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Famous Dr Spencer with anonymous client - a bike racer we think. We hope add a shot of Jeff sipping ginger juice on a new Pocket Rocket Pro! UPDATE Jan 19, 2005: Jeff Spencer sent this comment on his new Bike Friday. All that remains is for him to twist Lance's arm and get him on a Friday!
I just got back from my inaugural weekend trip with my new Pocket Rocket. What a bike! Just luggage check the bike, put it together and ride away. Sooooo easy. In contrast to my Air Friday the PR was a lot easier to put together and repack because of the collapsible seat tube and rear section that use a quick release with fewer detachable parts. Other features I was impressed by were the absolutely silent drivetrain, comprehensive tool kit, room for a complete set of riding gear in the suitcase, protective frame tubing system, chain securing system when the bike is packed, absolute accuracy of position duplication of my 27" wheel road bike, frame paint quality, full transfer of power from my foot into the pedals and precise shifting capacity of the Dura Ace groupo. Literally, I can't think of a detail that hasn't been addressed. My question is it possible to build a better bike? If you do put me at the front of the line to get one. Thanks and I'm looking forward to my next trip. Jeff
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GOOGLE THE WORDS "Jeff Spencer Chiropractor" and you'll get a landslide of hits saying 'Lance Armstrong', 'US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team' and other big names in the cycling arena.
Scroll down slightly and note that Dr Spencer is not your average, well-respected whitecoat. The former pro cyclist came 11th in the sprint at the 1972 Munich Olympics, graduated with the highest honors in his field, is a California State Cycling Champion, a published author ... even a former glass blower and artist.
Now go to his website www.jeffspencer.com and be further dazzled by his roll call of fit'n'famous clients in the wide world of elite sports - golfing, cycling, motorcycling, NBA basketball ...
What you won't see, however, is a little secret that will enthral all but the most blasé of the Friday fold: Dr Spencer rides a Bike Friday!
Aye, Lance Armstrong's personal chiropractor has quietly packed his Air Friday and ridden with his famous clients for over 9 years. That makes him one of the original keepers of the Kool-Aid, and recently, he decided to upgrade his Friday to a faster, fleeter Pocket Rocket Pro, because "it's time".
"I always wanted to have a bicycle with me, for training, for maintaining my fitness when on the road, for riding with clients, whenever. The Bike Friday lets you do that - 'cos it goes in the suitcase!" he said by cellphone enroute to another Googleable client.
But would someone like Jeff need a Friday? Don't sponsors in the bike industry fall over themselves to loan cycling stars and their entourages free bikes to ride at special events?
"I couldn't always wait around for that, and besides, it's got to fit. The great thing about Bike Friday is that you are not made to fit the bike. The bike is made to fit you. There. Tell 'em that. No matter where I was, I could whip my Bike Friday out of its suitcase, whack it together and go!"
Jeff is always on the 'go'. He's fueled by his favorite health tonic - ginger juice.
"I have a place that makes it just the way I like it - with so much ginger that it basically blows my helmet off. And a bit of carrot."
Googling ginger tells us that it "stimulates circulation, warms inner body, lungs, stomach, spleen,heart, kidney ..." just what you need to get you on the bike on a cold winter morning!
So Jeff, we can't contain ourselves any longer - what do Lance and the other Pros have to say about your Bike Friday?
"Oh, some have ridden it, some have just squeezed the brakes, picked it up. They always ask me - so, did you bring your Friday? They understand totally why I own one."
Switching into clinical mode, I asked Dr Spencer if there was any truth in the rumor that recumbent bicycles are better for your back and posture.
"Let me put it this way. Cycling in comfort requires a fit body and a bicycle that fits - no matter what style. A Bike Friday fits, you can take it with you and thus maintain a fit body, and thus ride in comfort. It's a delicious, vicious circle."
Walter Lapchynski is charged with helping Jeff switch from his old faithful Air Friday, still looking great in the BF Pre-owned bikes inventory, to a Pocket Rocket Pro.
"It will be made of our lightest frame, Dura-Ace components and the Capreo 9-tooth cassette and hub," says Walter. "He'll probably be able to keep up with Lance."
What color will it be?
"Something that will draw people from miles away to my Friday," said Jeff, ordering his ginger juice with "... so much ginger that I can't stand it, OK?"
"How about ....Electric Magenta?" said Walter, using a bit of poetic licence to describe the newest Bike Friday color, Candy Raspberry.
There was the briefest of pauses.
"HOOK ME UP!!!!!!!"
Jeff's 9-year-old Air Friday, the bike that went everywhere he did, now up for grabs in the pre-owned inventory - if it's still there when you read this, it'll be here - but probably not for long!
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For more information, follow this link http://www.bikefriday.com/famous.