On Friday morning after a thirteen hour drive from Evergreen, Colorado back to Freeport, Dave stopped at Freeport Bicycle Company to have Joe Dadez look over the vintage Trek 760 roadie he purchased from Bob Barones in Denver. This was a Fathers’ Day Purchase to last a lifetime, or at least through L’Eroica in 2012.
Before leaving Evergreen, Dave sought the good counsel of his boyhood pal and steel bike fan, Dan DeKoven. He also had time to look over some Campy jewelry in Dan’s parts bin, meet Dan’s two grown sons for the first time, visit with his lovely wife, Margaret, and enjoy a superb supper, good vino, and a soft bed afterwards. Oh, did we mention riding Dan's 94 Eddy Merckx up High Road to a stunning view of Mount Evans?
Dave and Dan concluded that the original racing blue paint was in pretty good shape. So eventually, Dave will remove the old decrepit decals and replace them with new.
So what did Joe and Dave accomplish at the bike shop?
Joe used his handy tool to straighten the bent rear derailleur hanger, and then he straightened the derailleur pulley wheel cage to keep it out of the spokes. Joe trashed the worn 7-speed freewheel and installed a 14-28 tooth 6-speed Shimano made in China along with a new drive chain to the proper length. Dan suggested Dave's old knees would favor having the 28 teeth on the hills.
Joe changed both brake cables and housings, and Dave cleaned up the brakes and pads.
Together, they cleaned and greased the Stronglight headset, and Joe tightened it for a smooth action.
Dave trued the front wheel and Joe the rear. Joe’s was truer. Then, Dave cleaned the wheels, rotated the tires and added new tubes. This lightened the bike considerably, as Former-Owner-Bob had injected green slime into the old tubes to avoid punctures and delays to his daily commutes.
Dave cleaned and greased the Cinelli stem repositioned their Giro d'Italia handlebar and the non-standard but very comfy Tektro brake levers. Now we have a sweet flat feel over the bar and hoods. We also like the look of how the drops parallel the down tube. Finally, Joe finished it all with beautiful silver wrap.
Dave cleaned and greased the LaPrade seat tube and replaced the non-standard ugly ( & too small) saddle with an Italian made-in-suede Turbo, which looks appropriate on this bike.
Now the 760 is solid and slick shifting, and what a sensational ride. At last, we have a superb Trek steel bike Made in Waterloo and another satisfying “Joe n Dave” collaboration. And thanks to Dan & Margaret for a lovely afternoon and evening in Evergreen, CO.
https://picasaweb.google.com/106097685508719356454/Trek760?authkey=Gv1sRgCKGCwrPPscqlnQE
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The Krape Park Bridge Lives!
We’d like to thank all those who helped keep the Krape Park Bridge open for foot and bike traffic. It is such a handy way to get into our lovely park from the neighborhoods on this side of Yellow Creek.
During the terrible flood last year, we walked over to gasp at the high water at least six feet above the bridge deck. We were even more anxious to see a large tree wedged against the west steel span. When it survived that assault, we knew we had one tough bridge.
The Krape Park Bridge is a classic “Pony Truss” design and is registered on the Bridgehunter.com website.
We have cycled over the Apple River on a longer three-span “pony truss” bridge on Georgetown Road just north and west of Elizabeth. That bridge was erected in 1890, and was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Sadly, the great 2010 flood took that bridge out.
These old structures are fast disappearing from our landscape. Many have been replaced by newer decking or have succumbed to ravages of age, flooding and neglect. We’re so pleased that the City and the Park District have chosen to try to preserve our sweet old bridge as a charming entry point to Freeport's most beautiful park.
During the terrible flood last year, we walked over to gasp at the high water at least six feet above the bridge deck. We were even more anxious to see a large tree wedged against the west steel span. When it survived that assault, we knew we had one tough bridge.
The Krape Park Bridge is a classic “Pony Truss” design and is registered on the Bridgehunter.com website.
We have cycled over the Apple River on a longer three-span “pony truss” bridge on Georgetown Road just north and west of Elizabeth. That bridge was erected in 1890, and was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Sadly, the great 2010 flood took that bridge out.
