A treasure trove of vintage cycling gear is set to unveil its secrets!
When Euro-Asia Imports (EAI) shut its doors last summer, a single buyer acquired what may very well be the largest collection of vintage road and track cycling equipment ever to hit the market. So, what exactly was included in this extraordinary haul?
On a bright mid-August afternoon, Vince Hanoski stepped into an unassuming warehouse located along the main thoroughfare in La Crescenta, California. The owner of the iconic Ben's Cycle bike shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—now in its third generation—was there to collect a batch of bicycle parts he had purchased sight unseen from a business going out of operation.
However, this was not your typical inventory clearance. The parts in question belonged to Euro-Asia Imports, a wholesale distributor that had built a legendary reputation over the decades for its remarkable stock of unique and vintage bicycle components. As someone deeply experienced in acquiring large inventories, Hanoski was no stranger to EAI, having done business with them for many years.
"I had even visited before," Hanoski recounted, recalling a time when the saddle brand Brooks was consolidating its distributors. "We bought probably $250,000 worth of Brooks saddles—essentially a semi-truck full of products." Although that deal was substantial, it was limited to one brand; this new acquisition far exceeded that in scope and scale.
Inside the EAI warehouse, order reigned despite the overwhelming volume of items. Stacks of components, frames, and accessories filled the space, and Hanoski’s small team of four had the daunting task of packing everything up quickly—the trucking company was en route. They anticipated encountering many parts, including desirable vintage items like Campagnolo's Nuovo Record, alongside some less coveted but still historical pieces.
EAI was pivotal in the fixed-gear bicycle surge that took off in the 2000s, integrating elements of bike messenger culture with Japanese Keirin racing gear. As a result, the warehouse housed exotic track frames, MKS pedals, and an array of related accessories. Additionally, EAI maintained an impressive inventory of assorted small parts for road, track, and touring bicycles, along with stacks of rims ranging from classic Ambrosio models to vibrant deep-section varieties favored by fixie enthusiasts. "We knew a lot about what we were obtaining, yet we were completely astonished by the unexpected treasures we found," commented Alex Zacher, the general manager at Ben’s Cycle. "And then there was just the sheer volume of it all."
In the frantic whirlwind of boxing everything up, there wasn't much opportunity to thoroughly inspect the goods, but one early discovery was particularly exciting. "The Delta brakes caught us off guard," Hanoski said modestly.
These were the celebrated C-Record Delta brakes from Campagnolo, known for their distinctive triangular shape. Although Bicycling magazine famously dubbed them the "worst brake ever made" due to their performance issues, collectors cherish their unique design. Used Delta brakes can often be found on resale platforms like eBay, but new old stock (NOS) complete sets in their original packaging are incredibly rare, commanding prices of $1,000 or more. This find unmistakably affirmed the storied reputation of EAI’s inventory.
Among wholesale distributors, Euro-Asia carved a niche that belied its size; while it didn't operate on the same scale as major players like BTI and J&B or Minneapolis-based Quality Bicycle Products, employing hundreds and serving nearly every bike shop in the U.S., EAI held a unique allure. Zacher reflected on his experience in various bike shops, noting how he would often leaf through distributors' catalogs during slow periods, and EAI's offerings always stood out. "They just had items no one else carried," he shared.
Kyle Kelley, co-owner of Allez LA in Los Angeles and a veteran of the cycling industry through multiple shops, noted the impact of Euro-Asia during the track bike boom. "Many younger cyclists didn’t even realize the treasure trove EAI had until they fell in love with biking and discovered its rich heritage," he explained. "Then, a decade later, they’d realize, ‘Oh my gosh, they still have [Cinelli] Unicantor saddles! They possess complete Campy tool sets!’”
What do you think? Is there more to discover about the legacy of Euro-Asia Imports and its unique contributions to cycling culture? Let’s discuss!
