Wildwood 

This is a case of going to Craigslist and replying to a newly posted bike with 'fair price, cash-in-hand, ready to meet'.


Purchased in 1973 in Edmonton. One owner, all original except saddle and tubular wheels gone. Never crashed, no rust, well stored when not an active rider. He told a few tales without showing remorse for passing it on. He was likely early 60s and showed no outward physical limitations, and seemingly fit, so I wondered why he was selling his only bike. I have met several western Canadians who are somewhat stoic... nice but minimal emotions; so I didn't ask too many questions.


Giro d Italia model. The bike is a fully chromed Columbus frame with good paint & decals. Nothing stuck. Front tire did not hold air, so switch wheel, check-out the controls = hard brake blocks and a cheap rear tire but then a 30mi test ride that revealed only a need to rework the rear hub. I didn't even adjust the saddle height. As always the hoods, cables, housing, etc need to be addressed in the near future. But a new rear wheel and brake pads make this immediately rideable (which is rare for 'frameset Wildwood'). WE ALL KNOW THE JOY OF A NEW RIDE THAT FITS LIKE A GLOVE. Color me tickled pink. 58 square and 16 head tube. Bit racy for this old man but the drops feel comfortable, so all's well and 2017 went out with a bang = up N+4 for the year.


After a clean-up I'll jump detailed pics to an existing Bottecchia thread....after a few more dirty winter test rides........


edit: with apologies, as I have giddily posted this on several threads in the last few hours.

droppedandlost 

Nice. I was eyeing this one real hard but decided it was just a bit too small.

DQRider 

On Saturday, December 30th, the temperature had climbed to -11°F by the time I decided to go for my end-of-the-year ride. By the time I was two miles from home, my fingers and toes were painfully numb, and I decided to turn back. Pedaling was stiff, as though the grease had frozen in the BB bearings, although the derailleur shifted OK.

My glasses kept fogging up until I learned to space them out from my face a bit to let the air get to them. But that same air caused my eyes to water anyway, so go figure... Time to get some ski goggles, I think.

I was only able to take one photograph on this ride, a selfie before I set off:



At the turn-around point, my camera simply would not function. I probably should have worn it inside my coat, not left it dangling out in the cold wind. I wish I could have taken this shot when I arrived home, with frost all over my hat-fur and breathing holes.

I've been looking at upgraded gloves and boots, but the really good ones cost more than a whole bicycle (on Craigslist...). Do I really want to spend that kind of money on something I will use very rarely? It wasn't what you could call fun, by anyone's definition. It was simply a novel form of suffering, just to say I did it.

As I was feeling the agony of thawing my toes in a bucket of warm water, one thought kept running through my mind: WHERE'S THAT DOG-GONE GLOBAL WARMING?

Wildwood 

I told myself ahead of seeing it that the seat tube HAD to be 58cm minimum and the head tube HAD to be 16 minimum. And they were - barely. But the 58 top tube made it fit. And the stem as pictured is mounted a bit higher than I ride, compensating for the shorter headtube - so it works to perfection.

qcpmsame 

Well purchased @Wildwood, cannot blame you for wanting it, or for posting it as many time as you feel like doing so. If the bike gives you enjoyment, then its fine here.

Bill

jimmuller 

DQR, we feel your pain. Well, actually we don't but we say so just to make you feel better. You are a better man than I. Or more foolish. Or both. well done!

jamesdak 

Did my base 25 mile route today. Since the roads are still pretty clear here I took out the 87 Ironman Expert instead of a winter ride. Temps right at 30, crazy mild so far this winter.

Wildwood 

Stayed close to home in getting a New Year's Day ride. High 30s at ride time.
Winter scenes today along May Valley Road. A 'no shoulder' agricultural road, but not safe on business commuter days. Even riding he white line means goin 'off-road' (see pic).




Happy New Year to all. Ride safe in 2018.

