Ride and Remember

[Jesper]

Get off the bike and do more than just taking a photo (sure; do that also). Explore where you bike and experience life and the people (except in Spokane WA; just kidding Spokanians!).

Warning: if you are not physically able to safely do certain activities then do not! I performed high speed descents at +50mph, climbed mountains (bike and hike); traversed backwoods (bike and hike); nighttime riding and mountain climbing; documented nature (at grave risk); designed (boat and logo), built and raced (w/brother) a cardboard boat (1st place!); and broke laws (which affected no one personally, no property/enviromental damage, etc.). During that time I modified and repaired a bike on the road. Be prepared as to knowing your limitations, including that of your equipment; and local laws (be you a scofflaw or not).

Covered nearly 10000 miles of distance in less than a year while on sabbatical from the insanity of modern "civilized" living and ludicrous working conditions. Included in my riding were multiple national, state, and local parks from coast to coast (USA); as well

All done on ROAD bikes (except on the water; but working on a hybrid cardboard boat with bicycle adapted for propulsion) without touring/climbing gears or triple rings. It demonstrates how over hyped the need for hybrid, gravel, and mtb's are when you are an experienced cyclist having traversed miles on whatever bike happens to be under your bottom while traversing multiple terrains/conditions. Though no one bike can do it all with reasonable efficiency you still do not need as many bikes as one might think.

At this point in my life I will do what I have been doing for the past decade: using an old frames allowing up to a 35mm tire, and carrying with me (if driving), two 6 speed wheel sets (general training/touring rims, 700c x 25mm semi-slick tires w/road cluster:12t-24t; & heavy duty road/gravel rims, 700c x 32mm to 35mm cross/gravel type tires ["Kendacross" preferred] with road climbing/off-road cluster: 14t-34t), racing and "comfort" saddles, clipless and block/mtb pedals, various small & large chain rings (sm 38 - 44t, lg 49t - 55t), easily removable fenders, road clipless shoes, touring (no cleat) shoes, and mountain climbing/wrestling shoes (off bike hiking/climbing). I do like to carry my TT bike as the extra bike for pure speed though now modified with 25mm front tire, 30mm rear tire with wide range cluster (14-28t, was 15-19t).

See you in another 3 months (maybe; I might be dead!).

[Jesper]

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[Jesper]

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[meamoantonio]

Super hardcore stuff, will never forget his story about having to bike home from the hospital he works at despite warnings from his doctor hahahaha what a legend!

[Jesper]

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[Jesper]

Also in the journey: one death, one old '49 Jeepster resurrection, one hospital visit, and one endo not related to hospital. After endo just I picked myself up and proceeded to climb a few miles up a "horse rest" hill. These hills are found on old New England roads (and probably elsewhere in the world) and were designed (either naturally and/or man-made) with fairly flat (though short, ~<100 ft) resting points (sometimes only one) for horse drawn carriages and carts due to the steep inclines the animals needed to traverse. Thesecare not switchbacks, but are essentially straight up climbs and thus the need for "rest stops" which switchbacks would normally afford. I now typically call any fairly long and straight hill climb where there are small flats/declines before more grades "horse rest" hills whether they were engineered that way or not. There is a 4 mile hill I rode without ever leaving the saddle because of the adequate "rest" one gets on the ascent (there is also adequate motivation as there is a pub at the top) unfortunately it makes for a slower and less exciting descent (which may be good if you had a couple pints).

[Jesper]

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[Jesper]

More from the adventure:

Pre-dawn base climb (limited) of Mato Teepee/Tipila, and back down to set up on eastern face for sunrise.
           

Climb up to the monolith face.
   

Northwest face.
   

Riding away.
       

   

In memory of my love.
   

[Painkiller]

truly awesome

[Jesper]

Another year of beating myself up in the Florida heat while doing ~1200 miles this summer, but no mountains like last year. I had one off-road endo (on a road bike of course, who needs mtb/gravel/hybrid bikes; not me) which provided a new scar so a success!

Used 3 bikes: '87 Nishiki Linear, '70 Raleigh Sports, and '71/'72 Crescent Pepita; but mostly on the lo-pro (1100 miles).

