A1 Bicycles to Present
Sven and Dirk Sprogoe both bought their first road bikes at A1 Bicycles. Little did they know that those 2 purchases would lead to owning the shop one day. What began as riding back and forth to friends houses developed into a passion for bicycle racing, and ultimately the dream to one day own and run our their store. After decades in the industry and constant focus on their dream, they were able to make that a reality in 2015. They purchased the shop from Raymond Florman Jr, who is enjoying the transition to retirement, although he can often be seen here at the shop showing them how things are done. His knowledge and experience have been a major factor in preserving the rich history of the shop and setting it up for a promising future.
A1 Bicycles existed under Ray Florman and his family for nearly 60 years. Ray was first and foremost, a bike racer, but you’d also be correct if you referred to him as a frame builder, a coach, a mentor, a mechanic, an importer, and a business owner. His racing skills were equally matched with his ability to excel at all of these other endeavors. His mechanical skills quickly translated to his opening the Normandy Cycle Company in 1953. His success quickly then led him to expand to multiple locations throughout the St. Louis area. Running the business quickly became the priority, but Ray never forgot where his roots were planted, in bicycle racing. He was able to spot talent from a mile away, and found a young protégé in John Howard, one of the early pioneers of American bicycle racing, and an Olympian.
When Ray spotted talent, it seemed he would do everything in his power to provide for that rider to have the best equipment, would compete in the best races, and would be the absolute best rider that they could be. When it came down to it, Raymond would put his money where his mouth was. John remembers, “It was his check book that got me to the world championships in Bruno, Czechoslovakia when the Amateur Bicycle League of America had no money to send me. Ray’s bet paid off. Riding his fast wheels I was the first and only US rider to finish the hardest mountainous road race I had ever ridden. The year was 1969.”
“Back in Missouri, with Ray’s continued support I won the state road and pursuit championship on the Penrose Park track every year I contested them beginning in 1967. With Ray in my corner I took my first national road championship in the Agoura mountains (featured in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California) in `68. From my home in Springfield, I made the trip north to St Louis on old Route 66 (now I-44) to race bicycles nearly every week.
St Louis was the hot bed of Midwest racing in the 1960’s and 70’s. The proud motto of the St Louis Cycling Club, America’s oldest continuing bike club, started in 1887 proudly proclaimed “Headquarters in the saddle.” With that creed entrenched, I piled on the miles in the Ozark mountains and with Ray’s tutelage I progressed. Ray’s support didn’t stop with coaching and financial assistance; he campaigned hard with the coaches at the Mexico City Olympics to get me, the novice, on the 100 K team time trial.”
Looking simply at the results of Ray’s protégé’s would be missing how good Ray was himself, Ray himself had been a Missouri State champion in 1936 and `37 on a single cog with an inch pitch chain. Derailleurs were yet to be. He narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic team in the road race in 1948 after finishing sixth and fourth in two 135 mile road races, over hilly terrain. Don’t let me forget to tell you that Ray accomplished this and a lot more with only one hand. He may well have been one of the first disabled athletes to successfully compete with able-bodied athletes, at least in cycling. In those days there were no races for “handicapped” athletes, and if one happened to be born with a birth defect that robbed him of a hand and he wanted to compete, he would damn well do so against elite cyclists.
Ray was up to the challenge, and rigged his bike with a tandem lever to activate both brakes at once and somehow he managed. If you think racing bikes against the best riders of the day is easy with one hand, try it sometime. We can only wonder how he might have fared on a level playing field. According to cycling historian and mutual friend Ed Ruesing, whom Ray coached to two state junior championships and two podium finishes at the nationals
Fast forward to the late 80’s/early 90’s and Ray spotted another future champion in Kevin Livingston. Ray sponsored Kevin as part of The Spirits of St. Louis Cycling Team that he was the shop sponsor of. Kevin Livingston would later serve as Lance Armstrong’s lieutenant on the US Postal team and later in the same position with Jan Ullrich, Armstrong’s chief rival, on Team Telecom. The chain had another link.
John remembers, “The last time I saw Ray was at the top of the podium with a gold medal around his neck at the masters nationals in Tallahassee in ‘98. It was a complete and welcome surprise reunion for both of us. I was there on a whim to re-launch a cycling comeback and unbeknownst to me Ray was there to do the same thing! He was 81 and after 60 years of assisting us all, he had returned to his sport to race one more time. In March of 2001, with spring approaching, eager to ride his bike again, Ray Florman departed this world from complications of colon cancer. He will be remembered for the ebullience of his spirit and steadfast willingness to lend a hand to any young rider who mirrored his own powerful work ethic.”
From 1974 until 2015, A1 Bicycles operated in Kirkwood under the Florman family. A1 Bicycles will always be remembered for Ray Florman and his dedication to the local cycling community.
-Special thanks to John Howard for providing so much insight and memories of Ray.