My cycling story for today.

I went to the eye doctor. I like going to the eye doctor. My opthamologist is a very pretty brunette with a remarkable shape under her modest smock. She looks deeply into my eyes and asks me to talk about myself. Swoon. The climax of our annual assignation is when she dilates my eyes and pronounces them healthy. I leave with a head full of fantasies involving exam chairs, eye charts, and lingerie. Then I step outside, and try to ride home in the unbearably bright sunshine, with eyes that can't focus. The route home involves streetcar tracks, heavy traffic, bridges, narrow bike lanes, and today, it seemed, an inordinate number of large trucks. I can't focus to see in my helmet mirror. When I turn to look behind me I see white glare. Looking ahead is a shifting blur of gray roadway, large moving things, and blinding light. I know the route well so I rode it mostly from memory. Of course today happened to be a blazing hot day with not a speck of cloud to attenuate the midday sun. Somehow I made it to the refuge of my shady neighborhood pub where I gave thanks for my survival with a thick black pint. My eyes were almost normal after that, and the three squinting blocks home were drama free. I hope it was as good for her as it was for me.

2007 Litespeed Siena
 

Today's ride in Arcadia, RI around the Breakheart area.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/86693060@N00/14610488788" title="IMG_4583 by hootsmagoon, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/14610488788_8abd1e4f04_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_4583"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/86693060@N00/14797111045" title="IMG_4599 by hootsmagoon, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/14797111045_339f3f7066_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="IMG_4599"></a>

Nice! here's a pic of my Litespeed Appalachian

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1406841934.jpg

Super Mario

http://bikefag.files.wordpress.com/2...picture-13.png

2015 UCI Road World Championships

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1406854207.jpg

I've already got preliminary plans to be there :cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1406858924.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1406858957.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1406859001.jpg

Cool but NO... I value my fingers ;)

Chipoweenie

Wow, I know one day, we will have the power to attract that kind of race on the UCI calendar. Is that near you?

11 hour drive. But that's as close as it will likely ever get to me. We'll probably take the bikes, do some riding, do some spectating, etc.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1406893629.jpg

Bicycle ArtForm > HandBuilt Bicycle Show
High Point NC Sept. 5-7
A three day celebration of the bicycle, friends and all things cycling. Centered around the 2014 USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championships.

weird configured bike
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407002977.jpg

classic stache
(and cool toe clips)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407003041.jpg

Cinelli BB shell and lugs. The Simplex rear dropouts are unique. The adjuster screw is held by a captured nut, rather than a drilled & threaded hole. I haven't seen this type before.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407113747.jpg

^^mighty fine details and neato to see them. Were they the problematic ones? If so, no biggie and only makes it more rare and unusual. Guessing more pics coming...?

The Moto is stripped and getting a faux Team BIC orange paint. Has these odd French adjusters-
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407122715.jpg

The French have always been a little weird with their design. I have not always been a big fan of it. I only own two French frame. The recent Time frame is one of them and of course, the Look.

Yeah, those are the Simplex dropouts that supposedly had cracking issues. But I'm not clear on the details. Seems like it would have to be in the brazing to the stays, not the dropout itself. I see no problems with mine. The frame came with some rare bonus swag ... a Stronglight Competition alloy BB, a Stronglight A9 alloy headset, and a Mavic stem :) Might be able to sell all of those for close to what I paid for the frame!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407190682.jpg

Fignon at the 1984 Giro d'Italia:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407190875.jpg

A guy I am doing some vinyl work for has 5 of these frames left.....various sizes. He is retailing them for $500. Includes seat stem, front fork and bearing. 2012 models he says.

What say the collective?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407195579.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407195588.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407195598.jpg

Sounds cool. 74-75 Team Champion is near the top of my dream bike list :cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407202096.jpg

............................http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407202392.jpg

When I raced for the PAA for those few years, I have not heard of any issues with those frames. Those guys beat the heck out of them because they didn't have to pay for them, and it was to be returned to the club at the end of the year. Hell, I crash them into the back of the cars too if I had one. Wait, I did, only through the back passenger window and it was my frame that was destroyed. Those exchanged hands for three full racing seasons and had no issues that I know of.