These old structures are fast disappearing from our landscape. Many have been replaced by newer decking or have succumbed to ravages of age, flooding and neglect. We’re so pleased that the City and the Park District have chosen to try to preserve our sweet old bridge as a charming entry point to Freeport's most beautiful park.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Raleigh Cool Single Speed
The Raleigh Record conversion to a single speed is done.
Three years ago I was in Freeport Bicycle Company talking to the manager, Joe Dadez, about a single-speed conversion project and asked Joe if he had anything interesting he wished gone from the basement. Up came a vintage mid 70s Record.
The Record was Raleigh’s entry-level road bike, so there was little need to preserve the entire package. Also, the frame had serious road rash, because this Record had been across the USofA three times.
Moreover, the lemon yellow and black paint scheme did not suit my English bike. It simply had to be British Racing Green.
So we repainted it BRG with a stealth charcoal metallic accent on the head and seat tubes and the fork blades. I had to use a pin to dab the red and black paint into the head badge. This was a shaky business, and the damned green paint proved prone to chipping.
So the steel frame and fork is all that remains. The rest were either: (A) purchased Additions or (B) from Bin parts on hand. I’ll hit only the highlights.
I love the Sram brake levers (A). They feel great beneath my hands just like the Force shift levers on my Madone.
The Biopace 42 tooth chainring (B) was inspired by Sheldon Brown. Sheldon was an exemplary authority on the bicycle, and he was perfectly correct. Biopace is how to drive a single-speed bike. For more on this, check out Sheldon’s Bioplace page at http://sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html
From my first-foot experience, peddling from a standing position on flat peddles is so much easier with Biopace. Your feet don’t pop off the peddles at the top of each stroke.
Now what you can't see in the photos is the magnificent Phil Woods bottom bracket (A) that compliments the Biopace to give the drivetrain its silky smoothness.
Other main components are Nitto handle bars (B) and stem (A) and the Tektro brakes (A). The Mavic MA 40 wheels were purchased used from Joe along with the Shimano 600 headset gimmie which is tight as new. It was remarkable the 600 headset threaded onto the Record's fork tube.
In all, this was an excellent collaboration with Joe who has helped me on a couple other conversions. Thanks, Joe.
Three years ago I was in Freeport Bicycle Company talking to the manager, Joe Dadez, about a single-speed conversion project and asked Joe if he had anything interesting he wished gone from the basement. Up came a vintage mid 70s Record.
The Record was Raleigh’s entry-level road bike, so there was little need to preserve the entire package. Also, the frame had serious road rash, because this Record had been across the USofA three times.
Moreover, the lemon yellow and black paint scheme did not suit my English bike. It simply had to be British Racing Green.
So we repainted it BRG with a stealth charcoal metallic accent on the head and seat tubes and the fork blades. I had to use a pin to dab the red and black paint into the head badge. This was a shaky business, and the damned green paint proved prone to chipping.
So the steel frame and fork is all that remains. The rest were either: (A) purchased Additions or (B) from Bin parts on hand. I’ll hit only the highlights.
I love the Sram brake levers (A). They feel great beneath my hands just like the Force shift levers on my Madone.
The Biopace 42 tooth chainring (B) was inspired by Sheldon Brown. Sheldon was an exemplary authority on the bicycle, and he was perfectly correct. Biopace is how to drive a single-speed bike. For more on this, check out Sheldon’s Bioplace page at http://sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html
From my first-foot experience, peddling from a standing position on flat peddles is so much easier with Biopace. Your feet don’t pop off the peddles at the top of each stroke.
Now what you can't see in the photos is the magnificent Phil Woods bottom bracket (A) that compliments the Biopace to give the drivetrain its silky smoothness.
Other main components are Nitto handle bars (B) and stem (A) and the Tektro brakes (A). The Mavic MA 40 wheels were purchased used from Joe along with the Shimano 600 headset gimmie which is tight as new. It was remarkable the 600 headset threaded onto the Record's fork tube.
In all, this was an excellent collaboration with Joe who has helped me on a couple other conversions. Thanks, Joe.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Eureka L'Eroica
When I shared a Vimeo video of L’Eroica with a good friend, he suggested I might rather ride a three-stage tour in Wisconsin if I wished to rip my legs off.
