The Alan came today. I have it built up the way it'll be. Rode it around the block once or twice, while I was fine tuning her. Thankfully, I didn't hear any creaking, which is something I feared. It's neat that aluminum can really feel like steel.
Tomorrow, I will do the first real ride upon her. I'm going to do my figure 8 loop, to stay close to home. Just in case.
Yes, I'll post photos sooner or later....
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Best ever?
Bernard Hinault. Best ever? Sure, there's allways Merckx to consider, but Bernard had something about him, a form of aggression. He once broke away in an early stage of the Tour de France and created panic in the peloton. They started to chase fevoriously. But, when they caught up to him, he was standing on the side of the road laughing at them. He was just getting into their minds!!!!! Speaking of the Tour, BH could climb, time trial and sprint, including winning on the Champs d' Elysse while in the yellow jersey!!!
Lance, for one, wouldn't have contested a sprint in the final stage of a race he already won. BH just had an aggression.
BH won a Leige-Bastogne-Leige in a blizzard. I think only 28 riders even finished the race. Oh, he was wearing shorts and no jacket either. He got cold and attacked to warm himself, he would later say. He won by something like a half hour.
Today, he works for the Tour, handing out podium prizes and shaking hands. At least twice now, he's thrown spectators off the stage!
Yes, the Badger, was a well deserved nickname.
Bernard, I bow to you.
Lance, for one, wouldn't have contested a sprint in the final stage of a race he already won. BH just had an aggression.
BH won a Leige-Bastogne-Leige in a blizzard. I think only 28 riders even finished the race. Oh, he was wearing shorts and no jacket either. He got cold and attacked to warm himself, he would later say. He won by something like a half hour.
Today, he works for the Tour, handing out podium prizes and shaking hands. At least twice now, he's thrown spectators off the stage!
Yes, the Badger, was a well deserved nickname.
Bernard, I bow to you.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A Small Victory
Rain. Rain and more rain. I can't remember the last time I was able to get a ride in, in the morning, while the guys are in school. Seems like it's always raining. Then, it'll rain when I need to commute into work. Needless to say, I haven't rode much lately. I did ride in to work last night and it felt great.
Well, today, rain wasn't supposed to come in until late afternoon. At least, that was the forecast yesterday. I planned on a ride. So, while getting ready, I checked the radar....just in case. DAMN!!! Rain on the way and almost here. I changed my planned route to a figure 8, which would never take me too far from home, just in case. This is a good route, with several longish hills. Due to not riding much lately 'cause of rain and before that, illness, I was weak. Very weak. I really can't wait until I have the Alan (it has shipped) and have it the way I want it. Higher presure and narrower tires, coupled with some gearing will help out a lot, since, it's all hills around here. Yes, I can grunt up the climbs in the fixed gear, but, at the same time, SOME gearing would be nice. That and the retro grouch in me had me go for the Alan. 52x42 up front and I'm not sure what the 5 speed in the back will have. But, it'll be at least a range. Also, I will admit, I do miss high speeds. The large ring will get me those.
But, I digress.
My ride had me go thru a few spots of drizzle. I got home, put the bike up against the wall in my garage and at that moment, heard the skys open up with heavy rain on the roof. I went out back and raised a fist at the sky.
At least for today, I defeated the rain.
Well, today, rain wasn't supposed to come in until late afternoon. At least, that was the forecast yesterday. I planned on a ride. So, while getting ready, I checked the radar....just in case. DAMN!!! Rain on the way and almost here. I changed my planned route to a figure 8, which would never take me too far from home, just in case. This is a good route, with several longish hills. Due to not riding much lately 'cause of rain and before that, illness, I was weak. Very weak. I really can't wait until I have the Alan (it has shipped) and have it the way I want it. Higher presure and narrower tires, coupled with some gearing will help out a lot, since, it's all hills around here. Yes, I can grunt up the climbs in the fixed gear, but, at the same time, SOME gearing would be nice. That and the retro grouch in me had me go for the Alan. 52x42 up front and I'm not sure what the 5 speed in the back will have. But, it'll be at least a range. Also, I will admit, I do miss high speeds. The large ring will get me those.
But, I digress.
My ride had me go thru a few spots of drizzle. I got home, put the bike up against the wall in my garage and at that moment, heard the skys open up with heavy rain on the roof. I went out back and raised a fist at the sky.
At least for today, I defeated the rain.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
JOHAN!!!
After disposing of his rivals two climbs ago, Johan Museeuw assaulted the Wall of Grammont like it was just a minor hill, on his way to another victory of his in the Tour of Flanders. Many say this breakaway is one of the two best in the history of the race, the other was by...someone named Merckx.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Alan
I really wish I was computer savy enought to be able to edit the original photo, so it would all show here. But, here is what shows up, of the actual bike I bought.
...and the head tube junction.
Cool, huh?
I'm putting a Brooks B-17 Narrow in black and Tektro Campy Aero knockoff brake levers on. The levers, because I don't like the feel of vintage levers, and loathe having the brake cables shoot straight up in the air. The 'new' cable routing will give the bike a nice, sleek look. For bar tape, I'm going with Deda black 'carbon look.' If you're saying "WTF?" don't worry. This tape looks nothing like carbon. It is somewhat vinyl covered foam, with a pressed in pattern on it. I like this tape a lot. If you ever saw my old Colnago (sold due to the bad mojo angst associated with the bike), it's the tap I had on that.
...and the head tube junction.
Cool, huh?
I'm putting a Brooks B-17 Narrow in black and Tektro Campy Aero knockoff brake levers on. The levers, because I don't like the feel of vintage levers, and loathe having the brake cables shoot straight up in the air. The 'new' cable routing will give the bike a nice, sleek look. For bar tape, I'm going with Deda black 'carbon look.' If you're saying "WTF?" don't worry. This tape looks nothing like carbon. It is somewhat vinyl covered foam, with a pressed in pattern on it. I like this tape a lot. If you ever saw my old Colnago (sold due to the bad mojo angst associated with the bike), it's the tap I had on that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
