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Clunker 100 Challenge COVID 2.0 edition #7

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Clunker 100 Challenge COVID 2.0 edition #7

Old 06-12-21, 08:06 AM
  #451  
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No pix today, but since I last checked in I have -

- cleaned and repacked the headset
- fitted a cleaned, re-greased seat post and bottle screws
- scrubbed the frameset and both wheels with Dawn dish soap and a brush
- polished the frameset again with Meguiar’s - she’s not winning any Concours, I’m afraid
​​​​​​- concluded the front hub is fine as-is
- cleaned and repacked the rear hub bearings

And I may yet take the brake calipers and derailleurs and just soak them in dish soaped water to cut the grease and filth ...
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Old 06-12-21, 05:34 PM
  #452  
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I picked up some citrus degreaser spray and some paper towels. A few minutes later I had these -




- we'll see what tomorrow brings!

Last edited by rustystrings61; 06-16-21 at 08:24 AM.
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Old 06-13-21, 08:02 AM
  #453  
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Built up and running!

I rose early and skipped my usual morning ride so that I could finish this bike. I scrubbed the chain and the rear cassette with some degreaser, then dunked the chain in 40 wt and hung it to drip into a funnel going back into the quart bottle. I carefully unwrapped the garish bar tape and dunked it into a bucket of soapy water and let it sit. I scrubbed the brake levers and ran a recycled front cable and a new rear one with fresh housing and dialed in the calipers. I mounted the derailleurs, cranks (using a scavenged Miche left crank to replace the destroyed one), then dialed in the derailleurs with scavenged shift cables. I mounted the saddle and went to check its height - and laughed because I had without measuring hit the magic 79 cm spot for use with non-Brooks saddles.

I pumped up both tires to 90 psi and they both held. I fished out the junky non-rebuildable pedals that came with the bike and squirted some Tri-Flow into them along the spindle and was pleased to see how smooth they suddenly were. The plastic toe-clips are an atrocious joke, but I'll replace those soon. Greased the threads and fitted them to the cranks, then wrapped the bars, reversing direction so that the grubby, tattered parts that had been on the outside of the wraps were now hidden by the cleaner, fresher-looking parts that had been originally underneath. It works. I fitted the chain, which was a total no-drama process, then dialed in the shifting.

Short on time, I grabbed my cycling shoes and helmet and gloves and took it for a couple of laps around the 'hood.

This is a pretty nice old bike. The 23 mm tires weren't that much rougher feeling than the 28s I run on a couple of other bikes, but neither compares to the 32s I ran on the Cannondale. The friction shifting mode worked okay, but I switched it over to index out of curiosity - and it was flawless, like I'd spent hours tuning it.

It's not totally, absolutely complete - in addition to switching out these clips for some steel units from the stash, I think I'll dunk the toe straps and the REG bottle cage in some Evapo-Rust and clean them up. I may look around for some cheap teal bar tape to pick up the third accent color on this bike. Not sure if it will be this year's vacation bike or not, but it's about to see some miles!

I DO count this morning's test ride - 3.3 km.






The worst spot on the seat tube

The headset exterior is bad, but the working surfaces are great. Too bad about the paint on the lower head lug. Maybe I'll touch it up someday.

Totals so far -

$35 - initial purchase
$1.96 - four M5 bolts from Lowe's
$1 - MIche Monolithic crank scavenged from trash-picked bike
$6 - housing
$4 - rear brake cable

$42.96, so I think $44.96 with scavenged toe clips when I get around to it.

EDIT: The color is kinda growing on me ...

Last edited by rustystrings61; 06-14-21 at 08:44 PM.
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Old 06-13-21, 09:40 AM
  #454  
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Originally Posted by Mr. 66
I dab the paint, then wipe immediately. If it dries I'll put a few drops of solvent on a cloth and wipe gingerly as to not dig into the engraved area. If it's been dry a couple of day I'll use 0000 steel wool to clean up.
Regular acrylic art paint or enamel?
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Old 06-14-21, 06:38 AM
  #455  
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... and now for a real ride ...

In line with my personal motto - "We never leave well enough alone" - I swapped out the devil's plastic toeclips for a pair of KKT chromed steel units featuring remnants of shoe-protecting leather wraps. I then replaced the rusty REG bottle cage with the white bottle cages that came with the Mercian I'm fixing up for my son. I also shoved the rear wheel all the way back in the dropouts to more harmoniously balance distance from the rear wheel to the seat tube with that of the front wheel to the down tube. We'll see if I can detect a difference in the ride after that.




