"My son made that bike"

But first the pre-ride dinner Saturday night with my Dad who is in the Bay Area on business. We went to Nick's Crispy Tacos on Polk Street in SF. We are both Native Texans, and both have a taste for Mexican. We were both very impressed and quite happy with the tasty burritos and tacos. I think we also finished one of the plastic ketchup bottles full of hot sauce off, too.

Dad had fully loaded burrito, and I had one carne asada taco and one grilled pollo taco. I also choose to 'Nick's' my taco complete with guacamole and cheese. We both opted for the Negro Modelo (sorry Ron, there were not Lagunitas in sight). Most excellent eats! And then we continued to drink at the bar for awhile which we speculated that back in the day was probably a bordello to put it politely. Dad tells me that he may get sent to New Zealand on business...wheels start turning, and I ask October 2010, closer to October 23rd? I am not opposed to traveling with the Dad. No, 2012 he says. Drats! @#! But, still good to have in the back of the mind.

I think I dreamed about those tacos last night. I was still craving them again this morning.

So, Sunday morning arrives complete with sunshine and 61 degrees forecast. YAY! It's time for a long ride. Yes, indeed it was. Over the Golden Gate, into the Marin Headlands, up the climbs, down the hills - basically any road I could find to ride, I rode. Even if it dead-ended itself. And then it happened.



I cruised into new territory - Rodeo Beach - to sit for a few and watch the beautiful waves crashing. A man approaches me and strikes up conversation related to my bike. I swear it seems every time I ride my bikes, there is ALWAYS a complement to be had in some way shape or form.



Anyways, this gentleman asks how long I have had my bike - it took me a moment and then I said about 2004 or 2005. As I am typing this, I realize it's 2004. Six years strong! Woot. Okay, back to the story. I think we talked a bit further, and then he says to me, "My son made that bike." I say to him, "You are Sean's Dad!" Big smiles all the way around, and a few more words. Then, I met Jane, the Mom. Of all the places, and all the days. It was great!

Let's see, then kept riding into Sausalito, to Mill Valley, and then looped back. Stopped at Cibo Bakery for a cup of coffee and a quick bite - just enough to get me back into SF.

Carbon Wheels, Tubulars, and 911 fax escapade

This morning I rode road carbon wheels and tubulars for the first time. All the thoughts reeling through my mind up until this point were, "first time carbon wheels," "what will I think," "how will they ride," "oh my gosh first time ever (giddy feeling)," "I am going to look like such a poser riding my Soulcraft road 'race' bike with full on carbon wheels commuting to work -sweet," You get the point.

I talked to my husband before riding about how would they feel compared to my beloved Ksyrium SLs. I love, love those wheels. He commented that they would ride softer, and all I could think was like riding on sofa? Nope not what was it was like. He also commented that if flatted, I was pretty much SOL. Options were to call him and he would bring me a spare tire or pry the tubular/tire off or something along those lines. I threw caution into the wind hoping that I would not have to call him. I did not have to call him, but I did shake and shimmey the roads on the way to work i.e. look for potholes, glass and other arbitrary objects along the way. And I was told to also watch the braking on the babies since they brake different. Joy.

Granted, I was told these wheels for more aero and energy efficiency purposes, but the verdict is still out. I think spandex is aero enough for me. There were a softer ride, but a bit bumpy - no sofa surfing here. Bummer.

They definitely were not as 'snappy' as the SLs. I can speak to this b/c I was full on caffeinated this morning, too. No breakfast except for the coffee of champions. I had plenty of snap in shoe, and even was testing the throttle working the different gearing. I have ridden SL's for a few years now, too. And I don't like the new ones - too stiff for me - I have tested them out. I like the aluminum, silver ones circa 2006 or so.

The braking was not as bad as I thought either given the fact we had to switch out brake pads, and I think we even had to switch out the Campy cassette.

As for more energy efficiency, well, I like to use every ounce, every drop, almost every time. Oh well, the more energy I burn, the more room for beer fuel like the Lagunitas Undercover Investigation, Brown Sugga', and Censored! Yum.

I guess the ride home will be a testament to the verdict that's out. Or maybe a race will help with the score sheet.

Oh, and I have had some serious gut giggling this week with the office fax machine calling 911 instead of sending a fax to India. I am sure the Mountain View PD isn't amused as I am, but it was an all-hands-on-deck effort to get the fax to stop. Because it couldn't go through, it kept resubmitting, and was possessed in it's own right. And we were really trying to get it stop. Really.

I'll see your brothers and raise you one retarded cousin.