There are few things as elegant as the quiet mechanical music of a freshly tuned road bike on a smooth, deserted country road, on a 68F early spring afternoon.
Ya' gotta love a spring day off!
Hey, the fact that I got to enjoy this today could be a gloat...
Yeah, I wish JOAT could inspire me to ride more. I probably ought to look at those tires... Tom
Sometimes, it's so hard to get out. Cold, hot, I'm tired, it's windy... Once I'm out, I keep asking why I'm not out more!
I'm thinking I'll be able to start riding to work next week. Tomorrow the bike comes out of the shed and gets its tuneup.
There's something about riding the trail along the river, stopping to watch the birds at the weir, or the crocuses poking through the last of the snow, the ground squirrels poking their heads out looking for that elusive spring greenery...
Bliss.
Dave
Both.
Pedal Powered!
What difference? Really?
Two wheels, no windshield pillars, nothing but this feeling that the wheels are an extension of your feet and there's that direct connection to temperature, aromas, and a feeling of spiritual connection. Bikes versus cars is sorta like the difference of Omnimax versus the theater. When you're older or somewhat incapacitated the motorcycle works like a top. Next substitute is the convertible. But the convertible to a bike is kinda like rafting versus whitewater in an open canoe solo. And these North Carolina mountains are a bit like Class IV and V. Try Tail of the Dragon in the Spring or Fall.
Critical? Simply the feeling of pure cool! Life is good.
TomNie
I should add that bikes are to hard roads as backpacking is to trails. TomNie
I much prefer off-road pedal-powered. Wife prefers the road, probably because of that broken clavicle she incurred a few years ago. Not that that's not possible ON road. Tom
There is no bad outdoor cycling. I broke my shoulder going over the bars of my MTB in 2003.
This morning, I replaced the tires, grips, and chain on my main MTB, and then replaced the chain and bar tape, and reinstalled the "outdoor" wheels on my "summer" road bike. Today was the road, tomorrow, I hook up with my buddies for some off-roading. Our local shop's organized road rides start Monday.
I normally prefer road if I'm going alone, as the chance of someone finding me if I'm injured is better.
All the motorcycle, canoe, kayak, running shoe, and hiking boot owners I know feel exactly the same when the weather breaks!
Barry, Your post sounds like the Disney World commercial, "I'm too excited to sleep!" That's so cool. God, I wish I could get excited about the next morning like I did as a kid when I was about to go fishing for the day. TomNie
Remember the scene in "The Wild One" where Brando is on a Triumph going down the road between two rows of trees with a girl on the back?
Maybe you're not old enough, but I am.
Almost 70 and still riding :-).
They show "The Wild One" on American Movie Classics for those of us who missed the first run.
So you totally understand!
Yep. Now if I could just afford one of those classic Triumphs :-).
Thanks for the inspiration. I read this this morning and then jumped on my mtn bike for a couple of hours of single track. It's nice to have trails within a mile of where I live.
Great weather and most everybody I met on the trail was cordial.....
Gary (now to get back in the woodshop)
A guy I work with just bought one of the new "old" Triumphs.
Wanna' buy an award winning, old and rare Norton? He's trying to sell it to pay for the new bike, as he can't part with his Ducati.
The Norton's actually won several awards at the NYC Javitt's Center Motorcycle show, and has been in magazines. This guy is the most anal guy I've ever met, so the bike's got to be incredible.
You're talking to a senior on Social Security - all I can do is drool :-). But I did get to ride a Norton once, a long time ago. Along with a Triumph, a Vincent, an Ariel, a BSA, a Royal Enfield, and even a Velocette. Oh yes, and a real Indian.
My bike now is a (modified) '78 Yamaha SR500, their copy of the BSA Gold Star. I've had it for over 20 years and never had the head off. Great bike.
I've got a 74 Triumph Trident that I'm wanting to get rid of. Hasn't been ridden since '78 and needs a lot of work to get it running.
Odinn wrote:I've got a 74 Triumph Trident that I'm wanting to get rid of. Hasn't been ridden since '78 and needs a lot of work to get it running.
I wonder how easily parts are to obtain for her. It was tough enough to get parts for my old '77 Yamaha 750. Still, a great bike, I had an estimated 100,000 miles on her, after rebuilding her 3 times, and crashing once(destroying the instrument cluster). Finally sold her. I'm due for a new motorcycle...Tom
On 4/2/2006 10:36 AM tom mumbled something about the following:
Old bike parts are virtually unobtainium, although, there are a few places that carry NOS and reproduction parts for popular classic bikes.
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