The Hajj

I made the pilgrimage to The City today. My destination was, of course, Harris Cyclery, the forever spiritual home of the Great Sheldon Brown, may Alla bless his name. Even though this shop is "conveniently located" right off the Mass Pike, I had to drop off some one in Camberville and so decided to take the overland route which just happened to pass right through the Broadway Bicycle School.

First, I want to note a few things that I saw about The City. There were a ton of bikes everywhere. There were tons of bike lanes everywhere. There were also TONS of cars and stoplights everywhere! That, and the fact that there were no real "hills" to speak of made me think that it would be nuts to get around and way BUT bike if I lived in The City. Of course I don't. And that sucks. I think that I would like living in the the City much, much more that I like visiting it, or, more to the point, driving into it! Blech!

Secondly, BBS is fricken tiny! I thought that it would be so much.....more. Initially, I strode boldly into the "shop" only to realize instantly that in this case "Shop" really meant shop and not "store"! The floors were wooden and well worn. The walls were lined with tools and the place was full of cold but happy cyclists and workers, who were much less cold but still appeared to be quite happy. It was cozy. There were very, very few things for sale there, other than a big rack of bikes that I assumed to be refurbished whips. I spoke briefly with a nice man with a beard, smiled inside myself, took a schedule of up-coming repair classes that I will doubtfully attend and left. The overall feeling of the place, to me, was a combination of my grandfather's garage and a ski lodge.

Then, it was off to the "big event": Harris! I drove over filled with a sense of anticipation that seemed appropriate for this season. Had I been on a bicycle I might have made it on time. Sadly, the shop was closed. Even though all I could do was press my nose against the glass and drool a little, I can see why this place is Mecca for cyclist with an "old school" bent to them. Lugged this, Italian that and all kinds of folding something elses. What a place! My father, who rode a Bianchi and always lusted after a folding bike (a more ridiculous and dorky thing I could never imagine in my teen-aged mind) would have locked himself inside before he would have allowed himself to be locked outside of that place! I can't wait to get back there! Simply amazing place AND they have stuff for sale!

Oh my! The new Trek!

Is a bike. Sadly. No more no less. It was not a rocket ship. It didn't let ,me go any faster or any farther. It handles nicer than the Marathon but not as sharp as the PRN-10. There are a LOT of gears, most of which I don't need and some of which are suprizingly far apart from each other. Despite the fact that I "went down" to a 58, I found the reach to the bars to be just a smidge too long. I moved the seat a little forward and hope that does the trick. I only did 5 miles or so. I like the 1500 better than the vintage bikes but not that much better. I guess I just expected so much....more. I'll keep riding it in fair weather. Perhaps as I pile on more miles I'll come to appreciate it more. Right now though it's just alright.

edit: I was reflecting today. Rainy days are good reflecting days. The bike, other than felling a tad too big for me, felt like nothing else at all. This was my first aluminum road bike, and pretty much my first aluminum bike at all. It is certainly my first bike with 23c tires that take 120PSI. I expected a rough, stiff ride. I did not get it. In fact, the way that the bike road or "felt" played no part, either positive or negative, in my cycling experience at all. And that's good. I'll say it agiane; nice bike.

I got a New (to me) bike!

But can't ride it. I just haven't had the chance. Heck, I don't even have any pictures of it! It is a 2005 Trek 1500. I only test rode it up and down the street in front of the seler's house but I can already tell that it is an experience worlds away from the Vintage Steel that I have been riding. I can't wait to get some miles on it before the snow and ice come. There is NO room on this bike for fenders or wide tires. Racey. Fast. Nice.