zoste

Okay - before anyone starts, I readily acknowledge that:

1) My son is riding my old x-mart Schwinn; and
2) He's not wearing a helmet.

That being said, I did manage to get out on a bike path with my 18 year old son. It was a short, 10 mile out and back, but he hadn't ridden a bicycle in nearly five years.

As a little background, last fall I had a fire in my apartment:



All of my stuff that was salvageable was cleaned and packed into storage, including the old x-mart Schwinn, which I had been practicing surgery on (replaced the bottom bracket, all the cables, new brakes, cleaned lubed and adjusted the derailleurs). When I decided to move from the Philadelphia suburbs to Tucson, I called the storage company and had them put all of my goods into a PODs shipping container. I had pretty much completely forgotten about the old beast, but when I opened up the shipping container there it was; and because it made the move with us, my son decided to ride with me:

Here's Jac as we arrived at the Rillito River trail not far from our home:




The Rillito only qualifies as a river because for a few months during the rainy season there is a trickle of water...if you look hard you can see it beyond the railing behind Jac:




But for most of the year in this part of Tucson, the Rillito is a dry wash:




After a rainy winter though, even the desert blooms:




All in all, it was great to get out and enjoy an afternoon with my son. I only wish that his brothers and sister were along, but we left them back in Philly.

Oh, yeah...I almost forgot...this one is for Mr. Beanz:




and my son's reaction to the Beanz shot:

jyossarian

Ah he don't need a helmet. Most of us managed to survive w/o one. Good pics and good times!

zoste

Agreed...I just wanted to head off any criticism...

BTW - At 6'4" 240, my son qualifies as a clyde, too

Mr. Beanz

Beanz shot!.......Looks like a great kid and a happy smile/laugh too!

I've seen that trail as my folks lived out there for nearly 7 years. They moved back to CA but now my daughter moved out to Chandler so I may get a chance to head out that way again!

Gina got a kick out of the Beanz shot too!

zoste

Beanz, if you and Gina ever get to Tucson, let me know. You can humble me on Mount Lemmon

BTW, I'm hoping that once my fiancee moves out here she'll (finally) get a new bike and join me on some road rides.

Here's m'lady, taken about 18 months ago on the Schuylkill River Trail outside of Philadelphia:




This was the same ride at a rest stop in Valley Forge:


She just loves that pink beach cruiser.


Both of us, literally on the SRT:




BTW, man...my grandfather was born in West Covina...but I doubt you'd remember; it was in 1889

Mr. Beanz

Hahaha! Back in 1889, there might have only been one guy born in West Covina, so I think I just might remember him!

Nah man! I like to ride hard sometimes but most my riding is "WITH" other riders. It can be a little more fun riding with somebody rather than trying to bring tears to their eyes all the time!

If ya take a look at my videos, you'lll see I'm not a very serious rider!

rumrunn6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37mF2zI7snw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d36P5X34f8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INJEyVjg7nI


he gets a one-time pass. next ride, he wears a helmet :-)