This one's for the DCC, Ken Cox, auk, isotopesope, cynikal, bostontrevor, gilby, hereNT, fixedfiend, turd, the SF collective and everyone who sent a kind note, word and support. Thank you.

It's been a month (yesterday was a month exactly) since I really rode a bike. Since my face and head and brain hit metal grating. My neurosurgeon cleared me and gave me a clean bill of health and a face free of stitches about two weeks ago. I asked him if a helmet would have helped (since that's been debated, as it always does) and he said no. I had a haemorhage and bruising on the brain just above my right eyebrow - an area not usually covered by a helmet. With the way the bridge is, with empty spaces everywhere, the part that does stick out would have just slept into an opening thus still bringing my face flush with the bridge. But that's beside the point. I no longer will never go without a helmet again. While I find it disturbing that this accident and peculiar circumstance mattered no less with or with a helmet, it's better safe than sorry. I have a nice helmet anyway. Now I just wear it all the time.

The only jaunts I've had were around the block on the bike I built for the Girl just recently.

The Pista, which never suited me, never felt right, never was named (a bad sign to me) will be sold. It rests against a wall, a bike fit for someone else.

In the last month, between recuperating and seeings doctors and being very fortunate for the people who all sent a kind word or note my way, I've been building a new ride. I named the frame as soon as I picker her up, "Sophia", she told me.

My birthday was recently and some friends got together collectively and funded a joint birthday present - a dream wheelset.

With all things bike covered for, I went to the one man I trust to build up bikes than any other. Marcus at Yojimbo's. We talked. We discussed and debated the merits of different wheelset combinations. At first it was Paul's. And then I settled on some silver Phil Woods. Can't go wrong there. Marcus almost scored me some Campy Atlanta rims which would have been a stellar feat - but his supplier was wrong. No worries, I decided on the rims I did want, deep v's. As some of you know, I've been pimping the pink Phil Woods for a while - I fell in love with them when I first saw them two months ago. Since the all silver combination was moot, I said, what the hell - let's go pink.

I couldn't sleep last night. I've been dreaming about riding for the last month. Every other night involved a bike. A freedom I didn't quite have. This morning I woke up early despite my body's resistance. I called up Marcus to see if indeed, things were ready. They were.

I arrived at just around 9am and had all my parts with me. The frame and the wheels were there. I built until noon. And she is a joy. She is a freedom.

A huge thanks to Marcus for working with me, quickly, respectfully and with kindness. Salut!






Specs:

Frame: Soma Rush 53cm
BB: Shimano 105
Headset: Cane Creek S2, black
Cranks: Sugino 75 48T
Stem: Cinelli Alter
Bars: Profile Airwing
Seatpost: Miche Supertype 27.2
Saddle: Selle Italia SLR
Wheels: Phil Wood, fixed/fixed laced to Velocity Deep V's.
Cog/lockring: EAI 18T, Phil Wood
Brake: Shimano 105
Tires: Gatorskins 25c