I had an unexpected medical procedure done on monday, but, I was riding bikes by the end of the week :) I was so happy. My lady snapped this picture and showed me afterwards :love:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ps7ff2e178.jpg

Nice pic Kev! Funny what a ride will do for the mind and soul.

I hit the trails solo, took this selfie shortly after going over the bars.

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...psathle7bs.jpg

Thanks Matt. It was nice running into you and Ty as well. The weather turned pretty sour after we parted ways, heavier rain and headwind for most of the ride home.

I went for a pretty good bike ride yesterday despite the crappy weather. I tagged along with the local shop ride for a couple hours before peeling off and bumping into Northbend and his friend. The LBS has moved into a much bigger space up the street from their old shop. It's great to see that business is thriving for them.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...0224_364-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...091213_356.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...112019_151.jpg

Ty was riding a really slick Schwinn Voyageur that he bought new in 80? The crome and polished stuff looks great with the red accents.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...5951_880-1.jpg

The Bruce Gordon looks awesome, even in crummy weather(excuse the poor photos, rain was on everything, including the lens)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...114459_706.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...0024_154-1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...3851_245-1.jpg

I stopped in town for a bite and beer. I probably should have eaten lighter before the long climb to home

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...140140_987.jpg

Where? Raceway Woods Carpentersville Il . The racing machine? Trek 560 . How did I do? Failed to complete under my own power. Blown engine. :)

I thought after losing 30 lbs I might make it up the "up hill climb". I should have known better. I hope to conquer it by the end of the year. My biggest cog is 24 t. Parts of the Original track are still there but there is a smooth paved trail all the way around for the most part. You can see the old guard rails as well. There are a lot of off road trails for cross and mountain bikes. Up hill, down hill. Test your legs. Fun place to visit. 2 minutes from my house. Looks way better late spring through the end of fall of course. http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc9e9cfbb.jpghttp://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...psfa579717.jpghttp://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...psec4a7c3b.jpghttp://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb62dfaf7.jpghttp://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5fca4f0b.jpghttp://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps97b776f4.jpghttp://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps90d0e441.jpghttp://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps02263bbf.jpghttp://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0fec0600.jpg

Today was my first ride of the year with real spring weather. 55 degrees and sunny! I took the De Rosa out because of my lack of french threaded pedals for two of my bikes. It'll be ok, I have a set of atom pedals on the way.

Riding the De Rosa was a treat! Fits me perfect, all the bugs are worked out, has my egg beaters, dual pivot brakes, light tubular campy record wheelset, perfect gear range for me: 53/39 -13-26 campy 8 speed. I bet I average about 2-3 mph faster on this bike than my more retro rides.

So I got out and logged in 60 miles mostly in RI but a little in CT.
Scituate-Foster-Killingly (CT) -Sterling (CT)-Coventry-Scituate-Cranston

Moosup Valley
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/...psdc3a6ac6.jpg

Hopkins Mills
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/...psaa767140.jpg
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/...psf5114316.jpg
All that I'm saying is give peace a chance.

I grew up In Crystal Lake during the 60's and used to drive by it on the way to may grandma's house in Elgin. After the track closed, I remember the forrest swallowing it up as each year passed. Need to get out there and visit some time.

The pics from all are so nice, especially those Northwest pics.

I was able to get a road ride in after a morning MTB ride, a rare double session.

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...pskxxgqtwo.jpg


Post rides

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8jxy2o2k.jpg

You may want to sniff around Columbus circle.

Was your BICYCLE STOLEN

Holy poop!

It may be bogus, however I have heard this story a couple times. I ride down 57th st early mornings and tons of bikes locked up overnight, I figured food delivery workers, maybe worth checking out.

I rode 35 miles which felt like 70. in headwinds, crosswinds, tailwinds and temps in the 90s. No pics. My first ride on the new (to me) Romin evo expert. I'll reserve judgement until after a few more rides.

That listing is clear evidence of the death of grammar in America.

Bravo!

Nice. does that bike have to be recharged :)?

Got out in the hills for the first time yesterday after getting the Klein back from the LBS. Was nice to escape the wind and smell the pine trees.

