Passed and Passed Fast

[cycl...@yahoo.com]

The advent of Lance Armstrong caused a HUGE upsurge in interest in riding bicycles in the US. As is showing now Lance was no more guilty of cheating than every other top pro. And it's also showing that ALL sports are guilty of the same thing. Though several university studies have suggested that the professional bicyclists are tuned to such a fine edge that performance enhancing drugs actually have the opposite effect. Tour riders may believe in PED's and hence use them but they have little or even bad effects. Which sort of makes sense. Remember that originally they used alcohol to increase performance and now we know absolutely for certain that it damages performance.

In any case, because of this uptick in the numbers of cyclists, many of them are young and play-racers. If they aren't riding in very fast packs they are "training" by riding over the local hills and passing me like I'm standing still. Since they're usually more than 40 years younger than me it doesn't bother me.

But I've been noticing that they've all been riding solid black bikes.

I don't know how many of you know that I had a fall and concussion that knocked me out for two whole years. Finally my friend and brother got me to the proper doctor who prescribed the proper medication at the proper dosage and I'm me again. Though some may think that less than desirable.

So since I can't remember what's been going on I've been looking around to discover what these really fast bikes are. High end Italian? French? Even Japanese?

No - it turns out that they're Trek and Cannondale! Before I was knocked out these were considered plain. But now they look to me to be as good as the best in the world!

Any comments?

[davethedave]

Black's a great colour. :)
--
davethedave

[AMuzi]

Welcome back, Tom, nice to have you aboard once more.

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

[cycl...@yahoo.com]

On Friday, August 9, 2013 7:54:29 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
>
> Welcome back, Tom, nice to have you aboard once more.

Trouble is that while I was out of it I sold or gave away almost my entire bicycle collection. And all of my wardrobe and most of my tools! And now on Social Security I have to VERY slowly make it up. But it's nice to know that those cheaper bikes are every bit as good as the extremely high end stuff I used to have. Though the cost of components now is preposterous!

[Duane]

You can get a nice bike from Specialized (Tarmac or Roubaix) for less
than you'd think. The different ranges are basically the same frame
with more expensive components. If you can get along with a Shimano 105
you can get a nice bike for under $2000 that may be similar to the high
end stuff that you used to have. If it's not, you can move up by models
from the Elite to the Pro or a Venge.

[datakoll]

CF is the way....

http://www.kestrelbicycles.com/road

thou shall not want....

[Dan]

"I see a red door and I want it painted black."

I wish I had a scan of the pic of my flattrack bike in 1980.
AC/DC had just released "Back in Black", and I painted the
frame gloss black, the engine flat black, and the tank and
fender the most amazing "Star Black" (Yamaha paint for their
650 and 750 Special road bikes) - multiple coats sanded
between and finished with a clear that had gold tint in it.

My favorite color is blue, though.

[T0m $herman]

On 8/9/2013 9:30 AM, cycl...@yahoo.com wrote:

> Remember that originally they used alcohol to increase performance and now we know absolutely for certain that it damages performance.

And smoked cigarettes to "open the lungs".

--
T0m $herm@n

[Andy K]

For a funeral.

:-)