biking stuff...

The other night, 27 de Julio 2009...

Pulling from the basement a 59cm Bridgestone RB2. Built in Japan around 1992, mostly unused since than, a good thing for budget conscious cyclists looking for well made steel framed bikes, vintage not the concern, but rather price when 1000s are not available for the latest and greatest but rather a few hundred for quality and value.
The only change to this Japanese thoroughbred on 2-wheels, a computer and one pair of pedals inspired by ski-binders, LOOK clipless pedals made in France hold the shoes to the pedals allowing the rider to climb hills faster than climbed before. Or go faster than ever before.

To shift gears, maintaining optimal and efficient speeds no matter the roads the rider uses the well crafted Shimano Exage, Excellence Age? groupset, two chain-rings upfront and 7-cogs in back for 14-speeds in all.
Shifts are precise and fast thanks to indexing to keep the rider focused on the road, not fidgeting with friction shifters so picky in how you use them.

In the future I will replace the old down-tube shifters with an example of that most ergonomic and performance oriented of shifting technology for multi-speed bikes, the Shimano Total Integration, or STI, generically known as "brake-shifters". Initially put off by the cost of a whole groupset, plus installation and modification to put on 9-10 speed casettes and state of the art shifters, I found during an eBay search 7-speed shifters of the Shimano RSX variety popped up. They're on the low end, but not the bottom of the barrel for quality. In short, they'll work just fine.

The mere experience of riding, any time, any day, just such a rush, no matter the bike and no matter the place, feelings of happiness whenever I get on one, so long as the parts all work together of course!

During a downhill descent, the Cateye Velo5 computer told me I went 36mph! wow! sure an automobile goes faster, but to do so on a bicycle, through the strength of your own two legs, that makes it all the more satisfying.