So now my totals are -

$35.00 - initial purchase
$1.96 - four M5 bolts from Lowe's
$1.00 - Miche Monolithic crank scavenged from trash-picked bike
$6.00 - housing
$4.00 - rear brake cable
$2.00 - used toe clips from the stash (from some long-forgotten part-out)
$2.00 - used white bottle cages (technically free, and if memory serves they were used and cheap when initially purchased)

My spending grand total so far is $51.96 with 15.9 km ridden. The bike rides really, really well for a 33-year-old production line mid-price bike built to a price point, so well that it may become a keeper in my overly-full stable as well. The magenta continues to grow on me, but the jury is out on the purple-marbled handlebar tape. Maybe I'll find some cheap white tape I like better. If I do, I'll wrap it more carefully. I realized today that I wrapped both bars in the same direction instead of mirroring each other. Oops.

Last edited by rustystrings61; 06-14-21 at 08:46 PM.
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Old 06-15-21, 06:23 AM
  #456  
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Moo.

Around 6:00 this morning I headed out towards Hodges, my eye on my watch the whole time so that I could manage maximum distance and still get to work on time. The zipping around the neighborhood the last two days didn't prepare me for just how zippy this bike is on the open road. While I was very much aware I was riding on 23s - something I haven't done in 20 years - the frame design and my position on the bike made it seem irrelevant. There were some seriously broken up stretches of road and the Centurion handled them with aplomb.

I ran out of time before I hit Hodges, so I just doubled back. Maybe tomorrow I can make it to the central business district, or perhaps even the side trip to Jackson Station. Today's 10.7 miles takes me to 33.1 km.



Bovine indifference to the bold magenta and white ... dare I say it ... colorway!

Flatwood Road beckons ...

... but the note I left on the counter for my wife said Dixie Drive, so I'll stay on it today.

I have so far resisted the urge to trespass and climb the Forestry Commission watchtower. So far.

This is THE best time of day on this road.
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Old 06-15-21, 08:05 AM
  #457  
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Bumblebeena has hit the road!

So after days of rain, my bad fortune with cars pushed me to get Bumblebeena on the road...

$40 initial purchase.
$13.48 cables, because I don’t want to die.
$7.89 saddle...switched this in for the 13.76 Selle Italia Q-Tip or what ever it is even the yellow looked cool. Had to save money.
$14.00 Gatorskins...I used a mixture of BS and sound accounting for the value on these...I got it with a lot that included 5 fixie pizza delivery bikes with rims and tires, and then handed these off with a few other suspect fixie tires...all for $75.00. I think I may be too generous, but thought I’d be fair...and it was a nice round number. Andy wanted me too enter more bikes to reduce the cost...I decided to reduce the cost since my knees can’t handle 6 challenges!
$0.48 reclaimed black handlebar tape...it’s actually cool feeling. Cost pulled from my buttocks..
10.00 Look pedals. Used the full cost of an add on lot to a previous purchase. Bought tools, got two garbage bags full of niceties. Could have used all black SPDs from the same lot...thought I’d try the Look...reserving the right to switch out but they felt pretty good. Had to figure out the took Delta cleats...
$0.60 bee stickies. Pricing for 10 in case they fall off or I need some to plug some rust...
$86.45



Missing black plug thingy...? A bee is the answer. Lovingly superglued...

Drive side...darn biopace

The artful pose...Bumblebeena is happy to be back on the road after a long hiatus...Bumblebeena did not like rusting...

Cionelli saddle...close enough. Came in a lot of four “imperfect” saddles...

The Look pedals...after scrubbing and using mother’s to polish! Oh wait...it’s carbon fiber...oops.

Where nail polish, evaporust and soon bumblebee stickers converge to fix the rust!

Sort of proud of how effectively the rust is hidden using distance and a blurry photo.
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Old 06-15-21, 08:14 AM
  #458  
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Oops...forgot the trip mileage. Didn’t go far. Just around the neighborhood to work out any bugs... haha... 🐝. Which apparently I had since I stopped to connect the rear skewer better (oops)...3.6 mi...have to charge the watch to get more accurate.




Pedals cleaned up nicely...I assumed they were Delta...I didn’t die...so I assume the they are. My second pair of Looks.

Thoughts...no hills (this is called the low country for that reason), but reasonably spry though twitchier than I thought...wider gatorskins were okay...Biopace is noisy and not my favorite. Overall, Bumblebeena feels solid and ready for the next step...

Reclaimed chain surprising quiet...

86$ well spent.
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Old 06-15-21, 08:14 AM
  #459  
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Originally Posted by jdawginsc

Drive side...darn biopace




Where nail polish, evaporust and soon bumblebee stickers converge to fix the rust!