With all due respect to our more competitive riders, here is my answer:
Those who ride in L'Eroica must ride steel bikes built before 1984 with down tube shifters and no clip-less peddles. 11-speed electronic transmissions on carbon fibre bikes need not apply.
Those who ride L'Eroica sport kits like Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Wool, not spandex, is de rigueur. Even modern helmets—though extremely important for safety—appear out of place.
L'Eroica's routes are over white gravel roads -- strade bianche. The Triple Crown no doubt is all tarmac.
L'Eroica is one stage only -- but one may choose grand 200K route to fill the day.
L'Eroica is a "happening." Triple Crown is a race.
L'Eroica is in Tuscany. Parma ham n cheese come from over the Apennines maybe 50 miles away, and the chianti is picked, pressed, aged, and bottled locally. Need we say more.
Ci vediamo a Gaiole in Ottobre 2012.
With all due respect to our more competitive riders, here is my answer:
Those who ride in L'Eroica must ride steel bikes built before 1984 with down tube shifters and no clip-less peddles. 11-speed electronic transmissions on carbon fibre bikes need not apply.
Those who ride L'Eroica sport kits like Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Wool, not spandex, is de rigueur. Even modern helmets—though extremely important for safety—appear out of place.
L'Eroica's routes are over white gravel roads -- strade bianche. The Triple Crown no doubt is all tarmac.
L'Eroica is one stage only -- but one may choose grand 200K route to fill the day.
L'Eroica is a "happening." Triple Crown is a race.
L'Eroica is in Tuscany. Parma ham n cheese come from over the Apennines maybe 50 miles away, and the chianti is picked, pressed, aged, and bottled locally. Need we say more.
Ci vediamo a Gaiole in Ottobre 2012.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Lusting for the Feel of Steel and Other Substances
I am continually enchanted by my Obsidian Blue Madone 6.5. Technology moves beneath me in a sensuous telepathic groove every time I throw a leg over and with every stroke of the peddle.
But, alas, when I swing, straddle and roll upon my sweet ole revamped Trek 412, or the rescued Giapponese Sanwa that strayed into my life, I’m all smiles.
Thanks to Bill Leibman (who also owns a Madone 6.5), these simple diversions on old steel bikes have become—well—how can one convey the appeal of what today are turned out only as works of art?
The answer came when Bill pushed me on to Robert Penn’s "It’s All About the Bike" where he chronicles his pursuit of happiness on the ultimate road bicycle.
And so, as we approach 65 aboard our glorious Trek carbon fiberology, we find ourselves still yearning. Perhaps, if you play piano, it is like striding Gershwin over the ivories of a Bosendorfer grand yet unable to quench a thirst for the Steinway just beyond your hands.
We ushered in 2011 with former teammate and dearest high school friend Gil (too close to Norwegian) Gulbrandson and his gracious wife Debbie (Don’t you dare refer to Indiana University as U of I, or I’ll kick you till you’re dead.).
As the New Year approached, Gil introduced me to his Victrola, along with a memorable collection of big band music, and his Waterford bicycle.
Hold it!
Did I say WATERFORD as in custom bicycle built in what was formerly Schwinn’s Paragon custom bicycle facility in Waterford, Wisconsin?
Gil’s Waterford is a light and lithe late 1990’s set-up, which our dearest high school buddy, Dan Dekoven discovered for him on “ebag” (sic.) for less than the cost of a entry level Trek street bike.
Dan creates lovely fine furniture and passionately restores old steel bicycles in Evergreen, Colorado. As I lifted Gil’s Waterford off the floor, I became instantly connected, and immediately emailed Dan and to ask why he hadn’t thought of me.
Little was I prepared for what transpired after that:
January 2nd, 2011
Dan: “I just acquired a 1994 Eddy Merckx Century frame on ebag (sic.). Paint is rough but frame is straight and rust free. Not too shabby for $280. Hope to get it built up by spring as I have most of the components left over from previous bikes. "Hello, my name is Dan and I'm a bikeaholic..."
Dave: "My God. Why am I missing these opportunities?
Perhaps I’ve been slow at the trigger, lacking in Ebay Savvy, and, yes, because I spent nearly $5 Gs on my 6.5 Madone not 1.5 years ago. Now I suffer through Bob Penn’s book and have for some time been transfixed by the work of an extraordinarily gifted artisan named Dave Wages of Ellis Cycles.
