Jamaica, the Bianchi and my ride...
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Jamaica, the Bianchi and my ride...
Last year, with a week to go, my tire liners failed! They, literally, brittled up and fell apart, the ragged ends slicing my inner tubes badly. Lucky for me, this happened in the last week of my Jamaica stay. One super flat tire in five months - not bad in the land of maka (thorn bush)...

The Bianchi, a 1982 or 83 Touring model, was a mess, thanks to salt air, dust and lizard poop. Had to loosen up the oxidized chain but, other than that, the bike was in fine working order - just dirty as heck...

I am not at all concerned with the cosmetics of the bike, but a can of cheap paint will help touch up those areas that are oxidizing...

The cantilevered brakes work just great and that is important on the long descents from South Field to Treasure Beach (12 miles of twisty down, criss-crossing the face of the Santa Cruze mountains)...

And the Exage aero brake levers are one of the most comfortable that I have come across, so far...

The Suntour transmission works just great also, but I have yet to use the "Granny" ring...

I built the Bianchi as a serious rider, sparing little expense, if any, on those things that really impact ride quality. Wheels are one of the things that I pay a lot of attention to. Campy Record hubs laced to Ambrosia rims with stainless butted spokes. Not pretty, anymore, but done about 3000 kilometers and no need to true anything up yet...

Unfortunately, this cuts, dramatically, into my bicycle riding time...

The Bianchi, a 1982 or 83 Touring model, was a mess, thanks to salt air, dust and lizard poop. Had to loosen up the oxidized chain but, other than that, the bike was in fine working order - just dirty as heck...

I am not at all concerned with the cosmetics of the bike, but a can of cheap paint will help touch up those areas that are oxidizing...

The cantilevered brakes work just great and that is important on the long descents from South Field to Treasure Beach (12 miles of twisty down, criss-crossing the face of the Santa Cruze mountains)...

And the Exage aero brake levers are one of the most comfortable that I have come across, so far...

The Suntour transmission works just great also, but I have yet to use the "Granny" ring...

I built the Bianchi as a serious rider, sparing little expense, if any, on those things that really impact ride quality. Wheels are one of the things that I pay a lot of attention to. Campy Record hubs laced to Ambrosia rims with stainless butted spokes. Not pretty, anymore, but done about 3000 kilometers and no need to true anything up yet...

Unfortunately, this cuts, dramatically, into my bicycle riding time...

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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
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Jealous, would love to be riding around Jamaica. Negril is one of my favorites.
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"My biggest fear is that when I die my wife will sell my bicycles for what I told her they cost."
Get on your bikes and ride!
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"My biggest fear is that when I die my wife will sell my bicycles for what I told her they cost."
Get on your bikes and ride!
https://instagram.com/norseamerican/
#4
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The muffler coloring... It came like that, right?
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
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Today's ride started here...

Ending twenty, or so, kilometers later, at Jack Spratt's, sipping a cold beer:-)

Ending twenty, or so, kilometers later, at Jack Spratt's, sipping a cold beer:-)
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#6
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So Randy, did you mean the bike or the lady cuts dramatically into your bike riding time? Be careful, both are dangerous at our age.
Have a great winter.

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#8
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So Randy, did you mean the bike or the lady cuts dramatically into your bike riding time? Be careful, both are dangerous at our age.
Have a great winter.


That POS Movements motorcycle, that I bought and keep in Jamaica, was cheap and is fun to ride. So much fun, that I am thinking of buying this when I get back to Canada next Spring. The Bonnie is in mint condition, almost zero miles since restoration and built by a fellow even fussier than I am. If I can swing it, I will buy it...

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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
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Well, had a chance for my first looong walk home, two days ago. Flatted out the front tire on the Fort Charles road, about six kilometers from home. Shouldered the Bianchi (not taking a chance at damaging the tires) and carried it home. Lots of questions about walking and carrying a bicycle, but my answer, always offered with a smile, was simple - "its the bicycles's turn to ride". That got a chuckle, or two, from the locals.
Anyway, last year I noticed that someone had spread glass shards all along a good part of my Fort Charles road ride. I have been avoiding the area but love the ride, so I took a chance. Flatted out. Learned my lesson - stay off of Fort Charles road!
So, though not pictured, the spare inner tube is now tucked away, under the saddle. Tire irons(plastic) and spoke wrench in the tool kit, along with a self adhesive patch kit(not as much fun as the glue and sniff Old School patches) and I am good to go. Still got three spare inner tubes, fourteen self adhesive patches and a set of 700c x 32 Palesa tires that are wearing out. Will bring two new tires and some cone wrenches, next year. Got to lube up the Campy Record hubs...

