Ernie's '70s Rickert

Ernie grew up racing road bikes in sunny southern California in the 1960s. This part of the country was a particular hotspot for cycling at that time and continues with that tradition today. In the early '60s he met Ted Ernst, a former professional racer turned coach, and now U.S. Bicycling Hall of Famer.

(Ted Ernst #14)

Ted started racing when he was 16 years old and was the American Professional Track champion in 1959. In 1960 he founded the South Bay Wheelmen, of which Ernie was a member. Ernie told us racing for the Wheelmen and being coached by Ted Ernst was like a family. Their daily lives were deeply entertwined with training and racing.

Ernie was a successful racer winning some and, of course, losing some. Ernie says, "Ted taught use three basic things. Hard work, Honesty and Team work. I have tired to keep those rules though out my life and they apply to daily life.".

(Ernie in the mid 60s)

Ernie's scrapbook is full of cycling memories...

So, fast forward to the present. Ernie is still a vintage bike fanatic, now living in Plainfield, VT and Ted still has Ted's Manhattan Cycles and the Southbay Wheelman in Manhattan Beach, CA. Recently, Ernie brought in this '70s Rickert that Ted had found for him. A classic, handbuilt German frameset. Ernie wanted it built up as close to original as possible. We had some Campagnolo Nuovo Record parts on hand that fit the era perfectly.