Thursday, August 28, 2014

Changes

I have had the Trucker on the repair stand these last few weeks doing some maintenance. New chain, cables, brake pads. All with the idea of a little tour in late September before the weather changes up high. I have also been kicking around for this bike, a return to drops, so, this is the opportunity to get that done.
I have been running Albatross bars on this bike for the last three years and I have liked them. I found I was spending most of my time riding up on the front curve of the bars, finding the most comfort there. So, back to the drops I go. I also installed a shorter stem so I can continue to have an upright ride but with the multiple hand positions that the drops give me.

From this:

To this:

And back to this:
 After a quick spin around the neighborhood I was ready to try it out for the Saturday morning group ride. I met up and nobody had any ideas where to ride so I popped out "How about a ride up to Rainbow Curve in the Park"
Off we go, about eight of us. It was a cool morning with some high clouds up on the divide.
We rolled on up through Horseshoe Park and up to Deer Ridge Junction. Some of the group had to get back and a few were cold without the right clothes. I was the only one who wanted to keep going on up so off I go on a solo ride, which is how it is anyway!!
Same as last week...a few wildflowers left out

A stop below Hidden Valley to put on a long sleeve shirt. It was one of those temp days (High 40's) that you get sweaty because you are on a long climb but the wind is cool to any exposed skin.

Stopped at Many Parks Curve and talked with some people riding Harley's as a big group. They were doing a loop up over Trail Ridge-Berthoud Pass and back to Denver. They were surprised by the cool weather and were scrambling through their bags for face scarves and gloves. Nice people!

Getting close to the clouds!

No obligatory Longs Peak photo today. It was covered up by clouds. A picture though of the last of the Paint Brush before they go to sleep for winter. This is just below Upper Hidden Valley.

In the park, cell phone coverage is a bit spotty. This would happen to change up my day. I am taking a little break at Upper Hidden Vally chomping on my PBJ sandwich. Just with a little climb left to get to Rainbow curve.
And suddenly I catch some coverage and my phone blows up with messages and texts. From my kids letting me know Debbie has been bucked off her horse and has broken her arm and is on the way to the ER.
So down down down I go. Changes your day from a peaceful ride and experience in the Park to back to the real world.
She is OK. We had surgery on Tuesday and had a plate and some pins inserted and she is on the road to healing. Changes a few things in that I'll have to cancel the short tour I was going to do because I am on duty as her stable and horse boy for awhile. All good!! Glad to be able to help.
Still glad for the bar changes on the Trucker. The shorter stem works for me and it is a good ride. This has been my favorite bike for a long time....like returning to an old friend. Not a big deal with cancelling the tour. It was all going to be weather related anyway for late September. I was planning on going up over Trail Ridge to Grand Lake, over to Walden, up and over Cameron Pass and down the Poudre River Canyon to Ft. Collins and back up to home. Four or Five days. 20th of September. It could be nice or it could be closed with fall snow storms. I'll get it next year!! Kyle and I are still planning our Rollins Pass ride in late September. That will only be one day and will also be weather dependent.

Everybody have a good rest of the week!!
Jim

9 comments:

  1. Great read, and beautiful pictures! Glad to hear Debbie is okay and recovering well. Good that you are there for her. I love all the tinkering with bikes .... it's always fun! If you still end up with hand and wrist problems, you might take a good look at the Velo Orange Course Bar ..... I sure like mine. 100 miles on it so far, and all my thumb, hand and wrist pain is GONE!!! Plus, down in the drops are becoming alomost my preferred position. I couldn't use them with the other bar. Such beautiful photos! It looks like you got plenty of rain this year.

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    1. Thanks Richard! I never really had hand or wrist trouble, just wanted a more upright ride when I went to the Albatross Bars. Then because I experimented with shorter stems on my Schwinn, I found this solved my reach problems. So, shorter stem with the drops might be the best solution for me. We will see over some time here. I agree with you, the tinkering is fun and keeps my interest up on all things bicycle!!

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  2. You have horses? Sorry, Coach, I spend most of my time out of the loop. Is Debbie your wife? I like the emergency run home, though. Ain't it great to be someone who hustles to the rescue? I know about horses and shovels, me brother, and I would dearly welcome a chance to help out. Or not. September cometh, for you the change from good to cold, for me the beauty days, about ninety days of perfect...I hope this all makes sense. I just did 22 days on the road...

    tj

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    1. Yes, Debbie is my wife, and as for the horses, they are hers. I just help out with them. I prefer transportation that you don't have to feed and clean up after.......every damn day!! Come on up and grab a shovel because those bastards never stop shitting.
      Whoa....22 days in a row....you used to be my hero, but now your are just a grinder like the rest of us working slobs.

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  3. Jim - first off glad Debbie is ok and on the mend. Second - great pictures as always you live in a gorgeous spot. I do love my drops especially with an upright position like I have on the Handsome devil. I have toyed with the idea of going to a moustache type bar but I really have no complaints about the Nitto Rando's I am currently using. Hope your stable boy duites will allow you to get some more Indian summer rides in.

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    1. Thanks Ryan, I'll get some more riding in. These last two weekends were slated for golf events so back on the bike next weekend. Really looking forward to the Rollins Pass ride. I'll post up when we get that done and it will be a spectacular country up there with views.

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  4. High in the 40s? I double checked to make sure I wasn't reading an old post from some other time not in August lol. Hard to relate with the heat we have here. Many times we escape it for a week and go to Colorado but it didn't work out this year. Wishing your wife a speedy recovery.

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