I thought I had reinstalled Gilbert's rear wheel for good this weekend, but it rained on Monday, and when I took off this morning, I only got a few blocks before he started making a horrid rubbing noise, which turned out to be the shifter cable not being properly snapped into its housing and rubbing on the chain. So I turned around and swapped him for Minerva, and then headed to work.
I was terribly late, but while riding across the Longfellow, I spied a familiar profile ahead- Mark, a sometime reader of the blog, who I see from time to time on our commute. Something looked different about his bike, and as I got closer, I realized that it was a completely different bike, but not a completely unfamiliar one- as he'd bought Velouria's Gazelle, and rechristened it "Pauline" after his German Oma (grandma).
We rode up Cambridge Street together, chatting about the new bike, and how it compared to Minerva. They're clearly so similar, but the differences are distinctive. The most obvious difference is that Minerva's handlebars are lower. Only an inch or two, but it creates a distinctive difference in posture.
The Gazelle also has 27" wheels compared to Minerva's 28", but it's hard to see much of a difference.
I keep repeating myself, but it's so nice to run into bike friends. I can't even imagine seeing a friend driving in a car along the same route you're going, and then being able to drive along next to them for 5 or 10 blocks until your routes diverge, chatting as you go. All in all, I was glad to be late enough to run into Mark and get a chance to appreciate his "new" bike
It was quite good timing since I was also running late! Always nice to run into a bike friend. Our chat as we road up Cambridge is definitely something impossible in cars.
ReplyDeleteAs for coaster brakes - I think my preference is strongly against them. I also adjust the pedals at stops. But I find that when I ride a bike with a coaster brake for a few days I adjust my style (I have a "beater" BSA named Pistola with coaster brakes...)
Kima's character lives in my apartment building, which is right next to the lovely segregated bicycle track being built:
ReplyDeletehttp://baltimorevelo.com/2012/06/photos-fallsway-cycle-track/
Do you like how I made bicycle infrastructure Wire relevant? Too much of a stretch? ;)
My only regret about watching The Wire, other than the fact that staying up way too late watching three episodes back-to-back cut into my morning rides, is that I wanted the series to go on forever.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the ride!
Yes, I was in serious Sherlock withdrawal, and this is filling the gap! At least we've got 5 series of 13 or so each, which should keep us going for at least a month :)
DeleteThis is so cool!
ReplyDeleteNew drum brakes are much, much stronger than old ones. I need to have a look at your DL-1 drum brake installation in person, so impressed you were able to do that.
One thing: The Gazelle has 28" wheels as well, not 27". I've bought tires for it and they are the same size as the DL-1s tires.