Happiness is
 

finally collecting the little parts to complete stuff that's been lying around for years! I finally found the bolts and spacers on ebay to correctly put together a TA triple and a Stronglight 49D double crank. Don't know why they're so hard to find...

I know what you mean!

For me it's a pair of Lyotard 240 pedals, in French threads. They aren't all that rare, really. But complete, in good shape, for $5? Now that's thin on the ground, mate, hen's teeth... and I got me some yesterday! Just the thing for a Stronglight 93 destined for a 3-speed build.

Remembering where I sat that allen wrench down at...

a Super Record group in great condition.

Time to actually ride something!

UN-stucking a stuck seat post.

The top of the hill...

+1

STI's and Ergo's that adjust to the RD right off the bat.

Searching for deals and then actually finding one.

Finding a left hand Stronglight 200 crank with 9/16" X 20 pedal threads that is 170mm (not the 172.5 I found in my box that I thought was a 170!)

...the realization that I can have just as much fun fixing up a $30 beater as I can something rare and collectible.

Happiness is picking up the correct Allan wrench that fits the first time!

After the first ride when nothing has fallen off, nothing is out of adjustment, nothing rattles and I haven't crashed...that's happiness. :)

Brad

A smooth road with the wind at your back, both ways.

Regards,
J T

A clean fender line.

summer...

... a sunbreak on a seattle winter day.

For me, happiness is a successful test-ride on a bike I just completely disassembled and re-assembled. Everything works and there are no obvious glitches....only minor tweaks necessary.

A fast tear down, making it shine like justice and building it back up to something that makes me beam with pride.

being the first to reply to that screaming deal

Finally breaking in that hard leather saddle.

Forgot a couple: Waking up without any pain & the sun on my face!

Riding along a lonely stretch of road, and another rider approaches opposite you. You wave to him, and he waves and smiles back.