During that time I did 4 full clean & lube of chain/freewheel/chainrings of the lo-pro; just finished with complete tear down of the bike, except pedals which I will do in short order. No parts needed; all bearings in excellent condition since I do this approximately every 1000 miles.
Bar wrap is good (no splits, tears, rolling of edges), but soiled due to being cloth. Even then it's at least 4 years old. I find cloth holds up better since all that synthethic stuff cannot handle my every day riding. You can add cushion by overwrapping cloth on whatever you want to provide better vibration absorption. Never use white cloth unless you want it looking poorly after only a couple rides. If you do use white (or other light colors) I recommend you seal it with a clear coat upon new installation of the wrap. I do that on most cloth anyways to provide some waterproofing also.

I did need bike shop assist on freewheel cog removal since I only had one chain whip (only need one for removing FW from hub plus specific FW body removal tools). I could have made one from an old chain or used a couple other methods, but I needed some supplies so I figured I provide some service business (I called first to ensure they knew what to do; not all shops do freewheels, some have no idea after working only on freehubs). Since going to a shop (one I've never been to before) I decided to bring 2 spare rear wheels to later change out cogs for specific uses (flat terrain TT [max 19t]; hill/mtn terrain [max 24t]; and touring [max 28t]). The guy was only able to break apart, with difficulty, one FW after trying all 3. He let me get behind the counter and I easily broke the remaining two apart. It was obvious he did not do that type of work because he improperly positioned the whips which would require more strength instead of using the leverage that the tool is designed for. I believe he felt a bit embarrassed at having "Mr. amateur mechanic" do 67% of his job because he did not charge me. I still paid him (his shop, his tools); he was not trying to screw me and he did make the effort regardless (other shops have not even tried!). Note: that you can also, in some instances, change the spacing to provide for an extra cog, indexing, and/or narrower chains; but you need to be familiar with how cogs mount, FW body design, and compatibility (I reference Sheldon Brown's site because it can get confusing if you just try to do it without some pertinent info). I might do a single chainring build so being able to set up an old FW properly is a must if you want good results since those early cogs have no "ramps" to assist shifting (especially with newer chains having less pin protrusion). I was very surprised to recently obtain a new 6 cog freewheel that used modern cogs incorporating "ramps"; it certainly improved shifting when using an old inline mech. Old FW cogs used grooved teeth and bevelled teeth to assist shifting in the '70s and '80s to help shifting before modern designs arrived on the scene.

           

[Sidewinder]

Middle bike reminds me of 'BREAKING AWAY'---anybody here remember that movie? Great film, and pretty darned funny in parts, lol. I must say, that sort of mileage in Florida's summer heat & humidity is respectable, flatland riding or no flatland riding.

As an aside, my Powerlite Cruiser had a freewheel... it was set up (by me) for riding parks & pools, and also some BMX tracks, so a freewheel worked well. The gearing was good too, so the bike would get going fairly quickly yet still offer top end speed.

I was hoping to see a photo of you wrasslin' with an 18' alligator... "Old Joe!" Missing an eye, of course... the gator, not you, lol. A realistic pic (no PhotoShopped BS) would've shown the outline of one of those bikes of yours in the gator's belly, aye?

[Jesper]

(10-04-2025, 08:31 PM)Sidewinder Wrote:  Middle bike reminds me of 'BREAKING AWAY'---anybody here remember that movie? Great film, and pretty darned funny in parts, lol. I must say, that sort of mileage in Florida's summer heat & humidity is respectable, flatland riding or no flatland riding.

As an aside, my Powerlite Cruiser had a freewheel... it was set up (by me) for riding parks & pools, and also some BMX tracks, so a freewheel worked well. The gearing was good too, so the bike would get going fairly quickly yet still offer top end speed.

I was hoping to see a photo of you wrasslin' with an 18' alligator... "Old Joe!" Missing an eye, of course... the gator, not you, lol. A realistic pic (no PhotoShopped BS) would've shown the outline of one of those bikes of yours in the gator's belly, aye?

I saw your "riding the wall" pics. Excellent my friend! We are about equal age so I applaud your endurance and tenacity! I do not have a photo of me in the skate/bike park (Possum Creek in Gainesville,FL), and I do not think they appeciated what it took to ride my 50 lb roadster there (black bike; but used clipless pedals not toe cages though still no optimal for the conditions), and for playing bike polo with it; but respect was afforded by all parties nonetheless. You would enjoy that park.
           




