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Monday, March 10, 2014
peace on the down-tube
I had a great long ride this past weekend through wine country. It was an organized century sorta thing but the real greatness was just riding all day with some friends and spinning spinning sinning those cranks even over those rough roads - no matter - just ride - just spin.
I rode "Totally 80's!" which was interesting. Most of the people on this ride were on new-ish carbon fiber dealios. One guy I talked to at a rest stop/aid station commented on how "pretty vintage" my bike was - but not like "Vintage!, that's bitchin'!," but like Vintage, "I poopoo at you."
But whatever, maybe it was the wrong crowd to impress with an older bike. However, I came across one gentleman late in the ride who was riding a very similar bike - a Centurion, even - a Dave Scott model - and as we passed I called out, "Hey, nice bike," and he glanced over at mine and got it and said, "it's an '85" and I said, "I'm an "88!"
I'm an '88. I caught on to that a few moments after I said it but realized how accurate the statement was because at that moment T80's and I were not separate entities but one - rolling, performing together.
There were a few other older steeds out there of course. And the first one I came across around a quarter of the way through the ride I realized that we, the older steeded riders, needed a gang sign/hand signal and all of a sudden without forethought I flashed this rider a peace sign - and simultaneously understood what that sign represented - peace, sure, but also a perfect visual of the shifters on the down tube.
So for the rest of the day I flashed the secret sign to vintage down tube riders and hoped that some of them caught on.
Down-tube shifters, baby! - what's good enough for Miguel Indurain is good enough for me…
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7 comments:
Glad you had a good ride. I was thinking about you on Saturday when I made soy chorizo/potato/roasted poblano tacos.
Thanks, Justin. I hope you'll come up with us next year and be the house chef!
Sorry that we missed you there, but we're looking forward to hear about the century! I did not see too many 80's, but there was way less bling than at tri events! Lots of people out there, just enjoying the ride.
It's too bad there are so many people who want everyone to do what they do. Like it's carbon fiber or go away. But it's also better that there are those who won't.
Kristina: Look forward to sharing tall tales of the Century on the Centurion! I think, then, I'd have to wear two pairs of sunglasses if I eve showed up to a Tri…
Thanks, Sullivan - I do try to hold my ground - of course that ground becomes more solid when steel passes carbon all day - and gets them thinking...
Sounds like an awesome experience. I hope I can make it next year.
I love that you rode Totally '80s and passed people all day long. You gotta ride what feels good, and there's no guarentee that newer or carbon or whatever is better!
Thanks, PasadenaCyclist. It was a fun day and I hope you'll make it next year, too.
As for frame material, I think, since you mentioned it, that "whatever" is better… you know, just ride and ride and ride...
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