Now back to Dan and his 94 Merckx."
Dan: “I have a mixture of new and used Campy components for the Merckx - Chorus brakes, shifters and headset; Nitto stem, bars and seatpin; Veloce compact crank; new Athena11 speed derailleurs that my friend the bike mechanic said will work with 10 speed; and my Campy Proton wheelset. This is my 4th Merckx and I've regretted selling the other three - especially the MX Leader, which was #98 of the last 100 produced, so will probably hold on to this one. They hold a certain mystique for me... This one is definitely used, so has character.”
Dave: "Has Dan gone off the deep end? No, he is just really detailed passionate about bikes. In fact, when we rode the Santa Fe Century together last May, Dan was straddling his Waterford that he found on “ebag" (sic.) The color scheme is a bit unctuous, but, beneath the paint, it is a lovely bike nevertheless.
We continued our dialog after my dumbfounded concern about the headset on my own restoration of a Raleigh Record—something we’ll chat about later."
January 25th, 2011, expounds January 2nd’s conversation.
Dan: (Dave’s translation of Dan’s tech lingo) “I have the gruppo together. It's a mixture of various Campy components: Record (not Raleigh but Campy as in Campagnolo) headset, Centaur BB, Veloce compact crank, Chorus 10 speed shifters, Veloce 13/29 cassette and chain, Chorus brakes (Centaur, Veloce, and Chorus are all Campagnolo creations.), Nitto (Non e italiano ma Giapponese) seatpin, bars and stem, and new Athena (Campy also) 11 speed front and rear der. (derailleurs) that my bike guy says will work fine with 10 speed. Some new and some used off ebay or parts I had lying around. Bike mechanic just prepped the frame and I treated it with Framesaver before. I'll get it from him on Thurs. and sand out the rust spots before touching it up with Testor's (the company which makes paints we used to use on our model airplanes as kids). We'll probably put it together pretty soon before he gets busy.
By the way, another great resource that my riding buddy Greg turned me on to a couple years ago is www.probikekit.com. They're Brits (funny fellows with funny accents who are wild about anything remotely mechanical) and have the best prices (probably only in Pounds Sterling) I've found with free shipping all the way from England. The only hang up is that they ship via the Brit equivalent of Parcel Post combined with all the new tighter shipping regs. (homeland security provisions) due to package bombs (Brits take very seriously those who skulk in from the colonies not intending to play fairly by the rules of cricket.) - so it generally takes about a month to receive your order.”
Dave: "Gracious sakes alive. I cannot wait to try this Merckx out. Danny, I’m breaking off early from Linda’s family reunion in New Mexico and coming up to ride this re-creation.
Now, we move deep to absolute bottom of bicycle riding psychology. I temper my translations of Dan’s male anatomy jargon trusting that cycling adults will get the point."
Dan: “I see that you got a used Brooks for your vintage Trek. (This was a gift purchase from Bill Leibman who found the lovely leather too soft.) I'm a Brooks convert - currently have four of them. My only complaint was that, unlike modern saddles, there’s no accommodation for your balls on most models.”
Dave: “Wait, Dan. Are there accommodations for one’s balls on any saddle—Brooks or otherwise?”
Dan: “Actually that's not my only complaint - they take forever to break in. The B17 Imperial addresses this with a gonad cutout. I traced it and applied it to my other B17's and my Brooks Professional. I found that it definitely helps me. I'd be glad to send you a pattern and directions if you encounter a case of numbnuts (I don’t ride my 412 all that much and definitely don’t ride it more than 20 miles.). I also gave the Brooks Pro the Sheldon Brown treatment. Do you know about him? He just died, but was perhaps one of the most knowledgeable bike people around. He suggests soaking Brooks saddles in neat’s-foot oil (Mon dieu! I mistakenly thought it was motor oil). My bike guy and many other experts say this is not advisable (Admittedly, since Brooks provides their saddle softening lubrication) , but I like the results.
This is the kind of bicycle minutiae that the dudes at classicrendezvous will go about forever. I'm hooked. It's a nice diversion from the harsh reality of trying to survive as an artisan (Dan’s furniture is on a level with Dave Wage’s bicycles. These are two great artists and craftsmen.). At some point I hope to free myself from this attachment to the material - but not yet...
