July 20, 2016
Salutations citizens!
Hark unto me! I exhort you to
further thine bicycling prowess!
Thanks, Thor. He just
stopped by to make fun of me drink some mead.
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| https://militantcyclist.wordpress.com |
What are you doing?
Yeah!! I’ll be over in 36.
I am hear here to say thanks to Scott Redd and all who helped
organize the enjoyable GONG Ride this past Saturday. It was great!
There were two options – 22 miles or 45 miles. Since the ride started at 8:54...p.m.(!?!), I was keen to
finish in time to get a good night’s rest so that I wouldn’t be even more
irritable than usual. The 22 mile ride
was primarily on gravelly roads and the MoPac Trail. There was a nice stop in Louisville at Good
Times, a very nice bar with lots of bar games, including darts, pool, and
shuffleboard! That’s right! If I lived any closer I’d be there right
now! Also thanks to Dave and his family
for allowing us to hang out and park on his country manor.
I arrived early to mingle and to hit the gong. Very satisfying. I met some people and witnessed many intrepid
livers pitching tents hither and yon.
Before long it was time for a safety briefing and course(s) summary by
the organizers.
Then we were off for a
fairly flat, easy, and relaxing jaunt through the country shire. As we began, I overheard a formidable and gregarious
gravel-riding mainstay, whom I shall refer to as “Robbie,” state that tyres
containing low-pressures were just as fast as those encapsulating
high-pressures. More inflation just
meant you feel the bumps more and you feel like you’re going faster. Hmmmm.
I like the sound of this young man’s bold philosophy.
Upon arriving in Louisville I promptly toppled over after
being unable to unclip from my left pedal.
It turns out the cleat screws were loose! “Screw those loose cleats!” I thought with inaccurate salaciousness. Then we made it to the bar for some delicious
salty popcorn and local beers.
Afterwards, it didn’t take long to ride the MOPAC back to the gravel rode
a couple miles from our starting point. When
it was all over with I sat around by the fire and enjoyed a few more beers
before retreating to my (sub)urban garrison.
So that was great.
And the other riders I met were nice and sociable.
On the daily commute, I’ve encountered some fairly thin mud
flats on sidewalks that become pretty slick every other day (sprinkler days! Yay!).
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| I know, it looks harmless. But it gets really slippery! Whoa-aaaahh! |
So I am gradually spending more and more time
bicycling in roads, which is typically a little easier, faster, and not as
messy. That’s what Michael Scott said.
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| http://www.peopleforbikes.org/page/-/blog/stevecarell_new.jpg |
Shortly after nearly becoming de-steeded on the mud flats, I
noticed an unsettling irregularity in my rear brake. For a couple days I was thinking my new
wheels from my stepmom were a ripoff and that I would have to call up Amazon
and get her money back in order to restore our family honour. But after a couple days of consideration and
not being able to use my rear brake I actually stopped and examined my rear
wheel. Here is what I found.
Perhaps that is why my worn-out brake pads exhibited uneven wear. worn-outness .
Previously I assumed the grooved rim provides better
stopping power because it might provide a way for moisture to get channeled
away from the brake pad(?), but I never really considered it a potential trench
for embedding the fearsome halberds of
the troll warriors of the bicycling world – dried, concrete-like mud!