Sort of proud of how effectively the rust is hidden using distance and a blurry photo.
That's a sexy beast of a bike! You might inspire me to get some touch-up paint and work on Magenta/Mr. Pink here! I think that if I don't think about the Biopace rings, I have a nicer ride, if that makes any sense. Bumblebeena turned out really, really well!
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Old 06-15-21, 08:17 AM
  #460  
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Originally Posted by rustystrings61
That's a sexy beast of a bike! You might inspire me to get some touch-up paint and work on Magenta/Mr. Pink here! I think that if I don't think about the Biopace rings, I have a nicer ride, if that makes any sense. Bumblebeena turned out really, really well!
Thank you. Bumblebeena is a proud little 🐝

They are not as pronounced as the 105 version from the next generation that I took off my Cannondale so they should be okay.
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Old 06-15-21, 08:45 AM
  #461  
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Can't make my new computer copy link, but Portland CL has a Motobecane Mixte, vague size, maybe 31" standover, Suntour Cyclone, $50! Somebody grab this as my basement is full up. Don
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Old 06-15-21, 08:50 AM
  #462  
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Originally Posted by ollo_ollo
Can't make my new computer copy link, but Portland CL has a Motobecane Mixte, vague size, maybe 31" standover, Suntour Cyclone, $50! Somebody grab this as my basement is full up. Don
https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/...336185346.html

Motobecane Vintage Ladies Bike For Parts/Restoration - $50 (NW Nob Hill Near The Stadium)

image 1 of 5
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Old 06-15-21, 10:12 AM
  #463  
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Thanks @curbtender, what caught my eye 1st, as I skimmed the listings, was that leather saddle. Looks like might be a Brooks Professional S, Ladies Model. Don
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Old 06-16-21, 07:10 AM
  #464  
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Around 6:30 a.m. on Deadfall Road near Clem Road - we get some great sunrises around here!




Magenta is now at 54.5 km. I paused long enough at a stop sign to dismount and tighten the rear derailleur barrel adjuster one full turn, which quieted the gear chatter. When I got home I gave it another full turn, and hopefully that will solve it. I'm wondering if I need to squirt some cleaner/lube into the right downtube shifter as it doesn't want to stay in gear when I shift to 52x23, but instead wants to drop down to the 21T. Of course, I could always just switch over to friction mode, but where's the endless fiddly tinkering fun in that?
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Old 06-16-21, 07:41 AM
  #465  
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Originally Posted by rustystrings61
Around 6:00 this morning I headed out towards Hodges...


Bovine indifference to the bold magenta and white ... dare I say it ... colorway!
Ya know, if you leave a little earlier you could maybe go cow tipping.
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Old 06-16-21, 08:14 AM
  #466  
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Originally Posted by jdawginsc

Missing black plug thingy...? A bee is the answer. Lovingly superglued...
That’s a very nice touch. Well played!
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Old 06-16-21, 10:37 AM
  #467  
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Originally Posted by Andy_K
That’s a very nice touch. Well played!
Thank you! I have extras and lady bugs as well..
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Old 06-17-21, 06:41 AM
  #468  
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Late night last night, so a late start today. I still got in 9.2 miles before work, carrying me to 69.3 km done. I combined pieces of different routes into a pleasant little loop, including the stretch of Clem Road where all the horsey people live. I first saw this gate maybe 20 years ago, before the grand homes it guards were much more than foundations. If someone is going to go to the trouble of trying to recreate the Olde-with-an-E Europe look, the least one can do is take pictures of it and admire it.




Magenta was being balky about staying in gear, especially when I stood to climb. When I got home I squirted in some Tri-Flow, then wound up playing with the mounting screw, then removing the shifter and trying to get everything to line up just-so. I was beginning to worry I'd have to fish out the other set of Shimano indexing downtube shifters from the overstuffed bins o' parts when suddenly it all went together as it should, rewarding me with nice crisp indexed shifting. Again, sure, I can friction shift, but wasn't spending 10 minutes or so sweating in the shop with oily fidgety fingers so much better? It's all good.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I really like this bike. Perhaps my favorite part of the whole Clunker Challenge experience is taking a neglected or abandoned bike, making it rideable, and generally finding something rewarding about the whole experience. I always come away with at least some sort of appreciation of unexpected ride qualities, On the other hand, right now I have SIX Clunker Challenge bikes in my shop, the two from this year, three past contestants, and the remnants of a sixth one that I abandoned in 2019. I predict a purge in the not-too-distant future. I also predict this Centurion and the Cannondale will be sticking around.
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Old 06-17-21, 07:17 AM
  #469  
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Originally Posted by rustystrings61
Late night last night, so a late start today. I still got in 9.2 miles before work, carrying me to 69.3 km done. I combined pieces of different routes into a pleasant little loop, including the stretch of Clem Road where all the horsey people live. I first saw this gate maybe 20 years ago, before the grand homes it guards were much more than foundations. If someone is going to go to the trouble of trying to recreate the Olde-with-an-E Europe look, the least one can do is take pictures of it and admire it.