Don't get me started. Have they hung Lance Armstrong yet?”
Dave: So there you have it. We shall forever love and miss Sheldon and love to hate Lance. The allure of steel is and will be with cycling lovers until the Apennines come tumbling down.
But, alas, when I swing, straddle and roll upon my sweet ole revamped Trek 412, or the rescued Giapponese Sanwa that strayed into my life, I’m all smiles.
Thanks to Bill Leibman (who also owns a Madone 6.5), these simple diversions on old steel bikes have become—well—how can one convey the appeal of what today are turned out only as works of art?
The answer came when Bill pushed me on to Robert Penn’s "It’s All About the Bike" where he chronicles his pursuit of happiness on the ultimate road bicycle.
And so, as we approach 65 aboard our glorious Trek carbon fiberology, we find ourselves still yearning. Perhaps, if you play piano, it is like striding Gershwin over the ivories of a Bosendorfer grand yet unable to quench a thirst for the Steinway just beyond your hands.
We ushered in 2011 with former teammate and dearest high school friend Gil (too close to Norwegian) Gulbrandson and his gracious wife Debbie (Don’t you dare refer to Indiana University as U of I, or I’ll kick you till you’re dead.).
As the New Year approached, Gil introduced me to his Victrola, along with a memorable collection of big band music, and his Waterford bicycle.
Hold it!
Did I say WATERFORD as in custom bicycle built in what was formerly Schwinn’s Paragon custom bicycle facility in Waterford, Wisconsin?
Gil’s Waterford is a light and lithe late 1990’s set-up, which our dearest high school buddy, Dan Dekoven discovered for him on “ebag” (sic.) for less than the cost of a entry level Trek street bike.
Dan creates lovely fine furniture and passionately restores old steel bicycles in Evergreen, Colorado. As I lifted Gil’s Waterford off the floor, I became instantly connected, and immediately emailed Dan and to ask why he hadn’t thought of me.
Little was I prepared for what transpired after that:
January 2nd, 2011
Dan: “I just acquired a 1994 Eddy Merckx Century frame on ebag (sic.). Paint is rough but frame is straight and rust free. Not too shabby for $280. Hope to get it built up by spring as I have most of the components left over from previous bikes. "Hello, my name is Dan and I'm a bikeaholic..."
Dave: "My God. Why am I missing these opportunities?
Perhaps I’ve been slow at the trigger, lacking in Ebay Savvy, and, yes, because I spent nearly $5 Gs on my 6.5 Madone not 1.5 years ago. Now I suffer through Bob Penn’s book and have for some time been transfixed by the work of an extraordinarily gifted artisan named Dave Wages of Ellis Cycles.
Now back to Dan and his 94 Merckx."
Dan: “I have a mixture of new and used Campy components for the Merckx - Chorus brakes, shifters and headset; Nitto stem, bars and seatpin; Veloce compact crank; new Athena11 speed derailleurs that my friend the bike mechanic said will work with 10 speed; and my Campy Proton wheelset. This is my 4th Merckx and I've regretted selling the other three - especially the MX Leader, which was #98 of the last 100 produced, so will probably hold on to this one. They hold a certain mystique for me... This one is definitely used, so has character.”
Dave: "Has Dan gone off the deep end? No, he is just really detailed passionate about bikes. In fact, when we rode the Santa Fe Century together last May, Dan was straddling his Waterford that he found on “ebag" (sic.) The color scheme is a bit unctuous, but, beneath the paint, it is a lovely bike nevertheless.
We continued our dialog after my dumbfounded concern about the headset on my own restoration of a Raleigh Record—something we’ll chat about later."
January 25th, 2011, expounds January 2nd’s conversation.
Dan: (Dave’s translation of Dan’s tech lingo) “I have the gruppo together. It's a mixture of various Campy components: Record (not Raleigh but Campy as in Campagnolo) headset, Centaur BB, Veloce compact crank, Chorus 10 speed shifters, Veloce 13/29 cassette and chain, Chorus brakes (Centaur, Veloce, and Chorus are all Campagnolo creations.), Nitto (Non e italiano ma Giapponese) seatpin, bars and stem, and new Athena (Campy also) 11 speed front and rear der. (derailleurs) that my bike guy says will work fine with 10 speed. Some new and some used off ebay or parts I had lying around. Bike mechanic just prepped the frame and I treated it with Framesaver before. I'll get it from him on Thurs. and sand out the rust spots before touching it up with Testor's (the company which makes paints we used to use on our model airplanes as kids). We'll probably put it together pretty soon before he gets busy.
