Digital Gee

My "new" Trek is in the shop getting modified. My Cypress had something wrong with the brakes that I couldn't figure out (as has been mentioned, I'm not mechanical) and the back tire wouldn't rotate freely. I know the LBS can fix that in a nanosecond.

So I was "forced" to ride my Trek MTB with the knobbie tires today. Wow, what a bunch of flashbacks that was! I can't believe I rode that thing 800 miles before even getting slicks, including a metric century!

I felt so slow, and noticed that the tires made quite a different sound on the road. Plus it felt like I was spinning more to go the same speed.

After a while, it was just pure fun again, just as it always was, way back in '05 when I first got bitten by this bug. And now I remember why I have so many bikes. Cheap bikes, yes. But I like 'em!

Knee didn't complain, either. Woohoo!

CrossChain

Rehab worked !!! Not to mention all the advice that was shoveled on top of your difficulties. Ahhhh...back in the groove, what a feeling!

jppe

Where'd you find the retro bike shoes in your avatar?

Digital Gee

That's actually a funny story (at least to me). I was driving back from the first doctor, an orthopedic surgeon, who told me I'd probably need surgery and at least an MRI (out of my pocket), and feeling sorry for myself.

I was driving past a Shoe Pavilion, and said to myself, "Self! You're feeling sorry for yourself. You need a pair of genuine, accept nothing less, 100% Converse All Star low top shoes to help you feel better."

So I went in, spent 30 minutes debating color (almost go the green, then the red, before finding these), and bought the shoes. I love 'em. Even bough (gasp!) those tiny socks that don't even cover my ankles. First time for those.

Anyway, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Big Paulie

You made a decision

A) By yourself

and

B) In thirty minutes???

scottogo

Shoe enough

Louis

When I was a kid in the 50's, I got a new pair of Converse All Stars at the end of May, each year. They had to last all summer which was tough, growing up in the country, as I did. By September they were usually trashed by horse manure, mud, brambles etc. Mine were always black canvas with white rubber. I don't remember any other colors available in sneakers, or as we called them, "tennis shoes".

Beverly

Next time remember the women's solution to this situation. Just buy a pair in each color

dbg

Yup,
Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars (black) was a staple of my youth (ute). I was just telling my kids about them yesterday. They suggested I needed them for dodging dinosaurs.

CrossChain

My mom hesitated to buy me white "hightops" because they showed dirt and grass stains more than the black. When I convinced her that the cool kids had white, my happiness was complete. Then, the mark of being a cool and advanced pre-adolescent changed to white lowtops. Mom made we wear out the white hightops first. I mistreated them as best I could.

Digital Gee

All this shoe talk has me nearly convinced to go back and get a second pair!

Beverly

I never owned a pair of Converse - you couldn't attach your roller skates to them

I did have a pair of white tennis shoes for gym class but don't remember the brand. The big thing for girls was Spaulding black & white saddles. Loved those things.

jppe

Chuck was too wide for my long, narrow feet. Now PF Flyers fit just great!!!!

stapfam

All these names of trainers and I have to admit that I am not fashion conscious. I look in the shop and if I like the look of them- I try them on. 15 years ago I bought my first trainers and I was Ostracised by my daughters. They were " Hitec" and I presume that are as big a NO_NAME over there as they are here. Then I bought a pair of Converse and they were not as comfortable as The Hitec. Being a Mountain biker- I went to a Bike shop and they had Van's trainers. Got a pair and my daughters did not know the name so trouble again- till the boyfroends asked where I got the Vans as they are not available in the UK. Then followed a couple of pairs of Reebock black leather trainers that I love.

I still have 4 pairs of trainers in the garage but for some reason- the pair that have disappeared are the Hitec's. Girl power in my household made them get lost within 6 months of buying them.

Big Paulie

I had strict parents who made me wear hard leather shoes to school. It was a drag...but I could clamp skates to them, so that was my revenge!!!

stapfam

What was the original question?

Edit- Not a question so it shows how much I read the OP.

DG you are confusing me- Now about those Downtube shifters?

Big Paulie

That was the first line of a ribald, 19th century French novel by Madamoselle Beauchamps. The title escapes me at the moment...