Since I can't seem to get started cleaning the parts for the Gitane TdF so I can list them on the Ebay, so I can ship them, I thought I would work backwards and get the flat rate packages from the Post Office. And I thought that;
hmmm the post office is only 2 blocks further than the Farmers Market- I could ride my bike. And then I countered that with the thought there is a slight up hill (2% grade) in the last block
and its hot out (whine). I need to say here that we Seattleites are heat wimps, at about 75 degrees we start complaining, at 85 degrees we start melting, at about 95 some of us start spontaneously combusting and god help us if it reaches 100. Give us 68 straight days of 45 degrees and drizzle - no problem but heat? Nooooo. Yesterday we had a record high for the day of 95 degrees. Since it was only in the high 70s mid morning I decided to tough it out ride the damn bike, but I did pack a water bottle. I determined a couple things on the ride. I am woefully out of cycle shape , a 2% grade feels like 20%, and my rear tire was a bit low. There is a difference between low pressure and no pressure, and I was very close to no pressure so I addressed that when I got back.
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| ROAD TRIP!! |
I recently had a lovely long weekend on Orcas Island, an annual trip I take with my Daughter and dog in August. I am fortunate to have a friend whose parents were smart enough to buy some land there back in the early 1970s so we get to semi "glamp" each year.
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| accommodations |
We are fairly close to a marina where the dog and I can hang out in the early morning while the girl snoozes.
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| rough duty |
While we did alot of activities on the Island one of the things I love most is just hanging out; reading and enjoying the quiet, nature, the smell of warm pine trees, and the sense that time has slowed just a bit. And seeing the Milky Way at night and a few shooting stars is pretty cool too.
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| reading girl |
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| snoozing pup |
And while I didn't bring a bike or rent one or ride at all that didn't stop my vintage bike radar from going off occasionally, by the marina I spotted not one but two cool old Bridgestone's.
The Bridgestone XO series is rare and legendary so it was very cool to run across one on Orcas.
And not far away on the dock was a nice Bridgestone road bike an R400.
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| catalog shot |
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| non drive side |
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| head-tube |
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| Seat-tube cluster |
Until next time. Ride.Smile.Repeat.
