The weather has been great…….if you’re a sailboat. Yes I am not a big fan of the wind. It never fails you do a ride and start out with a headwind and you figure a better work out, good training and I will fly on the way back. You start back and the wind changed and you have that headwind all of the way home. That is exactly how one of my rides went in the past couple of weeks. For those of you that are in the eastern part of the United States you are having real weather, the wind the wet and the cold, my condolences to you and sorry about whining over 60 degree sunny days with 50 mph winds. Living here at the foot of the Rockies, a weather person’s nightmare, you never know what is going to hit, when or where. The old saying in many areas, if you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes, here if you don’t like the weather go to your back yard, it will be different.
Yes it has been windy but I still have gotten in some rides, and for the most part good rides. I have met some really nice people and it is early in the season. I was talking to one gentleman who was with a younger lady and was able to give them some information and tips that their bike shop should have given them. The lady was curious about the computers on the tall son’s and my bikes. This was pretty fascinating to them and she wondered why the shop she bought her new bike and equipment from had not mentioned it. The gentleman was riding with a dress pair of cargo shorts and they were about in the middle of a 40 mile ride. He was riding a very heavy, fully suspended mountain bike that the shop told him would be easier to ride for casual riding. This guy had to be in his late 60’s or early 70’s. Why a shop would put him on something like that is beyond me. Sometimes the bike industry shoots its self in the foot. But then again it is hard to find customer service anywhere anymore. Don’t get me wrong there are a lot of really good shops out there and a lot of really good “Kid” sales persons but there are others that make you feel that you interrupted their day and just want you to leave your money and go away. Hey I can speak from experience, I have wrenched as well as sold in a shop, and a little attention, especially in this economy, will go a long way. In one of my earlier ramblings I talked about finding a shop that fits your comfort level and hopefully your personality. This, is what it is about and believe me you will know it. The merchandise is so close in quality today that little things like the shop personal can make or break the brand you decide to ride.
On a brighter not so soap boxy note, I spotted my first snake of the year crossing a trail. Next thing that comes after snakes……………….goat head stickers. If you are due for new tires seriously think about a little heavier, thorn resistant tire. Even if you aren’t break your tires down, or have your customer service oriented shop, or neighbor do it, and put in some tire liners. Either way they are a little heavier but unless you are such a speed freak you don’t carry more than 1 water bottle and no tool kit, you won’t notice it. Come to think of it I saw one of those types with his ultra light equipment, NO bottles or tool kit. He was pushing his bike with a flat tire. Being me, I stopped my wind in the face ride and asked if I could give him anything, he said “no thanks I’ll be home in 3 miles”.
That does bring up another subject that I promise not to dwell on or soap box. I have given riders tubes, CO2 bottles and an occasional use of a wrench. I know I won’t get the tube or CO2 back but to get the returned karma it’s worth it. Besides I am a big believer in Murphy’s Law so I carry all kinds of crap and I haven’t even had a flat in 2 years, at least not out on a ride.
Till Next Time
Ride Fast As You Can, Ride Safe, But Ride
“G”
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