I do ride in gator country, but I stay on the trails except for hiking. Photo of bike on boardwalk, Hawthorne/Gainsville trail. That guy was only about 14 feet long.
       

[Sidewinder]

At our age, it's wise to "cherry-pick" park features to ride... some of those features are NOT designed for larger bikes, and I'm too old to ride a BMX 'circus bike' with 20" wheels! Not with any sort of dignity, lol...

During my "trucking daze" I visited the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial in Mobile, and down by the USS Drum (submarine), there was a concrete ramp leading into the tidal estuary. Small sign posted by the water's edge read:

"ALLIGATORS CAN MOVE FAST AND ATTACK!"

I said (as I hastily beat a retreat): "YIKES!!! MAKE THE SIGN LARGER NEXT TIME!!!"

I still wonder if somebody was having a joke at the expense of tourists, lol... but I didn't hang around by the water's edge long enough to find out, aye? I used to cross "Alligator Alley" now and then too, but I never wandered into swampy areas near rest stops, lol.

[Zviedrs]

Thank you for sharing! This is great stuff!

I thought I'd seen this rocky tower around (as a European), and then it hit me - it's from the Close Encounters of the Third Kind !

[Sidewinder]

Devils Tower is better known among technical rock climbers as a primo climbing center and vacation destination... it's also the first National Monument, and a sacred site for some Native Americans, same way Vedauwoo is a sacred site. I have some decent pictures of the Tower (and Vedauwoo) in my storage unit, I'll bust 'em out later and share 'em with y'all.

The history of climbing at Devils Tower is interesting: the first ascenders (two ranchers, July 4th, 1893) hammered wooden pegs or stakes into a crack in the Tower, then used those pegs/stakes as handholds & footholds, lol. Yvon Chouinard, move over, we gots wooden pegs! WTF! I'm thinking those ranchers probably had some whiskey in their systems, lol. Not too much, just enough...

P.S. An interesting bit of trivia: Todd Skinner speed-climbed the Tower in 18 minutes in the 1980s... he later died elsewhere in a 500' fall when the belay loop on his harness failed while he was rappelling down a wall. The webbing loop was probably worn from prior use. Just another casualty among climbing pioneers: Dan Osman, Dean Potter, John Bachar, the list goes on...

[Jesper]

(10-08-2025, 11:19 AM)Sidewinder Wrote:  Devils Tower is better known among technical rock climbers as a primo climbing center and vacation destination... it's also the first National Monument, and a sacred site for some Native Americans, same way Vedauwoo is a sacred site. I have some decent pictures of the Tower (and Vedauwoo) in my storage unit, I'll bust 'em out later and share 'em with y'all.

The history of climbing at Devils Tower is interesting: the first ascenders (two ranchers, July 4th, 1893) hammered wooden pegs or stakes into a crack in the Tower, then used those pegs/stakes as handholds & footholds, lol. Yvon Chouinard, move over, we gots wooden pegs! WTF! I'm thinking those ranchers probably had some whiskey in their systems, lol. Not too much, just enough...

P.S. An interesting bit of trivia: Todd Skinner speed-climbed the Tower in 18 minutes in the 1980s... he later died elsewhere in a 500' fall when the belay loop on his harness failed while he was rappelling down a wall. The webbing loop was probably worn from prior use. Just another casualty among climbing pioneers: Dan Osman, Dean Potter, John Bachar, the list goes on...

Mato Teepee is one place everyone needs to visit; not for an hour or less (like the majority of visitors); but for a full day. Biking, hiking, and climbing are oustanding (it can get windy and cold at 5000 ft; but more fun!); not to mention the interesting history and geology. I always feel like it will just come tumbling down if touched. I climbed at night (no permit, no safety, or climbing gear) and loved it, as I had never done that before; it seems more alive at night. I did not take a stupid phone up the actual rock face; free climbing is hard enough as it is during daylight w/o BS electronic stuff and unable to see your next handhold (photos were after descent done in the approaching dawn glow; I did need some light to find foot holds!). I only did about a 150-200 ft ascent above the scree and boulder field level. My safety is not much of a concern at this stage in life; but I question some young climbers (much more skilled than myself) falling to their demise due to amateur decisions. Balin Miller rappelled off the end of his rope!! Why? I have single rope rappelled before and I'm still here. I do not get it. At least with free climbing I have no excuse; live or die with each new grip (it keeps your mind sharp and focused to the task).
I doubt I'll do anything as nutty as that again, but heading north in a couple of weeks to tackle some small cliff faces I cycle to and test myself again. Sometimes I truely bikepack with my ride strapped to a backpack on a harness as I climb to only to later descend on the bike. It's a great workout, and freaks out mtb riders who need their trails for ascents (no offense I ride trails also; but prefer to trailblaze), and those who take ski chair lifts to the summit (pussies; offense intended).

