Have we stopped the daily reports? Oct 14

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

DH and I went for a leisurely 20 mile ride with 3 other couples (2 of the couples were staying the weekend with the one couple who are friends of ours locally.) One couple was visiting from Australia. Very active people.
These were all fairly strong longtime bikers. But luckily for me, one was seven months pregnant and another had a very painful "comfort/gel" saddle, so I didn't have to get all embarrassed about my relatively modest strength and riding skills. For all these reasons, the ride was not too fast or too difficult for me. Thus, I was not always the one straggling at the back, despite the fact that normally they were all stronger riders than I. I held my own, and the ride had to end earlier than hoped because of the one woman's "comfort" saddle pain rather than because of any limitation on my part.

When I took my bike out of our car to start riding, all day there was a new little clicking/clattering noise that was driving me INSANE. It sounded like it was coming from up front somewhere, didn't seem to depend on tire rotaion, and no matter what part, screw, valve, or cable I held steady and checked, it kept clicking and clattering away as I rode. ANNOYING!!! That noise was threatening my whole riding enjoyment. I put up with it for the ride, but...it would have to go.

At the very END of the day, I found I could produce the noise by gently bouncing the bike on the ground while holding the bike. Because I was not RIDING the bike, I was finally able to zero in on the sound. I held my ear close while bouncing the bike, and followed the noise from the front stem area, on down the top tube towards the saddle area- and it turns out it was the little brass buckle that buckled my saddlebag to my seat post- the buckle was bouncing against my frame lug where the seatpost went into the frame. What a RELIEF!! I simply tucked the leather strap end in the other way and that held the buckle away from the tube. Funny thing was that the metal tapping on the frame lug made the sound echo all the way along inside the top tube to the FRONT of the bike, and that's why it sounded like it was coming from the front of the bike while I was riding.

Aside from all this...somehow or other, the rear gear cable tension has slowly changed on my bike over the past 2 weeks, and we've been struggling with tensioning it back and forth slightly so my back gears will work correctly again. Still trying to get it right. At least I can ride in the meantime, it's a matter of skipping gears unexpectedly sometimes.

[Fredwina]

I also rode, Unfortunately, I did too much and bonked. It was a great ride, but I'm going to have spend a week rehabbing

[Bad JuJu]

I only did a short, but quick, 20 miles this morning. It was chilly (well, chilly for NW Florida--not chilly for your northern women) and much windier than I'd expected. On this particular route, I cross a 3-mile-long bridge over a bay, and woo baby, was that wind pushing me around on that bridge this morning! Fortunately the bridge has an extremely wide bike lane--almost as wide as the regular traffic lanes--so I had a lot of room to maneuver when the wind gusts tried to push me, variously, over the side of the bridge, or into traffic.

When I was coming back, dh met me about halfway across the bridge. He had long nylon pants and regular sneakers on, so even though he didn't say so, I think he was a little concerned and just jumped on the bike without thinking. What a guy!

[Bad JuJu]

Mimi--I once owned a Bianchi Volpe for a little while--it was used, I got it in a swap, and I could never adjust it enough to make it fit me right, so I eventually cut it loose. But it's a great bike--I rode mine all through grad school. It can take a wide variety of tires, from reasonably skinny for speed to a little beefier for dirt roads, and, as you noticed, has clearance for fenders. It also takes well to fitting it with a rear rack.

Of course this was probably a 1994 model, and they've probably been enormously upgraded since then, but I think it's still built with the same philosophy--as a cross bike that also does well for touring and general riding. And it sounds like they're making them in smaller sizes now, with wsd geometry. If I didn't have my great Waterford touring bike, I'd definitely look into the wsd Volpe.

I think that new green color is called Gang Green. Clever name, but I'm not crazy about that particular green either.

[mimitabby]

Mimi--I once owned a Bianchi Volpe for a little while--it was used, I got it in a swap, and I could never adjust it enough to make it fit me right, so I eventually cut it loose. But it's a great bike--I rode mine all through grad school. It can take a wide variety of tires, from reasonably skinny for speed to a little beefier for dirt roads, and, as you noticed, has clearance for fenders. It also takes well to fitting it with a rear rack.

Of course this was probably a 1994 model, and they've probably been enormously upgraded since then, but I think it's still built with the same philosophy--as a cross bike that also does well for touring and general riding. And it sounds like they're making them in smaller sizes now, with wsd geometry. If I didn't have my great Waterford touring bike, I'd definitely look into the wsd Volpe.

I think that new green color is called Gang Green. Clever name, but I'm not crazy about that particular green either.

It is clear that they are trying to sell this bike to a different age group !
Gang green indeed!
I really need to test ride a 44 cm bike now. What if they handle so much better because they fit me right? all these whatifs are annoying..

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It is clear that they are trying to sell this bike to a different age group !
Gang green indeed!

If this is the one, then they call it "Vintage Celeste"
http://www.bianchiusa.com/05_volpe.html

I LOVE that kind of green myself! I like Army green too, but I just call it olive green.

[mimitabby]

If this is the one, then they call it "Vintage Celeste"
http://www.bianchiusa.com/05_volpe.html

I LOVE that kind of green myself! I like Army green too, but I just call it olive green.

No, it's this one, gang green. But honestly, I can't see much diff. between them.
http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_volpe.html

[mimitabby]

These were all fairly strong longtime bikers. But luckily for me, one was seven months pregnant and another had a very painful "comfort/gel" saddle, so I didn't have to get all embarrassed about my relatively modest strength and riding skills. For all these reasons, the ride was not too fast or too difficult for me. Thus, I was not always the one straggling at the back, despite the fact that normally they were all stronger riders than I.
.

Lisa, i can really relate to this. It is a relief when some of our tough riders sometimes have to slow down because of accidents (I know, it sounds awful!!) or strains and stuff.

We left the house as soon as it was light and rode up to the University district, going through the arboretum, where a nice man took our picture with HIS camera because i brought my camera without its brains, so it didn't work.
If he sends the photo, i will include it in our "show your rides" thread here.

The arboretum was beautiful with all the colors. THe lack of other cars and bicycles was nice too.
then we headed west to ballard and then the magnolia waterfront and went down towards downtown where my poor impatient DH discovered that his bike is next on the list to be constructed at Elliott Bay bikes. While he was talking shop, i was loose in the shop, and discoverd a 44 cm Bianchi Volpe. I sat on it and it felt really good. Made me wonder if i just need a smaller bike. I was feeling a bit stupid and punkish so did NOT want to test ride it. (besides, army green, what WERE they thinking?!?!?!) The bike is steel and there is a lot more room for fenders than can be found on my Veloce, that's for darned sure!

we then headed back home, up to beacon hill where the local fire dept was having an open house. We stopped because there were a dozen dalmation dogs. And lo and behold DaKay (a TE lady) was there with a gorgeous friendly dalmation of her own. She recognized me in my bike duds, i would never have recognized her. So she got to see our ugly tandem and we talked bike stuff for a bit and then went on home.

SO glad we rode because today it is UGLY.