New Shoes

In my crowd, mountain biking is synonymous with autumn and orange leaves...start riding too soon and one is just plain messing with forces beyond one's control -- a couple springs ago a buddy went out to Maah Daah Hey in MAY...the planets haven't aligned correctly since.

So, with the new season arriving it was time for me to

who am I trying to kid?

So, with The Sweetie building up a 1 x 9 Monkey and getting a new 29er within weeks of each other it was time for me to be out in the garage tinkering on mountain bikes. I had actually started pondering new wheels for the Stumpjumper back in August, but seeing two new September arrivals made the push that much more frenetic. I WANT a Monkey. I WANT a 29er!

Except that I already have a mountain bike I love, a great 'cross bike for commuting and a '76 Raleigh still sitting in my basement ready to become my urban breakfast machine, not to mention the rest of the crowd hanging out in the garage. I have no need for another bicycle.

I test rode a few 29ers just to be sure.

Didn't like any of 'em whew!

So, I did nothing for a couple weeks to be sure the feeling had passed, and after a few early fall rides, I remembered what I liked so much about Stella. She fits. She's easy not in that way. I hopped online to see what wheels the MTBR forums were buzzing on. I talked to friends. I went to a nearby LBS, as well as to the LBS. By the time I'd picked a few brains about hubs and weights and spoke-types I knew what I wanted.

But new wheels meant a few more decisions: stay with rim brakes or go disc? if disc, hydraulic or mechanical? tube or tubeless? do it all myself or have the mechanics take care of everything? AND, should I really drop a wad on a three-year-old bicycle?

disc
mechanical
tube
myself
YES!

Everything arrived last Wednesday. I was slated to leave town bright and early Friday for our annual three-day Wisconsin mountain bike trip...the fall vacation. There wasn't time to be changing things out, and besides who wants to mess with good karma two days before a big trip?

I do.

I'll just take these out to the garage and see how things look, I said. When the dust cloud settled, Stella was sporting new 17 degree Salsa handlebars with Cane Creek ergo bar ends, a SRAM 980 and chain, Thomson seatpost, Avid BB7s, a pair of CrossMarks and a set of sweet DT Swiss 1540s.

She rides like a dream!

- OB off in happy land

The One that Brings Me

The cooler nights, the sun setting earlier in the evening, the dull green on the trees.... I know what’s on its way all too soon: dark mornings, fuzzy tights and the furnace kicking-in. I’m outta sorts with this transition. It's bigger than going back to a new school year. Time moves. The cycle begins again.

The wheel has rolled to the position it was in once before, yet it's not in the same place: it’s moved that much farther along the map, and the scenery is just a bit different, and the road contact has removed one more layer of wear from the tread. Everything looks familiar but nothing is quite the same.

I'm wistful because I have the time to be so. In another few days life will be crazy with kids and teachers and helpme^helpmehelpme and will-I-live-to-see-the-end-of-this-day. I won't have time for WISTFUL.

And then will come the red leaves waiting for snow to fall while hunkered-down until spring before summer sets me free again. And too soon I'll be back in this spot, but in a different place.

The wheel rolls.

Stella is starting to stomp around the garage. She can smell change on the air. Autumn is her favorite season to haul through the woods, and her impatience is setting-in. I get it, but I haven’t hopped onto the saddle just yet.

Betty knows too. She’s ancy when I get home. She knows how to cajole without allowing me to wallow. ComeON. So, you're nostalgic. SO, you're tired. SO it's getting cooler. SO the sun is setting a bit earlier. Time passes nothing stays the same you're getting old and one day you won't be around anymore bla bla bla. Girl, we've got a headlight. Flashers are on. It’s not like you have to DO anything but pedal. Let's go let'sgolet'sgolet'sgo!



....and we can stop by the Dairy Queen....

!

She knows how to get my sorry backside outta the house.

- TOB