Scenic Route

I finally got back on my bikes today after dealing with the first nasty head/chest cold of the season. It feels so good to ride again!




I'm beginning to really like this route as compared to my usual. It's got a longer, steeper hill, but strangely it seemed easier today. Granted, this was the first time riding the Fuji up it. Maybe there's something about this bike that makes it easier to ride uphill? The only other bike I've ridden on it is the Kettler, which is also a 10 speed mixte, but has 27" wheels with skinny little 23mm (?) tires. It's aluminum whereas the Fuji is steel with 700c 35mm. I dunno. Maybe I'm still just sick and delusional. :)

Also, I just found this image amusing:




Bicycle, field of tobacco, school. Three things that are never encouraged to go together. Really only two should. :)

New Wheels!

Just a quickie to say that I finally got new wheels installed on my Fuji! Sun CR18 700c.




Also, as you can see I put Schwalbe Delta Cruisers in cream on.




They've been such a pleasure to ride with on the Pashley and the Hercules that I just couldn't see trying another tire.




And they've got their first 5 miles of black road stripe on them.

I'm just so happy to be able to stop now without being jerked back and forth. My original rims had gotten a couple of dents in the rear. So when braking it rode really rough. Like going down a gravel road with washboard. Also, being chromed steel, there was no stopping in the rain. Which is a little bit more excitement than I really want! :)

I wish that I had taken a before picture of the freewheel sprocket when it came off the old wheel. It was encrusted in 35 years of hardened grease and grime. My husband has an ultra sonic cleaner. We filled it with a cleaner/ de- greaser that he uses in the shop a lot called BH38. We placed the freewheel in it for about 10-15 minutes. It took two cleanings, but it took all of the grease and dirt off!




My chain is still gross, but will probably be replaced soon anyway. Now I just need a good rain to ride in to see how well the brake pads will stop these wheels.