Bike Ride

 Did the 50 miler yesterday - pretty warm for an October day. Temps in the low eighties about the time we finished. I took my old Motobecane that I gave to my running buddy a few years back that has been in my garage since our last ride for her stepson to ride. I had raised the seat up for him but I had forgotten the clamp didn't work as designed. As soon as he sat on it the first time it bottomed out against the seat tube. My running buddy is short legged, so that's where it worked well for her. I tried tightening it up again but no go. I had a pair of vise grips in the truck so I fastened those around the seat post to maintain the proper height. He got some interesting comments at the sag stops. He also had a flat tire on the ride - the back tire of course. I got it patched up pretty quick like and we were back on the road.

One nice thing about the cycling community, just about everyone who rode by us asked if we needed help. That's always comforting, especially since neither of my companions could have fixed it on their own. Since the ride was sponsored by the fire department, they had one of their vehicles touring the route and the number to call them was written on the route sheet. 

I saw a pair of Rivendell bikes at one of the SAG stops. Don't see many of these or any steel frame bikes any more. Other than these, my old Raleigh and the Motobecane, that was it that I saw. Lots of aluminum and carbon fiber. A couple of guys commented on our downtube shifters. Old school tech, no doubt about it. 

It was great to be out in the country on a sunny day. Looking forward to some more rides next season, especially since my running buddy bought herself a new bicycle. Maybe work up to a century ride.