Rode with a guy I met here in town a few months back - those 29" wheels sure seemed to roll nicely over things in our way

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0361.jpg

There's always the risk of horseback riders on the weekend - which means careful riding for both us and the horses.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0362.jpg

Snow on the south slopes is starting to disappear:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0364.jpg

Nice and muddy:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0365.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0367.jpg

I haven't ridden in 3 weeks since my trail mishap, and injuring myself. Everything healed except my left wrist, which still has a pain in odd angles and holding weight.
But I was impatient because I was itching to try out my latest acquisition. I picked up a '91 Haro Impulse Comp mtb for cheap, that I wanted to use instead of the Giant Smurf in the trails. Maybe that'll stop me from crashing! ;)

It was all finished Sunday morning, and I decided to take a chance for its initial outing on the TRW Trail, the least difficult of the off roading in my neighborhood.
The ride was quite different from the Giant that I have gotten accustomed to in the dirt. The Haro has a stiff, twitchy quick front fork, and planted and biting rear end. Traction and acceleration was better than the trailing and sliding Giant's. But the Giant's fork and handling was more forgiving and dampened the shock better. Which allows me to ride at a faster pace confidently on this trail.

The stiffness of the front end re-injured my wrist, plus creaked my neck when I rode over some large rocks poorly. (note to self: release front brake!)
Reducing the tire pressure only helped a little. This frameset is really stiff.


https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3798/...db9f911b_b.jpg
TRW Trail-Impulse First Ride-002 par WNG555, sur Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/...c3fa22dc_c.jpg
TRW Trail-Impulse First Ride-019 par WNG555, sur Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/...c6d2dfd1_b.jpg
TRW Trail-Impulse First Ride-020 par WNG555, sur Flickr

These reminded me of the movie "Critters".
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3782/...557dcf71_b.jpg
TRW Trail-Impulse First Ride-025 par WNG555, sur Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/...f375503a_b.jpg
TRW Trail-Impulse First Ride-029 par WNG555, sur Flickr

Looking towards Scottsdale, ~20 miles away.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/...da43a14f_b.jpg
TRW Trail-Impulse First Ride-032 par WNG555, sur Flickr

Stopped on the way home to capture the bloom.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/...0335164d_b.jpg
TRW Trail-Impulse First Ride-034 par WNG555, sur Flickr

It looks like the nice weather is ending for me, while it's riding weather for the rest of you. It's going to hit 95+F on Wednesday! :( I'll need to leave at dawn soon.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/...3fc3638f_b.jpg
TRW Trail-Impulse First Ride-038 par WNG555, sur Flickr

Nice pics, everyone.

No pics for me today. Just experiences to convey. I rode another commute, the 3rd to my new job, round trip about 29 miles, 800ft of climbing each way. I took the Motobecane today, my first on it and my first on sew-ups. The ride was great and the bike was terrific, very comfortable at speed. Maybe it the tires or the rims or the frame, or something, but it felt very fast. Maybe it's just the slightly lower gears. :o

I had another first experience today too, changing a sew-up on the side of the road. Less than 30 miles on it and the rear goes bang, well sort of bang. Bummer. :( I was cranking at the bottom of a hill at nearly 30mph. The cut it picked up would likely have punctured a Gatorskin too. Now I have to decide whether to bother fixing it. But I won't be riding the Motobecane again until I have a spare. Double bummer. Something tells me St. Tullio is behind this.

It's ok Jim, it happens to the best of us. Although some will tell you on the totally tubular thread that flats only happen to people who ride rallys and yellow jersey tires...

I have a couple of nicer sew ups waiting to be shipped to tire alert. The idea of a $60 flat is tough to swallow. At least for a pleb like me.

Ouch! A $60 flat?! I guess tubulars are to road bikers as sheer nylons are to fashionistas. ;)

It's even more frustrating when it happens on a tire's maiden voyage and just a few miles from home. On the other hand, it isn't as painful as you falling onto one of those cacti. Do be careful!

I must say, that bike fairly flew all by itself today. It felt like a light puppy, all energy and curiosity and impulse. I wonder how much is the wheels and tires. It tempts me to consider building a set of sew-up wheels for the Masi.

The where...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...gone%20(5).JPG

The why...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...gone%20(2).JPG

From the weekend, but did my D&R Canal route again. 42 miles.

Just a quick 5 mile shakedown ride on the Motobecane GT around the hood to get my park pass. Lake St. Clair in the background.

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/bqetyofovok...2013.11.34.jpg

I still have a nagging softspot for the elegance of old Moto's. Very nice, as was the weather yesterday. Go Tigers!

@OldsCOOL thanks! Yes elegant they are, but for the top tube plastic automotive style badge! The Vitus frame rides very nicely and the old Huret Duopar is smooth as well.

D&R Part II






https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8483/8...6a8f1480_z.jpg




https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8343/8...2fb0e32c_z.jpg




https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8068/8...c0c5ee76_n.jpg