So much for this year's flu shots

     We've had unseasonably warm weather here in "da mitten."  I have missed it all by catching a stupid cold virus.  I am protected from all the exotic stuff floating around killing us old folks the past ten years, I got a flu shot.  Unfortunately it still doesn't protect from the commonest of colds.  I spent a 60 degree weekend in December curled up in front of Netflix and squinting at POI reruns between jello shots of Nyquil.  WOOHOO!  I did stumble out to wrench a bit on the herd.

Everything needed a little tweek here and there.

The Hunq needed new leather for the handlebars.   I had removed the Dia-Compe knobs when I found I couldn't  get replacement covers.  The new cloth harlequin wrap looked really cool, for a few weeks, but got dirty, didn't feel as nice as the leather and I was always finding myself reaching for the knobs.  So, I ponied up the dough for a new set and leather to go with it.

      I'm a happier rider, the knobs create a remarkably comfortable place to rest and make the Bosco Bars the most versatile I have used.  Unfortunately, Dia-Compe seems to not make the knobs anymore and there are very few scattered over the interweb. I'll just have to improvise new covers when the time comes.

I got new Silver shifters for the Trek,

      They don't look much different than the old Suntour but have a solid precise feel to them when shifting gears, and some mysterious rachet mechanism which holds the lever in position without affecting the shift movement itself.  If that doesn't make sense, it's because I don't understand it.  They are just damn good and work with modern derailers which are made with gorilla strength springs meant for index shifting.

I swapped out the tires on Byron

 So, at least one of the the bikes will be ready in case El Nino blows out and the snow finally arrives.

 It was the first time in, like forever, that I had ridden all 4 of my bikes in the same day.

Having this selection of bikes available made me feel really smart for a day.Nothing needed done to the Hillborne.  I just rode it.

The remarkable aspect of this bike is it's unlimited appeal.   It's almost as fast as my road bike, but infinitely more comfortable, stable and consequently more fun.  I bought it 3 1/2 years ago and have been N+0 since.   It begs to be ridden longer distances more often but is perfectly at home running a short errand.   I have to search for an excuse to ride the TREK these days and it's more likely I'll find something more demanding to make me choose the Hunq.  Between coughing up my lungs and blowing snot rockets onto my sleeve, I made it all the way out to the over priced yogurt shop to get a bowl of expensive fruit with yogurt topping.  So the ice cream shop is always a fun and viable destination.  It reminds me of the second charity ride I went to on the bike.  An "experienced" and well geared spandex hamster asked "Why would somebody want a bike like that?"  I said, " I can take this comfortably on a ride like this, go to the grocery store, or over the Himalayas. What can you do with that?"  I pointed at his crabon crotch rocket, he rode off (with impressive speed of course) shaking his head.