Today, with less than a month here, I did the climb to the Pedro Plains Cop Shop. I am proud cause that is a wicked climb and, to be honest, I had to dismount two times. But the views can be spectacular, once one catches one's breath enough to hold the camera still...

Tomorrow - not planned yet but the plan is shaping up, as I key board, here at my favorite watering hole - Jack Spratt's on the sea...
Anyway, last year I noticed that someone had spread glass shards all along a good part of my Fort Charles road ride. I have been avoiding the area but love the ride, so I took a chance. Flatted out. Learned my lesson - stay off of Fort Charles road!
So, though not pictured, the spare inner tube is now tucked away, under the saddle. Tire irons(plastic) and spoke wrench in the tool kit, along with a self adhesive patch kit(not as much fun as the glue and sniff Old School patches) and I am good to go. Still got three spare inner tubes, fourteen self adhesive patches and a set of 700c x 32 Palesa tires that are wearing out. Will bring two new tires and some cone wrenches, next year. Got to lube up the Campy Record hubs...

Today, with less than a month here, I did the climb to the Pedro Plains Cop Shop. I am proud cause that is a wicked climb and, to be honest, I had to dismount two times. But the views can be spectacular, once one catches one's breath enough to hold the camera still...

Tomorrow - not planned yet but the plan is shaping up, as I key board, here at my favorite watering hole - Jack Spratt's on the sea...
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
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Oh boy, my rear tire blew up on my ride this morning. And I do mean blew up, and shredded and failed completely. Once again, had to carry the bike home, here in Jamaica. Now...
I need help getting a 700c tire, two of them actually - I will never ever buy another Pasela tires. The gum wall, after two years, failed showing considerable bearing of tire cords. Then the darn thing started to come apart, finally ending in a loud "bang" which produced a non-repairable rip in the sidewall. POOEY-STINKO!
Now my next challenge is finding a pair or 700c by 32 tires here in Jamaica.
I need help getting a 700c tire, two of them actually - I will never ever buy another Pasela tires. The gum wall, after two years, failed showing considerable bearing of tire cords. Then the darn thing started to come apart, finally ending in a loud "bang" which produced a non-repairable rip in the sidewall. POOEY-STINKO!
Now my next challenge is finding a pair or 700c by 32 tires here in Jamaica.
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
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Oh boy, my rear tire blew up on my ride this morning. And I do mean blew up, and shredded and failed completely. Once again, had to carry the bike home, here in Jamaica. Now...
I need help getting a 700c tire, two of them actually - I will never ever buy another Pasela tires. The gum wall, after two years, failed showing considerable bearing of tire cords. Then the darn thing started to come apart, finally ending in a loud "bang" which produced a non-repairable rip in the sidewall. POOEY-STINKO!
Now my next challenge is finding a pair or 700c by 32 tires here in Jamaica.
I need help getting a 700c tire, two of them actually - I will never ever buy another Pasela tires. The gum wall, after two years, failed showing considerable bearing of tire cords. Then the darn thing started to come apart, finally ending in a loud "bang" which produced a non-repairable rip in the sidewall. POOEY-STINKO!
Now my next challenge is finding a pair or 700c by 32 tires here in Jamaica.
But those tires look to be 15-20 or so years old. If not older.
I don't even remember this logo or tread pattern- and I think this is way newer than yours...

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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#18
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That is stunning!
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*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#19
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Rode the motor bike to Black River today and hooked up with a friend who ordered me a set of 700c x 32. He hopes to have them for me by Saturday. My fingers are crossed.
That said, the tires are old, even though purchased as NOS. Think of my experience as a warning to others thinking to use older tires. Had that one blew at 40 or 50 mph, I would not be keyboarding right now.
That said, the tires are old, even though purchased as NOS. Think of my experience as a warning to others thinking to use older tires. Had that one blew at 40 or 50 mph, I would not be keyboarding right now.
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
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