Wow, last night I rode over Talcott mountain through the "Ancient lost passage" to West Simsbury to an environmental conference.
I did race-pace the whole way, made it in in an hour and a half, just as the meeting started.
Today it was 60 degrees out!!! The snow was melting. I caught some sun for lunch , that felt so good.
I rode in just a T-shirt and pile vest, and was still a bit warm, but got a bit wet from the humidity.
I dodged/ avoided getting hit by a guy making a sudden U-turn as I tried to somewhat carefully cross a fast two-laner. My fault: I did not watch him fully.
Next time, I dismount and walk. I was well lit, it just seemed the car didn't want to let me cross.
The meeting was at a farm, the owner was very nice. I met a great group of people who are committed to environmental stuff, lots of talent in the room.
I announced that I am thinking of starting a "bike kitchen", a place where people can come to work on bikes, it's non-profit, and a way to keep kids off the street ( well, so to speak).
Just google those two words, there are a few of them on the West coast, and one in Boston. It looks like a lot of fun, and this town could use something like this. I did feel a bit low-tech compared to the other folks though.
When people pay for a functional used bike, they will value it, and maybe even maintain it. Give most average Americans a free bike, and they will probably leave it in the garage, never getting around to the labor intensive "project".
The result : the bike ends up once again at the curb. Or left out in the rain to die a slow death. ... Bikes that are marginal can be sent to third world countries like Tanzania, where they have extra parts and staff to maintain them. And these bikes will get used every day to haul stuff.
The Pug was completely brown with sand this AM. I powerwashed it . The bike flew, but the wheels are pretty flat-spotted.
I bought some Liquid Wrench penetrating oil. It sucks. PB Blaster gets the nod.
After the meeting, somebody from the meeting (I think) hung back and followed me for a couple miles down a very fast descent. So I took the lane and just completely flew just to freak them out a little.
I eventually tried to wave them to pass, to no avail. I hate it when people do that, especially at night, It's like you are being stalked. I need silence and darkness...
If I wipe, I want to be alone for 10 minutes. Let me lie there in a daze, staring up at the full moon.
Climbing Talcott Notch road on the return loop in just the moonlight without the lamps was the coolest. I finally realized I didn't need them about halfway up, (duh.) The descent was pretty spooky though, that stretch has pot-holes that appear suddenly after the thaws, so I took it easy.
It was so great to take full advantage of this sudden warming trend and get an insane ride in...
Home by 11:30. Slept like a baby.
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