Sekine GTO
Soooo… I saw this today. A 70′s Sekine GTO resting out front of the Broken Spoke. Nice bike!
Disco brakes.
5 speed suicide shift!
Beautiful Japanese bars.
Special-fine
Bridgestone Mb-5
She’s my new whip. She’s a 90′s-ish Mb-5. She Is my only mode of transportation, and I love her. This bike is my all time favorite, and she knows it.
She came in to 2nd Cycle Tacoma a few weeks ago, and I instantly had my eye on her. I saw here potential, and because she was a smaller frame than I was riding at the time, I knew she would actually “fit me”. So in the course of 3 1/2 hours, I made her mine. I basically swapped everything from my Mb-6 to my new Mb-5, minus the seat post(different diameters). When I was done, I didn’t even need to ride her to know she was perfect for me. But of course I did, and I was the happiest and most comfortable I have ever been on a bike.
Into the future she’ll carry me, and there is no doubt that we will get there.
Sunday: the Matt and Emily edition
I have been in Tacoma for a while and as of three weeks ago, started school. Commuting everyday, rain or shine can become somewhat boring. So its nice when I can get out on a ride with some good people, and even better when its Matt and Emily.
Sunday was a beautiful day to explore Vashon Island. We met at 10am and rode to Point Defiance to catch the ferry to Vashon.
Eating bagels and cream cheese makes Emily act silly apparently.
Upon our arrival to the southern shore of Vashon, we began a nice gradual one mile climb north on Vashon highway. This was a nice warm up for the rest of the ride.
We stopped for a chi tea at one of the only places in town, and it was perfect.
Matt stealing some chi from Emily. Funny face.
Then it began to rain.
Oh! This was also Emily’s crosschecks main voyage!
The bikes got style and is super zippy…. however, no fenders. Emily suffered, but still managed to smile the whole time. Trooper
We headed back a shorter way, but still managed to see some beautiful country side.
Thankfully the ferry waiting area was covered, which was rad.
Emily had a ferry arrival dance.
A beautiful day.
Again with the warmshowers
This place was in Castle Rock, where I stayed last night.
It was a delight, and I think the pictures speak for themselves.
Today I pushed it out. Not many pictures taken on this last 92mile leg. However, with the early start and the cool morning I felt inspired.
Always ready…. K-Rad
Roads don’t worry me anymore. Since Portland I’ve kind of been winging it, and its gone surprisingly well. Armed with a paper map(which I use mostly) and Google maps(for topographical purposes), I have linked together squiggly lines, dotted lines, and barely visible grey lines that have brought me within 15 miles of Tacoma( which is were ill be in an hour or so). If I see a line on a map, I go for it. This carefree exploration is due, mainly to my Novaro Aspen and it’s brooding 2.3 Kenda K-Rad’s. This bike is a beast that eats up any road I choose to put it on. At any point the pavement can end, and I have no doubts that the Aspen can handle it.
When Riding long distances without a proper map, it is essential to always have confidence in your equipment and basically be “prepared” for the road to turn to shit. Because it does often.
High volume tires are the way to go for touring, in my opinion. Of course you’ll get the standard questions:
Q.”Don’t them big tires slow ya down?”
A. ” not when I don’t have to slow down for cracks in the road. Or swerve for small potholes. Or road kill”.
Q. “But ain’t that a mountain bike tire?”
A. “I’ve ridden over mountains”.
Q. “Aren’t those tires heavy?”
A. ” not as heavy as the weight of the same question be asked in the every town I come to….. ( I wouldn’t say that last one….. Ive wanted to though)
You get the idea. Your going to get silly questions. Basically, I stand by my tire.
Some people have it all figured out.
Pete has got the idea. Pete lives on the Willamette, just north west of Portland. Pete lives ON the Willamette. His house floats, and so does his neighbors.
Pete and his “sweety”, who is also currently on a bicycle tour, live in this floating slice of heaven. They live modestly, and have a great relationship with their neighbors. This community they live in is ran like a co-op. They all own their floating houses, and they all pay the same $130′s a month for WSG+E. Life couldn’t be simpler.
Warmshowers has opened up many great opportunities to experience the hospitality and kindness of strangers. I can’t say enough about the service it provides, and what it has done to revive some of my faith in humanity. I know that’s saying alot, but Its how I feel.
Head winds, beer, rivers, climbs, ice cream…. a dream
The surprising swelter of south eastern Washington is…..well, surprising. Rising early to ride, swim in the heat of the day, and chase the sunset seems to be the rhythm in these 100plus days. I have lived in the Puget sound for a few years now, totally unaware of the summer that actually goes on in the rest of the state.
Its a desert out here, so I guess it makes sense.
However, upon arrival of the Columbia river I was greeted with a head wind that promised not to stop.
So that was refreshing.
Yes, of course I swam in that.
Good night road.
