Some random bike thoughts...

[Yankeebird]

...of no interest to anyone really. 

It's been a while since I've posted here. The Passion For The Bike has somewhat dropped more than I expected. I don't know why, but supersize pickup trucks are definitely part of the equation, coupled with complete apathy to diversify our transportation options in this city, state, country. Also, I've been missing my group of homies to ride around with. Everyone is serious. 

A few years ago one of my friends said he wanted to ride bikes more like me. And he wanted to be comfortable. And he wanted a real bike. He is an enormously talented handyeveryman and he specifically came to me about bikes because I think he knew what he was looking at in my garage. He doesn't have a lot of money and he was somewhat out of shape, and was definitely worried about saddles, so I told him to buy a Brooks B67 FIRST and then buy a steel bike. He found a bike at the dump, or it was going to the dump and he swooped in, I forget, and he built the thing back up with rando parts. I think it's an early REI mountain bike. It's a size too small for him, but we made it fit with a Nitto stem. He loves his Makita tools, so he painted it Makita blue and bought some decals. 

I'm pretty sure this bike changed his life. He is all in. He talks about bikes, thinks about bikes, looks for bikes, finds bikes, buys bikes, and he bought Grant's books, and maybe one day I'll divulge the address to The Archive but I'm worried about screen addiction. He rides routinely, joins a weekly community ride up a hill and back (and after a few weeks of minor heckling no one bothers him anymore). We ride closed forest roads, go on dumb no-point adventures, and scheme other fun bike things. I'm happy I could help someone get into analog steel comfy bikes. I've helped about 10 people or so over the years overhaul their bike situations so they could be comfortable, but helping him has been so satisfying. I'm responsible for corrupting his mind forever about practical bikes. Win.

[Yankeebird]

And every spring we do the Muddy Onion gravel *eye roll* ride in Montpelier VT. 

This year I did it on my Clem and a guy at the start asked "How far are you planning on riding *that thing*" and I said, "The 40 mile ride? Like last year" I was rubbed very wrong and it made me feel shitty. The route this year came right out of the gate into a multi-mile hill and near the crest some riders dismounted and I was directly behind and couldn't maneuver around, so I hopped off and went on foot to the top and he passed me and said, "this is why I asked how far you are going on *that bike*" and I looked at him and then attempted to justify my actions (first time on bike since last year, people got off, etc.) when I should have just kicked him over. I'm middle aged. I've been riding weirdo heavy bikes for 20+yrs, 5 of them on a 3 speed Surly CC... in NH. and I had to explain myself. Man that grinds my gears. 

Anyway we did the 40 miles no problemo and picked up a few stragglers that were left behind by their group and the more the merrier. The ringing of bells helped. My B67 tore me to pieces, I don't know why. I've never had a problem with it and now it's too wide...? Speaking of saddles I got the new Riv saddle for my wife and her Platypus and it's really good. So good I'm going to order one for me too. That good. But I'm seriously confused about my 67. Chafe city.

Sometimes there are other Rivs at this ride.

I guess I miss the energy when I was in my 20's and we would call around and put together a ragtag group and ride the northern Adirondacks looking for cheap Genny Cream Ale that we would buy with quarters, and find a dumb stupid hill to grind up, talk revolution and ride home in the balmy twilight of the North Country summer. Now I want to go for a ride and everyone has a computer, and their cassettes are effin LOUD in coast mode and the thing Are Very Serious and I'm just on my weirdo steel bike and it feels like a chore. I hate that. I don't know how to fix it. I don't even want to get groceries on my bike anymore because it's all Very Big PickUp Trucks and poor infrastructure and crappy driving and I'm like, "why risk big time injury for this" and I feel like I'm betraying myself and the planet.

I did buy a 61cm Ram (coveted purchase, I wanted one ever since I saw the catalogue with it) and between the Ram and the Clem my Cheviot hasn't moved in 2 years. I feel bad. I could go up a size on the Ram. Maybe I'll start looking. Super bike. Almost exactly dimensioned like my old Surly CC but with slighly longer stays and slightly less sweep in the fork. Identical wheelbase length. Fascinating. 

[Pam Bikes]

Beautiful bikes!  I get that type of talk all the time.  Whatever.  Doesn't bother me.  I enjoy riding my bike way too much for anyone to tarnish my ride.  Talk about a heavy bike.  I usually ride fully loaded all the time.  I like to be prepared and sometimes bring stuff home.  Definite win for your friend on the steel bike.  Keep riding and having fun.  Ignore the haters.  I think they're just jealous.

[DavidP]

Echoing Pam on the appreciation of the bikes and the Muddy Onion report. Makes me want to come up to Montpelier next April with my Platypus!

-Dave