Magenta was being balky about staying in gear, especially when I stood to climb. When I got home I squirted in some Tri-Flow, then wound up playing with the mounting screw, then removing the shifter and trying to get everything to line up just-so. I was beginning to worry I'd have to fish out the other set of Shimano indexing downtube shifters from the overstuffed bins o' parts when suddenly it all went together as it should, rewarding me with nice crisp indexed shifting. Again, sure, I can friction shift, but wasn't spending 10 minutes or so sweating in the shop with oily fidgety fingers so much better? It's all good.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I really like this bike. Perhaps my favorite part of the whole Clunker Challenge experience is taking a neglected or abandoned bike, making it rideable, and generally finding something rewarding about the whole experience. I always come away with at least some sort of appreciation of unexpected ride qualities, On the other hand, right now I have SIX Clunker Challenge bikes in my shop, the two from this year, three past contestants, and the remnants of a sixth one that I abandoned in 2019. I predict a purge in the not-too-distant future. I also predict this Centurion and the Cannondale will be sticking around.

Awesome about finding some new gems!
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Old 06-18-21, 07:03 AM
  #470  
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I spent some time in the workshop yesterday futzing around with the rear shifter. In the end I wound up pulling it off the bike, squirting it with Liquid Wrench to break up and flush out whatever crap was in there, shaking and wiping it dry-ish, and re-lubing with Tri-Flow. Then I pushed everything back into what appeared to be proper alignment and remounted it. It kept working loose, so I pulled the mounting screw, wrapped about four or five turns of Teflon tape over the threads and manhandled it all back together. I was rewarded with much crisper clicks, reasonable shifts, and everything staying together in its proper place.

This morning I rose late again, so I settled for a shorter 7.7 miles before getting ready for work. I wound up doing the abbreviated version of yesterday's route, and initially had no plans for photos - but when I turned onto Calhoun, with its four lanes and a center turn lane, a flash of blue caught my eye. I doubled back and rescued -




- probably as a delayed reaction to all the roadkill I've been seeing the last week or so. Still, maybe it's a lucky duck, we'll find out.

I ended my ride at 81.7 km for the Challenge, and in all likelihood I will be off the bike for at least a week as we go on a family vacation. This year it would be better for me to leave the velo at home, alas.
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Old 06-22-21, 04:54 AM
  #471  
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Green Super Course update

Only a couple of rides in the past 2 weeks. Wednesday before last rode to breakfast diner at the Nashua, NH airport, and back home (9.2 miles). Got lost looking for a conservation land trail I used to ride on, then lost my air pump somewhere, maybe on somebody's lawn I cut through to get back to a street.

Last Friday rode Nashua River Rail Trail to Sand Hill road in Groton Mass, with a side trip along the way to the Covered Bridge in Pepperell, Mass. Note water bottle which caught on my bike shorts occasionally. Longest ride on the bike so far, 12.6 miles. Having replaced the BB I’d taken from the donor bike with the cartridge BB I’d actually bought, the front derailleur now rubs on the small chainwheel, and the rear won’t drop onto the smallest cog. Still hear clicking when pedaling heavy (despite swapping bottom bracket), and handlebar creaking might be getting worse.

At Sand Hill Road, I was amazed to see a Bicycle Repair Station, with air pump, rack, and an assortment of bike tools.



I electricians-taped over the rip in the seat before the rail-trail ride but I’m undecided on whether it actually improves the cosmetics. That seat was getting pretty uncomfortable by about mile 9 or 10. I could change the seat and still stay under budget, but I think I'll just stick to shorter rides for my last 30K.


Have to show the handle I crudely fabricated for the front derailleur shifter.



Cut out piece of black plastic material, used super glue and clamp to hold it in place temporarily, then drilled and screwed the piece onto the original broken shifter. I got LH and RH mixed up, so found that the piece rubbed on the down tube, so I had to file off enough of everything to clear the tube.