By the way, another great resource that my riding buddy Greg turned me on to a couple years ago is www.probikekit.com. They're Brits (funny fellows with funny accents who are wild about anything remotely mechanical) and have the best prices (probably only in Pounds Sterling) I've found with free shipping all the way from England. The only hang up is that they ship via the Brit equivalent of Parcel Post combined with all the new tighter shipping regs. (homeland security provisions) due to package bombs (Brits take very seriously those who skulk in from the colonies not intending to play fairly by the rules of cricket.) - so it generally takes about a month to receive your order.”
Dave: "Gracious sakes alive. I cannot wait to try this Merckx out. Danny, I’m breaking off early from Linda’s family reunion in New Mexico and coming up to ride this re-creation.
Now, we move deep to absolute bottom of bicycle riding psychology. I temper my translations of Dan’s male anatomy jargon trusting that cycling adults will get the point."
Dan: “I see that you got a used Brooks for your vintage Trek. (This was a gift purchase from Bill Leibman who found the lovely leather too soft.) I'm a Brooks convert - currently have four of them. My only complaint was that, unlike modern saddles, there’s no accommodation for your balls on most models.”
Dave: “Wait, Dan. Are there accommodations for one’s balls on any saddle—Brooks or otherwise?”
Dan: “Actually that's not my only complaint - they take forever to break in. The B17 Imperial addresses this with a gonad cutout. I traced it and applied it to my other B17's and my Brooks Professional. I found that it definitely helps me. I'd be glad to send you a pattern and directions if you encounter a case of numbnuts (I don’t ride my 412 all that much and definitely don’t ride it more than 20 miles.). I also gave the Brooks Pro the Sheldon Brown treatment. Do you know about him? He just died, but was perhaps one of the most knowledgeable bike people around. He suggests soaking Brooks saddles in neat’s-foot oil (Mon dieu! I mistakenly thought it was motor oil). My bike guy and many other experts say this is not advisable (Admittedly, since Brooks provides their saddle softening lubrication) , but I like the results.
This is the kind of bicycle minutiae that the dudes at classicrendezvous will go about forever. I'm hooked. It's a nice diversion from the harsh reality of trying to survive as an artisan (Dan’s furniture is on a level with Dave Wage’s bicycles. These are two great artists and craftsmen.). At some point I hope to free myself from this attachment to the material - but not yet...
Don't get me started. Have they hung Lance Armstrong yet?”
Dave: So there you have it. We shall forever love and miss Sheldon and love to hate Lance. The allure of steel is and will be with cycling lovers until the Apennines come tumbling down.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Hard Lessons
Last week, we received word that Richard Nicodemus was stuck and killed by a truck on a rural road east of Orangeville.
After his retirement from Kelly-Springfield tire company, Richard was smitten by the bicycle bug and became the aerodynamic recumbent protege of Tyger Johnson.
Richard was a soft spoken rider and always in a delightful place while he rode.
It is hard enough when fellow riders crash and are seriously injured as was Chuck Garrett last summer. Loose gravel on pavement at the bottom of a hill was Chuck’s demise.
At Richard's visitation, Chuck told me that while his wife, Janis, was in for knee surgery, Richard visited with Chuck as he was recovering in the room across the hall. That was Richard exactly.
Fellow rider Paul Heitz was sideswiped on Pearl City Road a few years ago, gravely hurt and very nearly dispatch from this earth. Bones were broken and a lung punctured. Paul was laid up in hospital but today is back on the road as active as ever.
Adam Schultz was returning home on Park Boulevard when a careless person blew the stop sign at Park and Empire and threw him up on her windshield. She had no insurance and little remorse. I guess Adam made her late for an elective college class. Adam’s surgical repairs are ongoing.
Peter Flynn was struck from behind in broad daylight by an elderly lady. She was so distraught that she nearly backed over him. Later, Eric Walser said the same lady brushed him, whereupon he chased her down and gave her a severe tongue lashing.
