Styrofoam side down

When it's time for a new helmet, might as well take the old one out with a bang, which is pretty much what this one sounded like when I took a dive on Coronado today. No drama, just need a new helmet.

I s'pose I should slow down, but I'm just not ready yet...

Towers prep

Now that Peter has successfully revived the Saturday excursion over the Saddle for breakfast, I'm running the Pinkarello with the knobby tires on dirt rides every week. Today was the curse of the clearance hog -- this bike rides beautifully unless the tires or rims get the slightest bit out of true...the tires I'm using are vintage 32mm knobbies that just don't run straight, and they rub if I sneeze at them...

Gonna have to put different calipers on to clear a little better, and now I think it needs a more secure rear skewer because I keep pulling the wheel over, rubbing the left stay. Won't do to have that going on Tuesday morning when we do the Towers. It's hard enough carrying all the appropriate libations (including the fake cell phone filled with rum..."Hey Nev, phone's for you") -- without scraping paint off the frame with the tire...

Just another Fenderman issue-filled bike...

No matter, really; it's more about getting to the top and back down in time for breakfast at Chet's. Plenty good folks, good food, and Chet doesn't skimp on the coffee.

And before that, the Sunday ride...hmmm...Fixed? Single speed? Bianchi? Colnago? Cuevas? Guerciotti? Holdsworth? Peugeot? Pinkarello? Serotta? Zeus?

Dead tired

All y'all just quit it with those skinny-ass tires!! Git ya some real tires with some air in 'em!

Seriously, those dopey 23mm tires may make you feel all Lance-y, but get real, people: 28mm is the bare minimum width for a decent bicycle tire for any normal use, and that includes all uses short of racing on smooth roads or track. 28mm gives up NOTHING in performance under any other circumstance, and the advantages in ride quality would make up for it anyway.

And for Lance' sake -- get you a fender bike too! No time like the wet season to get motivated -- the joy of riding dry in the rain while everyone else wimps out in front of the tv is too good to miss...just hope you got the frame clearance...

Safe chains

So I'm trolling the obscure bike parts pics and see the Sogreni 'chainguard' again...glad to know we are keeping our chains safe in this dangerous world. Certainly no other reason for chainguards -- OK, fashion excepted/accepted -- the actual ability to keep from greasing/shredding your pants leg is effectively nil, whatever system you install.

Ride with caution -- the chain you guard may be your own...

flatted calf

No pain, no pain...2 days of hiking left me with whimpering calves today, so new record slow ride around the loop...didn't help much -- calves still whimpering...

Bloody cold on the loop -- vultures soaking up the sun on the power lines, wings outstretched...dead coyote on the road (probably didn't freeze to death, but still)...Ice patch at the bottom of the descent, right where I expected it.

Another flat for Fenderwoman, Queen of Punctures. Swapped out in close to record time; woulda froze otherwise...

Next Saturday for sure, the Pinkarello over the mountain with Peter and Nevio, dodging the dogs/horses/runners and wild-eyed downhillers. Maybe I'll talk Sully into meeting us along the way (if he's scored that room full of bike stuff he was talkin' about) -- a man of many parts for sure...