Aaaah. . .

Good day.  Today I decided to get breakfast at the local breakfast place (eggs, pancakes, which I can make myself, but I cook in during the week), drive about, read a bit of a novel (Sean Russell), and get the two recently acquired bikes working. G sat in the window and purred at me while I worked.  I'm best when working under feline supervision. 

I put the Fuji together for Youngest Brother, and was pretty pleased with the results.  There are a few things to upgrade (wider handlebars, pedals, wheels) so I’ll be looking for odds and ends as I go.  But she’s and absolutely rideable beater road bike, which is cool - should be a nice introduction for YB to see if he likes it.  Since YB is a buff soccer player (who almost did a pro stint), I think he’ll be pretty fearsome on the Fuji.  He’s got a lot of physical intelligence and should pick it up pretty quickly. 

On the other hand, the Raleigh turned out to be an abolute keeper.  I’d picked her up because I thought I could salvage a part or two off her.  When I first saw her, she was covered in oily dust, and I though that her steel wheels were rusted and her tires were rotten through.  Instead, she turned out to be perfectly preserved.  I’ve never seen an old 3speed in this kind of shape.  It’s as though she rolled off the showroom floor.  (Although oddly enough, her hub was pretty dry/stiff until oiled.)  After a bit of cleaning and tuning up, she rides like a dream – very smooth, stable, the epitome of a cruiser.  I love old Raleighs – simple, built to last for decades, easily maintained, classy as hell.  Anyone need a good bike?

Proving the adage that accidents don't happen while you're actually riding, I slipped off one of the old pedals and fell when working on the Fuji, actually, while riding her across my perfectly flat driveway (hence better pedals on the list).  I ripped my crappy work pants, banged my knee, and skinned my elbow, resulting in my first road rash in awhile.  Normally I’m wearing gloves and will take most of the road on my palms if I end up going down.  On the driveway I was holding a wrench.  Ouch.  Saved the wrench from any scratches though (duh). 

I was wearing the same sandals that didn't give me any rock purchase when Lyco and I were climbing in the Shenandoah.  This has completely convinced me that I need super grippy sandals for my short wide feet.  Any suggestions?  As long as I'm asking, anyone have suggestions for riding shoes?  My problem is that I have super-arches.  Normally they translate to a 8.5 (mens, US) or a 42.  However my feet are short - about 7, 7.5 or so.  So either my arches bust through the top of the shoes or my toes are pinched because they come up short inside the shoe and are thus are not lined up with the "crease" or widest part of the sole.  Oh, and my heel is slim, so I need a shoe that grips well back there, otherwise I destroy the back lip via friction.  The only shoes that have really fit my feet are the old Fluvog Angels, and the only sneakers that do are my 2E 8 Dunham Waffle Stompers (which are seriously awesome trail running shoes). 

That's a hell of a lot of personal information, I know.  My apologies.

Comments

[jr]

I hope you can find some comfortable shoes