These close encounters are terribly unsettling but death is too final, and the only person who can say what really happened is the driver of the truck which killed Richard. He is Peggy’s neighbor and is taking it quite hard and will most likely live in a dark place for the rest of his days.
Riding bicycles can pose hard lessons. It is easy to lose our focus for self preservation as we drift into riders’ rhapsody. So our joy of riding begs a certain amount of circumspection.
I write this in the company of jazz pianist, Bill Evans, playing his “Re: Person I Knew.” It is thoughtfully haunting-- typical of Bill’s compositions.
After his retirement from Kelly-Springfield tire company, Richard was smitten by the bicycle bug and became the aerodynamic recumbent protege of Tyger Johnson.
Richard was a soft spoken rider and always in a delightful place while he rode.
It is hard enough when fellow riders crash and are seriously injured as was Chuck Garrett last summer. Loose gravel on pavement at the bottom of a hill was Chuck’s demise.
At Richard's visitation, Chuck told me that while his wife, Janis, was in for knee surgery, Richard visited with Chuck as he was recovering in the room across the hall. That was Richard exactly.
Fellow rider Paul Heitz was sideswiped on Pearl City Road a few years ago, gravely hurt and very nearly dispatch from this earth. Bones were broken and a lung punctured. Paul was laid up in hospital but today is back on the road as active as ever.
Adam Schultz was returning home on Park Boulevard when a careless person blew the stop sign at Park and Empire and threw him up on her windshield. She had no insurance and little remorse. I guess Adam made her late for an elective college class. Adam’s surgical repairs are ongoing.
Peter Flynn was struck from behind in broad daylight by an elderly lady. She was so distraught that she nearly backed over him. Later, Eric Walser said the same lady brushed him, whereupon he chased her down and gave her a severe tongue lashing.
These close encounters are terribly unsettling but death is too final, and the only person who can say what really happened is the driver of the truck which killed Richard. He is Peggy’s neighbor and is taking it quite hard and will most likely live in a dark place for the rest of his days.
Riding bicycles can pose hard lessons. It is easy to lose our focus for self preservation as we drift into riders’ rhapsody. So our joy of riding begs a certain amount of circumspection.
I write this in the company of jazz pianist, Bill Evans, playing his “Re: Person I Knew.” It is thoughtfully haunting-- typical of Bill’s compositions.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
In and Out of the Canyon
Packer fans are chomping their brats after soundly biting the Falcons beaks last night. And while the Bears were ripping out the talons of the Seahawks, I was pointing my cyclocross deep into the cold wild country where, as Yoda Yonda would say, “the owls screw the chickens.”
I’ve ridden through but never out of Apple River Canyon State Park. This seemed like an excellent place from which to explore new roads between Stockton and Apple River.
It was 16 degrees as I parked the Blazer in the lot. I lifted the Las Cruces out the back and began adding layers over my Craft tee and merino V-neck-- a hooded jersey followed by a fleece lined nylon vest, and finally my Patagonia lined ripstop hunters-hold-yer-fire orange shell.
Then, toe warmers to socks and booties on tap; puffy down gloves; and warm woolen cap. These are a few of my favorite things.
I rode east out of Apple River Canyon Park to Fiedler and turned south. After about a block, as Fiedler turns right, I continued straight ahead on Kupersmith Road. Kupersmith is paved down into the valley to the intersection at Rush Town Road.
“Let dogs delight to bark but not bite for God hath made them so.” A pair of honey furry golden retrievers trotted along side on my approach to Rush Town.
At the stop sign just across the little bridge, it was straight south up a very abrupt incline. After tackling that, I rode flat and curled back east to Rush Town Road along Kupersmith and Chelsea Roads. Several creeks run together chiseling solitary hollows around this loop.
Back at the intersection of Rush Town and Kupersmith Roads, we might have ridden straight ahead on Rush Town over to Canyon Park Road. Instead back turned north on Kupersmith up the hill past our fluffy tail waggers to Fiedler Road. From there we reached over to Canyon Park Road.
Circling back into the Park, we crossed the bridge, and turned left. My GPS measured 17% on the climb out of the canyon. On top, Canyon Park Road eases its way west to Broadway Road.