Total distance to date: 70.1 Kilometers.
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Old 06-23-21, 06:13 PM
  #472  
philpeugeot 
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So I finally got around to working on the 760 after a few hectic days of getting ready for summer courses. rustystrings61 you were right, the 27.2 seat post fits snug, I just had to clean out the seat tube. Thank you for chipping in.
I replaced the pedals that came with the bike since they were so rusty and had so much play. Replacement pedals came from a Bianchi frame that I sold.

Old Sakae pedals, didn't even have dust caps so not worth salvaging.

Much better SR pedals. Out with the old, in with the new.
The headset oddly had new grease in there, so I left that alone. The front hub was nearly dry, so I had to clean it out and re-grease it.
Hubs had little grease left inside. I suspect that the grease is original.

Hub races look good, no pitting or cracks.

Ball bearings and cones came out good after some cleaning.


The rear hub was also disassembled as well. I should note that this was the first time in quite a while that I removed a freewheel and it was a real bear to remove. I unfortunately didn't get away unscathed; my fingers got caught in the spokes just as the freewheel gave way, so now I have some battle scars. Slightly graphic content warning, I'll remove it if it's not allowed.

At least I have an excuse to not make dinner and get takeout tonight.
That's all I really have patience for, I hope to get some more work done over the weekend. I do have some worries though concerning the freewheel and crankset. After reinstalling the Suntour freewheel the rear wheel now makes some kind of noise akin to dry ball bearings. I tried putting some oil in there to see if anything would change, but only the ratcheting noise got quieter; the rough sound is still there. Anyone have any idea why I'm getting this noise after reinstallation? I'm also concerned about removing the cranks; some of you here mentioned that the cranks are Campy Victory and from my understanding the drive side requires a special tool to remove since it's left hand threaded. Is it true of this crankset? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Last edited by philpeugeot; 06-23-21 at 08:04 PM.
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Old 06-23-21, 07:52 PM
  #473  
jdawginsc 
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Originally Posted by philpeugeot
That's all I really have patience for, I hope to get some more work done over the weekend. I do have some worries though concerning the freewheel and crankset. After reinstalling the Suntour freewheel the rear wheel now makes some kind of noise akin to dry ball bearings. I tried putting some oil in there to see if anything would change, but only the ratcheting noise got quieter; the rough sound is still there. Anyone have any idea why I'm getting this noise after reinstallation? I'm also concerned about removing the cranks; some of you here mentioned that the cranks are Campy Victory and from my understanding the drive side requires a special tool to remove since it's left hand threaded. Is it true of this crankset? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
If I understand correctly, since they are self extracting cranks the thread is left handed in the extraction area. If the hole extractor thing is there, then you simply remove the arm by turning the 7mm allen bolt with a socket and wrench. If the extractor thingy is missing then the special reverse threaded extractor is needed.

People can correct me if I am wrong.
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Old 06-26-21, 06:19 AM
  #474  
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A dreary day yesterday, cool, overcast, and damp with drizzle. Decided to ride the Green Super Course on a short 6.5 mile) ride I afterwards named “Tour de Mortem.” I started at Runnells Bridge in Hollis, NH. From there rode to Dunstable, MA, stopping at Blood Cemetery.



Then on to my ultimate destination, Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua, NH. By local accounts it is the most haunted cemetery in the US. And it has it’s own Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/Gilson-Road...4070047976396/.




There was another person at the cemetery when I visited, who appeared to be taking pictures of thin air (perhaps looking for signs of ghosts).

On the return trip, I stopped on Runnell’s Bridge to take a picture of the Nashua River from above.


I’d made no changes to the bike since last ride, but I remember now that I still have to adjust the shifting. I also wonder how anyone finds a seat that they could ride for 50 miles or more.
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Old 06-26-21, 06:57 PM
  #475  
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Originally Posted by darnet
A dreary day yesterday, cool, overcast, and damp with drizzle. Decided to ride the Green Super Course on a short 6.5 mile) ride I afterwards named “Tour de Mortem.” I started at Runnells Bridge in Hollis, NH. From there rode to Dunstable, MA, stopping at Blood Cemetery.



Then on to my ultimate destination, Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua, NH. By local accounts it is the most haunted cemetery in the US. And it has it’s own Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/Gilson-Road...4070047976396/.




There was another person at the cemetery when I visited, who appeared to be taking pictures of thin air (perhaps looking for signs of ghosts).

On the return trip, I stopped on Runnell’s Bridge to take a picture of the Nashua River from above.


I’d made no changes to the bike since last ride, but I remember now that I still have to adjust the shifting. I also wonder how anyone finds a seat that they could ride for 50 miles or more.
The trick is an unfussy behind, and padded shorts.
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