Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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Follow my long-desired trip to ride up Alpe d'Huez, see some pictures, and read about what happens on the way.
The Trip
Most cyclists who become interested in European bicycle racing, as I did many years ago, fantasize about riding some of the same roads and climbing the same mountains that the racers do. L'Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps is one of those mythic climbs where the Tour de France has been won and lost. Since I'm not getting any younger, it was time to just go and do it.
I'll be biking but also taking pictures, fracturing the French language, meeting people and who knows what else. Keep checking back for updates or subscribe to posts below to be automatically notified.
A trip overview can be found here.
I'll be biking but also taking pictures, fracturing the French language, meeting people and who knows what else. Keep checking back for updates or subscribe to posts below to be automatically notified.
A trip overview can be found here.
Posts
Ten Speed Bikes and Me
Well, 'a ten-speed' is what bikes with derailleurs were called long after five cog cassettes with two chainrings became antiques.
In June, 1970, a $60 Huffy 10-speed became my first derailleur equiped bicycle. Two years later the Huffy was sold for $65 during a short-lived bicycle boom and replaced with a $120 Raleigh Record. The Raleigh took my friend Dave and me from Paris to Madrid and back in 1972. My younger brother still has that bike.
The Raleigh was replaced with an outrageously expensive ($200!) Peugeot PX10E in 1974. That wonderful bike served well until 1984 when a collision on the streets of DC left the top tube bent. The bent frame combined with a good job and growing income provided the chance to get a completely custom bike: a Crown frame of Reynolds 753 steel and all-Campy Record components.
Many bikes have followed those. The current stable includes four bikes (one over the three bike limit set by my wife):
Waterford - Reynolds 853 steel frame, carbon fork and Campy Record components. A sweet bike to ride - good weather only.
Litespeed - Titanium frame, carbon fork, Shimano 105. This bad weather bike has seen rain, snow, sleet, ice, and temperatures from 10 to 100 F.
BikeFriday - Pocket Rocket Pro with Shimano 105. A folding bike that fits in a suitcase and performs almost as well as the Waterford and Litespeed.
Bianchi Piste - A fixie (no gears and no coasting) that is both great fun and a great workout. No 'dancing chain' and no 5o mile rides on this bike!
In June, 1970, a $60 Huffy 10-speed became my first derailleur equiped bicycle. Two years later the Huffy was sold for $65 during a short-lived bicycle boom and replaced with a $120 Raleigh Record. The Raleigh took my friend Dave and me from Paris to Madrid and back in 1972. My younger brother still has that bike.
The Raleigh was replaced with an outrageously expensive ($200!) Peugeot PX10E in 1974. That wonderful bike served well until 1984 when a collision on the streets of DC left the top tube bent. The bent frame combined with a good job and growing income provided the chance to get a completely custom bike: a Crown frame of Reynolds 753 steel and all-Campy Record components.
Many bikes have followed those. The current stable includes four bikes (one over the three bike limit set by my wife):
Waterford - Reynolds 853 steel frame, carbon fork and Campy Record components. A sweet bike to ride - good weather only.
Litespeed - Titanium frame, carbon fork, Shimano 105. This bad weather bike has seen rain, snow, sleet, ice, and temperatures from 10 to 100 F.
BikeFriday - Pocket Rocket Pro with Shimano 105. A folding bike that fits in a suitcase and performs almost as well as the Waterford and Litespeed.
Bianchi Piste - A fixie (no gears and no coasting) that is both great fun and a great workout. No 'dancing chain' and no 5o mile rides on this bike!
The Dancing Chain....
is an old term for the bicycle derailleur, that wonderful device that confounds novice cyclists but whose mastery is one of cycling's many joys.
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