Taping bars

Saturday finally was the point when the last two peices (so I thought) were acquired to make the giant Cross bike a real drop bar cross machine. Chain and cassette. 9sp. Shimano Chain. I wanted a 12-27 cassette (how things change) but settled for a 12-25 (might be okay given the extra frame stiffness). Picked up a second set of bar tape so the Croll won't be left with nekkid bars. *Needed* okay didn't need to but really really wanted to take the re-born giant with drop bars and what not out on a conversationally paced bike shop ride. The shop owner's been doing this ride for a while - only requirement is ya show up with a road bike and a helmet. But hey I wanted to go out and just enjoy a bit of forced slow riding. just have fun. I was going to set up everything finally. But the rear brake cable stop seems to have been misplaced when I took it off (to keep from rattling) when I put the stupid Tetro stubby mini-Vs on. So, it isn't ready for fenders yet. Got is all set up though. Couldn't make the mini-V do more than either drag on the rim or not do more than wipe dirt off with the STI levers. Heck they were fantastic with the Avid SD2.0s, they actually had me re-thinking my opinion of them being total crap. Well. I'm squarely back to them being total crap for cross. Drop levers+ mini-V=Shit. Took a travel agent off the Mantra that was just being used as a pulley so I could make the bike stop (gotta find that damn cable stop). Tried some bar tape that SWD mentioned he liked. I'm sort of on the fence about it. If it is as durable as purported then the feeling of big fat exercise bike seat for my hands will be somewhat tolerable. Got it together.

I finished taping the bars after sunset, after dinner. There I was, back yard, lit up by flood lights, buzzing mosquitoes and other flying pests.

And I noticed the sound.

A crescendo decrescendo louder softer louder softer rrrRRRRRrrrrrRRRRRrrrrrRRRRRR...
Saturday night special. It brought me back to a night last year. Hittin the track with a couple friends. So. As I wrapped, I could picture the cars gunning it in the straight, slowing in the turn, gunning it in the straight, slowing... then there would be the caution lap... low drone before the furry again and the repetition.

People kinda pooh pooh stock car racing, racing in general. There's something undeniably freaking cool about the sound and the feeling of watching the cars race in person. Sure it ain't exactly the 'greenest' of racing. But it's still pretty damn cool in person. Sort of like shooting a gun. Even if you are plinking cans or targets. Even the most ardent anti-gun nut, given a chance, probably would enjoy some target practice. Or maybe not. Whadda I know.

Got the bars taped. Got my patented GeWilli cable end caps on there. Tossed a waterbottle cage on. Only one, I figured a 2 hour ride should be fine with one bottle. Headed to bed.

Awake, make some espresso, pop in a few teaspoons of sugar into my 14oz draft (yeah way overdrawn but hell it works for me). Drink a touch of water, toss the bottle in the cage and Ride on down. Get there early, grab an iced coffee from the Coffee Depot and hang out waiting. Folks show up. A good crowd and we roll. It was a great ride. Great weather. 7:30 to 12:30. One longish stop before starting the main part of the ride, but mostly just riding slowly. Bike worked flawlessly. It just was a brilliant ride with some great people. I can't remember if/when I have taken 3+ hours to go thirty six miles w/o mechanical incident when riding on the road. But it was just brilliant.

Got the croll patched up, taped up on Sunday. Got another hoist rack attached to the ceiling in the bike room. 3 bikes now live hanging over the heads of the others.

Made up some pizza, tried the convection (might work with screen, but with stone - the top cooks way faster than the crust, going back to just radiant pizza stone cooking next time).

Grilled some corn and tuna last night. Concocted a killer 'dressing' for the fish:
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon tamari sauce
1 tablespoon Rice vinegar (seasoned organic stuff)
Thumbsized chunk of Fresh ginger root pressed
1 medium size clove of garlic pressed in there
1 tablespoon of Sesame Oil (dark fragrant stuff)
3 tablespoons of Extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon cornstarch (organic GMO free if it matters) - (put it in there as a potential agent to keep the immiscible liquids miscible - it sort of worked)

Put it in a screw cap jar and kept shaking it up. While the corn and fish were cooking.

Served the corn and fish with a bit of short grain brown rice tossed with some olive oil and Tamari sauce.

Quite well received.

And I even thought it was pretty outstanding. I don't think I added anything else to the dressing. It could be used over a salad I suppose. Or put the big of fish steak over a pile of greens if you want.

A good but not restful long weekend. Ribs are still buggin me but since they are attached, not much more to do than stay hydrated and let em heal.

I never expected the giant Cyclocross bike to ride as well as it does and this morning I checked. Saddle on the giant Cyclocross bike stands ~42inches off the ground. Saddle on the Mantra... a shadow over 45 inches. 3 inches isn't much. Until you are trying to remount on a wicked uneven surface...

I can't wait for cross. Heck the Croll is back to the original conception. It started off with Bar end shifters. Now, gotta work on getting the big lanky ass blabber mouth who rides these two bikes a big faster, gotta be able to hang with G-Ride and SWD in da races this fall... at at least on of those two team-mates.

need to check ccc's countdown clock....

Heddwch
G