Weather is finally getting warmer up here in the far north. Bikes got a nice wash up today and are ready to go for the season
Last weekend I went out for a ride on the newly put together 1989 Bridgestone MB-1. It was wonderful. Me and the family also sat outside for lunch and dinner. First real days of spring. 18 Celsius. This weekend... That is the garden furniture in the back ground. -1 Celsius. I am a little disappointed at the way spring is working this year.
Polishing a watch might render you some spanking around here. Not the same thing within the vintage bike hobby - as long as it is not done to a anodized part. If it is "raw" alu and you do not polish away too much no one is likely to bother you... When having a job that has a very long perspective on results - 5-10 years, it is nice to do something after work that gives instant results. Got home and started a "serial restoration". Four C-Record seatposts needed some attention. Here is a pic showing one of the differences between the first genteration C-Record and the rest - a small step just before the aero section: Another is a difference in the amount of love put into the bolt - guess which one is early...: The early version seatpost is also a little bit longer as might show in the first picture above. Here is midway of tonights C-Record party - at about 1500 grit ( the rest being 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500) wet sanding paper (and a beer). Three hours later - the last step being 2500 grit paper and some polishing compound. Not getting totally an-l about it I decided to leave marks that were below the insertion limit. One of the late seatposts had such a weak logo mark I decided to remove it completely. Have a look at the first pic in this post - the second from the right which shows how it started out or the pic just above showing it afterwards and to the left. I have got a bike with a Mavic group but its design does not "permit" the use of the typical Mavic black and non-aero seatpost. This one will do just fine on that bike. Here is a after pic of the step on an early C-Record post: Final result and instant satisfaction - the feeling of having done something and getting the result immediately. Nice. Parade. Clearly better spent time than watching television.
The Elgin B.W. Raymond 571 says it's time to race. My first road race of the 2017 season is tomorrow with our masters team...my Schwinn Paramount Series 9 is ready...not sure if I am...but we'll give it the old college try.
Bosse - the Finnish spitz - and I took a ride today. He loves to run and knows not to hunt for birds and deer while we do it. I got tired and had to rest. Bosse was not impressed. I believe it shows in the pic.
Rode my bike today around a stalled housing development in North Sacramento. This one has Spanish-themed street names: Catalan Sea, Ibiza Island. One problem: there is no Catalan Sea. Concrete pads are in, as are plumbing and electrical hookups. They've been sitting like this for 10 years. None of this bothers Bam! the Wonder Bunny, a rescue rabbit found abandoned on a nearby levee. Bam! just sits on the brake cables, soaking in the sun and watching the world go by.
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