Photo: No more R2D2 Mailbox. :(I obviously took The Goat out for today's adventures in bicycle commuting. I'd thought of asking if I could use my wife's Townie 3 Speed, because it really is built from the factory for things like commuting around for short distances, but I figured being caught waiting for the bus at the already-dicey 10th and Main intersection with a "girl's bike" (a step-through frame) would probably be a Bad Ideatm. It is a sweeeeet bike, though. It would make a bad-ass Xtracycle, as it's already got a relatively long wheelbase and cruiser lines. While we were at the shop yesterday dropping my bike off, my wife picked up a bell for her Townie (ding ding!) and scored us a couple of Polar Bottle insulated water bottles. She rocks! We're waiting for her cardiologist to give her clearance to get back on the bike. The docs have been telling her to take it easy lately.
Alas, The Goat came out of semi-retirement last night for a quick grocery shake-down run, complete with lots of riding through grass, hopping of curbs and other delightful stuff that would put the hurt on any road bike. This morning was a bit of a hammerfest into the headwind. I left later than I should have but made it to the bus stop on time.
Hard telling which bus I'll end up taking home tonight. 87th street is tolerable on the road bike because I can get scooting and hold onto something resembling 30 MPH for most of the duration that I'm forced to use that section of road. On the MTB? No way. I think I may take the L(oser) bus home and ride up Quivira. Ugh. At least it's not the D(readed) bus.
Random Tunage:
2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone [Random indeed. WTF?!]
Way Out West - Don't Forget Me (Dust Biter Mix)
"They" need to standardize those derailleur hangers. I had to have one ordered for my mountain bike when I busted that one. They're hard to get, proprietary, and incredibly overpriced -- $20 or so for a little metal tab. What the hell?
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for backup bikes. I'm still using my old mountain bike as a commuter, even though conditions are good enough for the road bike. Mostly because I get paranoid leaving my good bike laying around, and this way I can use normal shoes. And since I have a short commute, the extra efficiency isn't a requirement.
We interrupt MS150 Training on the Sirrus to interject a day of commuting on the hybridized Alpine Monitor Pass!
ReplyDeleteDon't feel too bad Noah. Some of us have taken a "Road bike Sabbatical" today as well. The Bayou City Art Festival is coming to town and they are set up in the Memorial Park Picnic Area/Crit Course so it's unusable to bike traffic for the rest of the week.