dario, may your files always be sharp, may your weld puddle be perfect and your braze flow sweetly and the vino and formaggio be always close by. R.I.P
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
such a cool story and a worthy tribute, dazza; i remember you writing about it at the time, already so many years ago. i visited him the same year, sat at the same table. i brought my then-girlfriend from india, who had no interest in bikes at the time, but still talks fondly of meeting him and enjoys discussing his frames, although she is not a cyclist. among other fascinating conversation, dario made a convincing argument that italian and indian people and cultures shared fundamental similarities that were more closely aligned than even european counties to italy. i will also not forget how humble he was. i was planning to go to verona, but hadn't yet been able. he leaves an irreplaceable hole, as he was an unusual person living in a specific time and a particular place, but certainly glad there are people like you to carry the torch forward.
Matt captures the story
"The customer is making a connection with the builder."
Lugged Colossus
Bikes of the Bunch: Llewellyn Custom Bicycles lugged Colossus | CyclingTips
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
wow... those lugs:o incredible project, dazza. congrats!
Read here if you have a glass of red in the hand
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
Handmade Bicycle Show Australia
26th -28th April Melbourne
Gallery style. Bikes on plinths, the builder to meet and chew the fat over with a fine beer or wine in the hand along with good food.
There is a complete absence of tacky show booth ware fare along with log cabin and mud dioramas nonsense.
Last years gig was the best bike show I have ever attended. This year is bigger, some parts people are there however they are neatly and pleasantly corralled into their own section on the cobbles. Nathan and Michael know how to run a good gig. See you there. Some of happy snaps of bikes on the LLeweLLyn stand.
"Discus Colossus" (New 2019 model)
Stainless lugs
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
just because , colour and the morning light here.
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
MAM and I got home last night from 5,000 kms of driving.
Go to "read more here"
The Handmade Bicycle Show Australia was marvelous.
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
Last edited by Dazza; 05-09-2019 at 02:18 AM. Reason: Low flying UFO
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
Before the doors opened to let the punters in I was having a look around as we had finished setting up, then Andy found me.
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
Darrell,
Is punters a derogatory word? The other side of the rock is curious.
Mike
Mike Noble
rw saunders
hey, how lucky can one man get.
Since 2004, lugged handle bar stems from one pair of hands.
Design and form by LLEWELLYN
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
Stainless steel investment cast dropouts. One pair of hands. No harm was done to corporation share holders with the polishing. Chrome free zone with the Design and form by LLEWELLYN
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
You can take a fork crown as it is cast. It will work fine. However one can put a little bit extra into the shorelines, to give those changing radius curves that are pleasing to the eye. Design and form by LLEWELLYN. All by one pair of hands.
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
Whirrrrr, file file file, whizzzzzzz, file file, whirrrrr, sand sand.
Lugs are beautiful things and they work so well.
Cheers Dazza
The rock star is dying. And it's a small tragedy. Rock stars have blogs now. I have no use for that kind of rock star.
Nick Cave
www.llewellynbikes.com
The usual Facebook page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llewellyncustombicycles/
Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
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