Facts of Life
Fact of Life #1: Sometimes you just can’t ride.
It could be an injury or even worse, the theft of your ride. Illness can be a cause, as can be vile weather. Sometimes family responsibilities come up, no excuses there, family always comes first. (Keep your legs crossed next time.) Then there is the one ugly truth that can’t be avoided, most of us have to earn a living.
Yes, even though I have a flexible schedule, I live in a part of the country where there is almost always good weather, and yet I can’t ride this weekend. There is an arts show this weekend and my wife and I have a double booth. All of my day light hours will be spent hawking my wares. Hold up on the pity, there is a chance I will sell a few items and be able to buy new bike parts. There also will be a free drink or two during the preview party.
Fact of Life #2: Things Fall Apart
I sent my treasured 30 year old Phil Wood Flip Flop wheel to Phil to be overhauled. It came back looking wonderful. I rode out to a section of road called “The Beach”, (a nasty stretch of road I’ll write about later) when my drive side bearing popped out. Oh my, no more pedaling today! I sent the wheel back to Phil, their bad not mine, and it came back looking swell again. I thought I’d air the tire up and go for a spin. The rim wouldn’t hold a bead and I took a good look. Big ass ding in the rim. There goes a vintage Rigida rim into the dustbin. (If you are under 45, Rigida made some great rims before you were born.) UPS came by to pick up the box, they wanted the whole wheel. My wife has my unquestioned loyalty from now until judgment day. She wouldn’t let them have it. Phil Wood says rebuild the wheel, they’ll pay. I still think they are good people.
Fact of Life #3: Someone’s Always Watching
Last Saturday’s club ride was a fiasco. No one could ride behind the person in front of him. They attacked into the wind. Not really, they just road hard off the front till they popped. They rode behind the guy in front of them, to the right, to the left, in between wheels. They over lapped, they passed on the right, the left. Language was a problem, no one spoke bike. Advice was given and ignored. Worst of all? There was a very good rider who will soon be moving to the valley watching the whole meltdown. What makes him so good? He had the decency to be amused. Thanks Major Dave, it was truly an joy to ride with you. Let’s do it many more times.
It could be an injury or even worse, the theft of your ride. Illness can be a cause, as can be vile weather. Sometimes family responsibilities come up, no excuses there, family always comes first. (Keep your legs crossed next time.) Then there is the one ugly truth that can’t be avoided, most of us have to earn a living.
Yes, even though I have a flexible schedule, I live in a part of the country where there is almost always good weather, and yet I can’t ride this weekend. There is an arts show this weekend and my wife and I have a double booth. All of my day light hours will be spent hawking my wares. Hold up on the pity, there is a chance I will sell a few items and be able to buy new bike parts. There also will be a free drink or two during the preview party.
Fact of Life #2: Things Fall Apart
I sent my treasured 30 year old Phil Wood Flip Flop wheel to Phil to be overhauled. It came back looking wonderful. I rode out to a section of road called “The Beach”, (a nasty stretch of road I’ll write about later) when my drive side bearing popped out. Oh my, no more pedaling today! I sent the wheel back to Phil, their bad not mine, and it came back looking swell again. I thought I’d air the tire up and go for a spin. The rim wouldn’t hold a bead and I took a good look. Big ass ding in the rim. There goes a vintage Rigida rim into the dustbin. (If you are under 45, Rigida made some great rims before you were born.) UPS came by to pick up the box, they wanted the whole wheel. My wife has my unquestioned loyalty from now until judgment day. She wouldn’t let them have it. Phil Wood says rebuild the wheel, they’ll pay. I still think they are good people.
Fact of Life #3: Someone’s Always Watching
Last Saturday’s club ride was a fiasco. No one could ride behind the person in front of him. They attacked into the wind. Not really, they just road hard off the front till they popped. They rode behind the guy in front of them, to the right, to the left, in between wheels. They over lapped, they passed on the right, the left. Language was a problem, no one spoke bike. Advice was given and ignored. Worst of all? There was a very good rider who will soon be moving to the valley watching the whole meltdown. What makes him so good? He had the decency to be amused. Thanks Major Dave, it was truly an joy to ride with you. Let’s do it many more times.
posted by Speedo at 10:46 PM
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