[Parallax]

Definitely wait at least a few months. Pandemic aside, it's 111° right now. Made for a toasty ride home today.

But it's a dry heat.

[Parallax]

I have too many bikes.

No such thing.

I've always ridden steel bikes

There's a saying that I quoted to many, many customers over the years: "Steel is real". In a literal sense it's meaningless, but it get's the point across, nonetheless.

[mattb123]

Monarch Crest trail, 11,962 at the high point. I managed to stay away from that storm.


---------- Post added 06-28-20 at 11:00 PM ----------

Fun ride with the Mrs today at the ski area. Great trails and scenery.

[scratchpaddy]

Matt, I get a desperate urge to move to Colorado every time I see your pictures. You capture the landscape with such skill.

No such thing.

There's a saying that I quoted to many, many customers over the years: "Steel is real". In a literal sense it's meaningless, but it get's the point across, nonetheless.

I think this is true of any hobby, where "x" is the subject of the hobby:
Q: How many X do you need?
A: One more.

I do love steel bikes, but I'd like to try building a plastic one some day. I was browsing carbon frames online, and I suddenly felt bad with five other bikes already in my apartment. I only have so much room. So I sold one instead.

I may try ultramodern eventually, but I kept it traditional today with my Schwinn, and a Soviet lens from the '60's.

[acoufap]

Small Camera Bag Front Loaded, Tripod Bag Back Racked.





Both KP • DA*11-18@11 • Affinity Photo HDR.

[photocles]

I kept it traditional today with my Schwinn, and a Soviet lens from the '60's.

Gorgeous image!

I rode a steel Kawamura Nishiki International from 1986 to 2001. That bike was so forgiving on my body compared to the aluminum (mostly mountain) bikes that followed.


Or maybe it was just the age factor?

[Geodude]

FYI... Yoshizo Shimano, the former president of Shimano Inc. and the third son of founder Shozaburo Shimano, passed away on July 3 from chronic heart failure at the age of 85.

Yoshizo Shimano Dies | Former Shimano President Dies at Age 85

[photocles]

...Shozaburo Shimano, passed away on July 3...

Thanks for sharing that article. From Bicycling: "Shimano was an avid cycling enthusiast and also served as the president of the Bicycle Association of Japan."


Can't imagine a more 'bicycle' family, really. I don't believe I've ever had a bicycle that didn't have a Shimano product on it someplace.

[photocles]

From a side-street in Paris.

[scratchpaddy]

Gorgeous image!

I rode a steel Kawamura Nishiki International from 1986 to 2001. That bike was so forgiving on my body compared to the aluminum (mostly mountain) bikes that followed.

Or maybe it was just the age factor?

Thanks! I didn't realize until I was processing the picture that the whole scene matched the color scheme of my bike. A happy coincidence.

It amazes me how much the right frame can smooth out a ride, despite smaller tires. Those Nishikis were fine bikes. Lots of excellent Japanese bikes in that era.

I sold one more bike last week, my other Schwinn, a '74 Le Tour. I bought it five years ago because it was yellow ("Kool Lemon" according to the catalog archive). It's really heavy by modern standards, the brakes didn't work at all if the chromed-steel wheels got wet, and the stem shifters and old-style brake levers with the cables sticking straight up annoyed me, but I got more comments and compliments about it than any other bike I've had. While I did enjoy riding it, bikes improved tremendously in the '80's.

I was surprised that the guy who bought it was around my age (both of us much younger than the bike). He was replacing a Motobecane from the same era that was in much worse condition.

[photocles]

...Schwinn, a '74 Le Tour.

I had a good friend growing up that had a Le Tour of the same era in red. It was a sturdy beast even if it was a bit heavy. I know exactly what you mean about the brakes and chromed rims!

[aaacb]

[scratchpaddy]

I see a Schwinn! I believe that's a 1984 World Tourist. Like many of Schwinn's low-end models of the time, it was outsourced to Giant in Taiwan. It had Shimano's early attempt at indexed shifting, the "Positron" system, as well as the short-lived "FF" system, which put the freewheel at the pedals instead of at the rear wheel, allowing shifting while coasting.


Schwinn's marketing called it "a terrific 10-speed for those interested in going with style, not speed."

[aaacb]

I see a Schwinn!

Never knew that a thing like this bottom bracket freewheel thing ever existed, thanks for the info

[arnold]

Details details from my steel classics.

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[IMG][/IMG]

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