With the Tour underway there are many things to envy. One that always gets me is the team cars. This, to me, is the ultimate luxury (coupled with the relentless suffering, but hey, these guys are paid for this). No need to stuff your jersey with eight kilos of food and spares. A new wheel is at the ready – a whole new bike, should it come to that. Bidons are chilled and waiting. Tools are full-sized and plentiful, not folded little compromises. And if the V-tank goes to empty, there is always the back seat of that four-wheeled decal darling.
As of today, my envy can be put to rest. Today, AAA (yes, the Automobile Association of America) will extend roadside assistance to members in the state of Washington. Now, I have a team car… and it has hydraulics. And 700 ft-lbs of torque. And a reasonable chance of some canned beer stashed behind the front seat. Now I just hope AAA comes up with a sharp looking kit.
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@El Mateo Houston now, but most of my encounters occured in Beaumont.
ahhh Beaumont, home of the mouth breathing knuckle draggers. sorry, I'm getting a little misty remembering the family reunions. Uncle Daddy, momma, and my sister/wife we would all get togahter and throw our empties and my brother. then we would all just point and laugh at him while my cousin would play the mouth harp.
@Skinnyphat
that doesn't sound that bad actually
^ I bet the tow truck guy will drop me off someplace where I can drink for 4 hours. If I were still in PDX, I'd have to add a roll of small bills to the jersey pocket for the dancers...
@Skinnyphat
What were you using the brakes for (I assume that's how you melted them)? Surely you realize that brakes are strictly ornamental and only intended for use by "sissies".
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Waiting for the time limit to expire on my new ToolKit Assembly. Carbon Lezyne minipump, Latex Tube, Lezyne V5 minitool, Lezyne tirelevers. Dispensed with CO2/Chuck as they were heavier than everything else combined. My phone outweighs the lot by a solid order of magnitude. Everything in the middle pocket and I still have room in there for an unabridged volume of Shakespeare's Complete Works, signed by the author.
@frank
It has to include the Apocrypha otherwise it breaks a Rule.
Probably.
@frank
there's a mildly famous "hairpin turn" on the descent of route 2, and while I normally agree with your braking philosophy, you don't want to hit the hairpin at 50mph, or else you'll be George Jetson off a cliff. It's all good, got a brand new pair of rims out of the ordeal.
@El Mateo
I'm new to Velominati [and cycling] but I agree with you about the locals here... Quite like 'Deliverance," eh?
Last night I took a late night to midnight ride around downtown Fort Worth and the Trinity and experienced everything you speak of.
Frank - you've ditched the CO2, eh? Very interesting. I'd never used mine until a few weeks back. My Lezyne pump was giving me problems - a weird suction formed and could only get about 1/3 a chamber of air into the tube. Used my C02 and was back on the road in no time.
Hmm, have to ask the VMH but I'm pretty positive she has AAA. I better make sure I'm listed on it - don't own a car, but would LOVE to have my very own team car!
Ha, just realized that the team car pictured is from Western & CNY! Oh how I miss thee.