Tom Palermo was killed by a drunk and texting hit-and-run driver in Baltimore last Christmas. In early September, the driver pleaded guilty to automobile manslaughter and other charges.
Tom worked and met his wife at REI in College Park. He started his framebuilding work at Proteus, and they still have some Palermo-built frames hanging on the walls.
This September, Proteus is auctioning an original Proteus build that was the personal bike of Proteus founding owner Larry Dean. The bike was donated by Larry’s brother John, who was also on Roland Ave. that day and witnessed the aftermath of the crash.
The bike is a custom steel frame built at Proteus with 50th anniversary Campagnolo components. Proceeds will go to the educational trust fund that was set up for Tom Palermo’s children.
Donations can also be sent to the trust fund care of Molloy Investment Group, One South St., 30th Floor, Baltimore, Md. 21202 or via the fund’s donation page.
More information can be found here.
The bike is on display at Proteus this month, and you are welcome to drop by and check out the fit.
Auction started on September 9th and ends on October 4th.
Sweet looking lugwork that you can see in the linked photos. That's one of the aspects of a handbuilt frame that make it into a rolling work of art. Everyone needs to have one in their stable, and here's your chance.
Posted by: Crickey7 | September 24, 2015 at 11:00 AM
What a beautiful bike this is, and the current bid price is less than you'd pay for a custom hand-built bike.
I had my hand-built done by 611 in Roanoke and it's a thing of beauty that glides along like nothing else I've ridden. Sometimes I just sit and marvel at the brazing.
Posted by: DE | September 25, 2015 at 09:06 AM
Paul, the iconic mechanic at Bicyclespace, was one of the craftsmen with Proteus, and i believe brazed this particular frame
Posted by: darren | September 25, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Paul is the one with the gray beard and the ... interesting personality? Good to know. He was quite complementary about my new bike (which they had asked me to bring by) and told me (jokingly?) to throw my old aluminum Felt in a bonfire.
Posted by: DE | September 25, 2015 at 01:23 PM
and Paul rebuilt my 1971 Schwinn Racer into the perfect commuting bike it has been since reborn in 2001. I know this post is about remembering Tom Polermo - but I think Tom would approve of this celebration of Paul.
Posted by: ken | September 25, 2015 at 03:02 PM