For years, I have passed by the south end of Broadway Road. On a whim, I drove it in the Blazer the Friday before and was delighted at my discovery. Broadway runs from the village of Apple River southwest and terminates at Townsend Road just east of the Boy Scout Camp.
After a couple easy rollers, the road dips into a quiet coulee and rises steeply out the other side around a corner near the Bonjour Farm. I was impressed with the grip of my Schwalbe tires and was pleased I had listened to Bill Leibman’s lesson on tire rotation.
In the next quarter mile the coulee converges with Apple River Canyon, and you look down on either side through tight naked woods expecting a buck or buckskin covered Boy Scout. In fact, I was close a place where people practice orienteering to build teamwork and leadership skills, and perhaps mix it up with the Scouts. It was tough terrain on a bicycle but I preferred riding on frosty gravel to trudging through the thick forest.
I squeezed the brakes down the hill to Townsend Road and approached my turnaround at the entrance to the Scout Camp. After slowing for a lady in a dirty cream Chrysler I came about. Alas, I cut handlebars too short. The snow clogged rear tire met the cold hard pavement, and, BANG, down I went. All the mummified layers failed to cushion my left shoulder from the fall. I prayed for my rotator cuff as I climbed back up Broadway and made my way back to the Park.
Maybe I should take up snowboarding -- eh, maybe not.
I’ve ridden through but never out of Apple River Canyon State Park. This seemed like an excellent place from which to explore new roads between Stockton and Apple River.
It was 16 degrees as I parked the Blazer in the lot. I lifted the Las Cruces out the back and began adding layers over my Craft tee and merino V-neck-- a hooded jersey followed by a fleece lined nylon vest, and finally my Patagonia lined ripstop hunters-hold-yer-fire orange shell.
Then, toe warmers to socks and booties on tap; puffy down gloves; and warm woolen cap. These are a few of my favorite things.
I rode east out of Apple River Canyon Park to Fiedler and turned south. After about a block, as Fiedler turns right, I continued straight ahead on Kupersmith Road. Kupersmith is paved down into the valley to the intersection at Rush Town Road.
“Let dogs delight to bark but not bite for God hath made them so.” A pair of honey furry golden retrievers trotted along side on my approach to Rush Town.
At the stop sign just across the little bridge, it was straight south up a very abrupt incline. After tackling that, I rode flat and curled back east to Rush Town Road along Kupersmith and Chelsea Roads. Several creeks run together chiseling solitary hollows around this loop.
Back at the intersection of Rush Town and Kupersmith Roads, we might have ridden straight ahead on Rush Town over to Canyon Park Road. Instead back turned north on Kupersmith up the hill past our fluffy tail waggers to Fiedler Road. From there we reached over to Canyon Park Road.
Circling back into the Park, we crossed the bridge, and turned left. My GPS measured 17% on the climb out of the canyon. On top, Canyon Park Road eases its way west to Broadway Road.
For years, I have passed by the south end of Broadway Road. On a whim, I drove it in the Blazer the Friday before and was delighted at my discovery. Broadway runs from the village of Apple River southwest and terminates at Townsend Road just east of the Boy Scout Camp.
After a couple easy rollers, the road dips into a quiet coulee and rises steeply out the other side around a corner near the Bonjour Farm. I was impressed with the grip of my Schwalbe tires and was pleased I had listened to Bill Leibman’s lesson on tire rotation.
In the next quarter mile the coulee converges with Apple River Canyon, and you look down on either side through tight naked woods expecting a buck or buckskin covered Boy Scout. In fact, I was close a place where people practice orienteering to build teamwork and leadership skills, and perhaps mix it up with the Scouts. It was tough terrain on a bicycle but I preferred riding on frosty gravel to trudging through the thick forest.
I squeezed the brakes down the hill to Townsend Road and approached my turnaround at the entrance to the Scout Camp. After slowing for a lady in a dirty cream Chrysler I came about. Alas, I cut handlebars too short. The snow clogged rear tire met the cold hard pavement, and, BANG, down I went. All the mummified layers failed to cushion my left shoulder from the fall. I prayed for my rotator cuff as I climbed back up Broadway and made my way back to the Park.
Maybe I should take up snowboarding -- eh, maybe not.
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