Well, this week, a friend dropped off a fully restored Schwinn Paramount bike for me to play with. At first, I just wanted to buy the Shimano 105 groupo off the bike to use on my trusty Fuji, but David talked me into riding the 12 year old hand-built-Waterford-tubing bike before I made up my mind.

So far, with a little over 40 miles on the Schwinn, I must admit that I like the ride! The steel frame does ride a little nicer than the aluminum, doesn't seem quite as harsh. And, I love the 105 groupo!!

Why am I feeling guilty? I really love the old Fuji Roubaix. That bike has hauled my considerable personage around with never a complaint or breakdown. It has taught me a lot about road biking, been patient as I learned to shift, put up with excessive approach angles of the chain as I learned what I could (and couldn't) do, steered me out of harms way, and if I could somehow muster up a little extra strength to meet some challenge, the Roubaix was always ready for that extra level of performance. I don't feel that I ever really allowed that bike to exhibit it's full potential, even though I was! Must be something wrong with the darned air conditioning in here....causing my eyes to tear up a little...

It is just a collection of aluminum tubing and components assembled with care by some Japanese craftsman (it's a 1990 model, the last year the Fujis were built in Japan.) I wonder if he/she has any idea of how much I have benefited from their labors?

So, this morning before I left the house, I couldn't bear to leave the Roubaix out on the front porch, so I rolled her into a place of honor in the front room. (The wife has to think I have finally plummeted into insanity! Bicycles in the living room, indeed!) I will have to make peace in my ever growing stable of velocipedes when I return home tonight. In typical fashion, the Roubaix will probably handle the change better than I.

Life, and cycling, goes on.....