This is a shameless attempt to save the the most advanced civilization in
history from imminent self destruction by eliminating carbon emission,
dependence on foreign sources of fuel,obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Cycling accomplishes all those things at once and helps us develop a better
understanding of ourselves, each other and our relationship to the cosmos.

Oh, horse puckey!
I like to ride bikes, have been doing it all my life.
The rest of that crap is just a fringe benefit,
and the blogosphere gives me a chance to share my interior
monologue with virtual rather than imaginary friends.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Faux Spring

      Here in Michigan we have found our first teaser of springtime.  Mid sixties in mid March is a real treat and a chance to get the real bikes out for a little shake down.   I had the Buena Vista out today, I added a small basket on the rear to see if I like it better than a plain Pletscher rack.  So far, so good.


It's holding my wind jacket and the new saddle/handlebar/sling bag that I have been using.  Everything is great on this ride, I'll be upgrading the wheels and tires on this guy later in the month.  With it's racy geometry and light frame, it's a gas for getting around town.  If the Covid mitigation keeps working, it'll be the fair weather commuter of choice if I get to go back to work.  

       In other "shake down" news, I said to hell with tubeless tires for the last time.  After 3 months of hanging in the garage the tubeless setup on my Hillborne failed to stay sealed.  So the idea of the maintenance (that people had warned about) was all it took for me to back to tubes.  Seriously, the ride was luxurious but the real advantage people talk about is the elimination of pinch (snakebite) flats.  That's happened to me once in 50 years.  I'll leave it to the MTB racer crowd.  It's just plain simpler to use Flat Attack tubes with sealant, I've had 3 bona fide flats in 5 years with them.  

 

      The experiment was not a failure, I really like the Gravel King tires.  They may become a staple.  They seem a little stronger and faster than the Paselas I have loved for road tires, and ride just as well.  I liked the lighter tan sidewalls of the Paselas but the darker brown must be hot on the runways of the bike shows these days.

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