It is dark now when I rise. It is dark when I return home from the office. Leaves crunch under the soles of my shoes as I walk in the city. The rides that once occupied a devoted period of each day have now become stolen indulgences of either serendipity or careful planning.
The rain falls more regularly now; the Rain Bike is in top circulation. Bikes #1 and #2 hang from the wall, sparkling still from their last cleaning, now several weeks ago. The Rain Bike is covered in grime more often than it is clean. Cornering is a practice undertaken with great care as the leaves and their rotting remnants provide an abject reminder of Rule #64.
It is easy for the mind to forget it is a cyclist when the days are short and cold. Ritual becomes an increasingly important factor to keeping the cyclist’s rhythm in the body. This is why I continue to shave my legs throughout the winter even though they are covered when I ride. This is why I walk down to the basement to visit my bikes every day, even though I may not ride them. Such things remind us to keep living La Vie Velominatus.
A few months ago, Gianni mailed me his old Super Record front downtube shifter. It mesmerized me. It is a tool from an era long past, but echos in every piece of modern kit we use today. Designed firstly to serve a purpose and secondly to be gorgeous, it represents the duality of uncompromising function and unyielding beauty that fills every recess of cycling.
I carefully polished it and slipped it onto my keychain. Its gleaming form reminds me every day of the grace an elegance that punctuates our amazing sport.
Grazie, Gianni.
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@Buck Rogers
Ah, alas, no. Not Gianni, although I would happily take one from him should he offer it. This keychain came from a Gianni perhaps more legendary - with perhaps an even more magnificient stroke. Our own Gianni.
I've always liked keychains, the cycling related the most :)
@poppapro
What a ride! Another Campy boy, good on ya.
@Buck Rogers
Nay...only in my dreams am I Gianni Bugno. I'm glad the shifter has had a new life on Frank's key chain and I'm glad it is still thrilling a new owner. It came off my old steel bike when I went Ergo, the other one must be somewhere. It was the single best upgrade I've ever made to a bike.
Imagine the thrill of opening the original Campy boxes with all the components inside, sweet jesus, extremely exciting. Those boxes looked cool enough on their own but a rear derailleur inside, man, so much fondling before it was even installed. And that is why I am still a Campy fan, no Shimano on my road bike.
@poppapro
That belongs over the The Bikes, my friend - but between now and when you upload that one, please remove that fucking saddle bag.
Though, I have to say that is one of the finest modern Merckx's I've seen in a while.
Like most Seattle residents, I saw snow and assumed the worst. I was preparing for 3 months off the bike.
But like Seattle always does, it warmed up a few days later. I bathed the rain bike two days ago, did this to it yesterday morning:
Greetings! New to this site and I love IT! Here is a way to endure a ride in the nasty weather. First you need these....
Then you can go do this!
@caviarboy
see rule #5
@Booksy
Dude, that bike looks like it was shat on by a gnome named Gerry who happens to have dysentery. Any interest in giving us some context?