RiddleOfSteel

Got out of the apartment today so I could say I accomplished something--no cabin fever for me. Right? After a week off of a bike over the holidays, I took it easy around Westlake/Lake Union and circumnavigated the base of Queen Anne hill. Somehow I still developed a side ache... The '85 Paramount was, of course, great. It alters between being a bit too intense for a easy ride one second, yet somehow very adept at coasting for miles at 1-2 mph the next. Still feels like a super burly frame even though it weighs just over 21 lbs, which is amusing to me. Still climbs quite well. It also seems to me, to be sentient to a degree. That or I am intuiting its preferences. Very low speed steering, out-of-the-saddle rocking back and forth, cadence. "We're going to do it like this." Oh, ok now.

These photos were snapped at the beginning of the ride. The first one is the better of the two.



The second I had the very capable phone camera zoomed in slightly. It wasn't dark at all, perhaps just in soft ambient light. Still, Photoshop to help a middling result. The reason I include this is that she strikes quite the pose in profile.

northbend 

I got up late this morning and finally went out for my New Years Day ride around 1:30 this afternoon.

Taking the '88 Paramount fixed gear, some coffee in a thermos and a left over Christmas candy bar stuffed in my pocket I rode the gravel rail trails up to climbing rocks that line the Iron Horse trail used in the summer by locals to teach basic rock climbing. The plan was to sit at the picnic table and leisurly drink coffee and consume some chocolate before riding back home.
1Jan2018 by NBend, on Flickr
A cold wind was blowing from the East down the valley from Snoqualmie Pass. So much for leisure, I took a few swigs from the thermos, bit a square of Chocolate and high tailed it home. Too cold for this guy

Straightblock

I joined 100-150 other riders for our local club's New Years Day ride. Temps were in the low to mid 40's when I started at my house, and near 60 by time I got back. The route was mostly pool table flat to Lost Lake Park for coffee, hot chocolate, pastries or oatmeal.







Every year there are fewer C & V bikes on this ride. Most of the vintage steel was a car club meeting in the city park on the way home.

mountaindave 

My daughter got invited to a friend’s house 6 blocks away. I just couldn’t bring myself to drive the car and I hate walking when a more efficient human-powered option is available. So I took down the old Stumpy. It was 8 degrees out, but I found a foam pad for the rear rack so she could sit on it and off we went! “This is fun, daddy!” said my bundled up 10 year-old.

https://flic.kr/p/21KWeY6

rumrunn6

chip off the ole' ice block, eh?

djkashuba 

Upper 50's to low 60's beautiful day in Cali.


Follis, Sonoma Coast by djk762, on Flickr

RALEIGH_COMP 

FULLERTON, CA! Been a really long time since I posted anything, just been busy living life, put this hosteller together over my winter holiday. Too big for me, but was a fun little ride for sure. Hopefully I can be active on here once again, good to be tinkering and riding again!

20171230_133902 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

20171230_142258 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

20171230_143140 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

20171230_151736 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

20171230_133412 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

Wildwood 

Stevens (Blue Sky) Pass, Washington.

malcala622

First ride of 2018

zukahn1 

The weathers has been real mild for Winter here in Colorado. Got to take a ride yesterday over Lakeside road outside of Fairplay to the Pike forest area bout 11,000 ft at the highest point and the dirt roads were mostly clear.

AustinFitz

Took advantage of the warmest day so far this year and got out for a nice ride around the outskirts of my little town of Bush, LA.

abshipp 

Not quite today, but I just got around to the computer.

First ride of 2018. Bright, sunny, and calm 13 degrees at the start, 9 degrees after 15 very slow miles.

My toes have never been so cold, I really need to figure out a solution soon.

My phone died right after I took this picture:

jimmuller 

No riding today. Snow shoeing. Great Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Concord section. 11:45. 9 degF.

qcpmsame 

@jimmuller, looks just like our white sugar-sand beaches......only much colder

Bill

djkashuba 

Sweetwater Springs Road, Sonoma by djk762, on Flickr

RALEIGH_COMP 

20180107_144304 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

20180107_145051 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

20180107_145606 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

Mission accomplished!
20180107_151358 by Luan Pham, on Flickr

Wildwood 

@Zucahn1 = exposed dirt roads at 11,000ft in Colorado in January means drought. A friend of mine took a ski trip to Salt Lake and skipped the skiing. Not good. Oh well California is getting slammed so maybe precip on your way.