My bike is down there somewhere. I had no pack/harness with me, as I had cycled 10 miles of steep hills to get there with about 1800 ft climbing on the bike already; I still had about 600 ft of climbing left to summit and could not carry the bike up the first cliff face when I left the road. My house is down by the lake on the right. It's a nice "backyard" playground to have grown up in.
   

[Sidewinder]

Climbing or bouldering by moonlight is awesome... but best done on familiar routes. As for free soloing, Dan Osman said it best: "You'd better have it in hand." Free soloing beyond one's ability is a recipe for disaster. Funny thing, I'm actually a much better small craft sailor than a climber, but I've stayed alive all these years by making wise decisions on the crags... and I've free soloed some pretty gnarly cliffs, but always within my technical range or ability. I have friends who are top climbers, those guys do 5.13 and 5.14 routes, but they're taller and lankier than I am, which helps with reaching for holds. I'm nearly 6' too, but I've always been thicker in the chest, which is actually a drawback in the vertical world where long, lean men & women fare best. Of course, there are exceptions, look at Lynn Hill and Yvon Chouinard, both are... er... "vertically-challenged" (lol), but they rip at climbing, or used to in their heyday. Not to hijack your thread here, just making a few observations.

My hard climbing days are over and done, I reckon, but I still scramble around and do some bouldering at times... for me, climbing is all about fresh air, exercise, beautiful outdoor venues, wildlife, no crowds or "badge bullies"---just good times with good friends, or good times on my own. What's not to like? After a lifetime in the field, I'm comfortable going solo in the wilderness, but having good gear and clothing helps... and being with friends is also cool. I feel fortunate to have experienced many outdoor adventures, and I hope to have many more before I die. Hell, every time I set forth into the wilderness, it's an adventure, lol. And I don't ever want to lose that feeling either, ya know? I think that's key to having a good time... if you're having a bad time in the field, just call it and save it for another day, yeah? Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, lol.

[Jesper]

Finally after 40 years I need to replace some major parts on this bike. I completed a drivetrain overhaul and found problems that are not fixable except by replacing.

The rear mech cage was bent, but even though I was able to straighten the cage the whole unit is not as tight as it should be and I have some great Dura-Ace 7400 series mechs that are perfect upgrades for the job both in function and aesthetics so no cost to me there. The OEM 1st gen. 105 mech was replaced long ago with an OFMEGA one (technically a small downgrade comparatively).

The 1st gen. 105 cranks are original (biopace rings long replaced for better round rings), but are getting loose on the spindle from many times being removed/reinstalled so time for new ones.

BB spindle wear is present; and although still smooth as silk the bearings cannot be adequately adjusted. I flipped the spindle (symmetric) to get my last 1000 miles or less out of it. I'll be installing a cartridge BB assembly versus loose bearing style if presently has and probably buy the complete crankset as a whole and not mix and match parts. I would really like black anodized (not painted!) cranks with orange anodized rings or the other way 'round to match new paint on donor frame whwn completed.

Large ring has adequate wear to warrant replacing also, but another 1000 miles is not going to do any harm, and chain will be replaced concurrent to the rest of the front drivetrain. I doubt thatcI will be able to oder a crankset with my present and preferred 53t/49t set-up so I'll customize it upon installation depending on what I get

The front mech is fine, but not OEM and looking a bit tatty with some chrome loss so replacement is in order.

The frame is still in excellent condition even considering age and usage; but I have the same Linear in a better size and getting it refinshed in custom color(s) and stripping present frame of parts still being used to install on it. Will sell the old frame since the goofy single speed/fixie world still craves odd frames to bastardize so it will hopefully live on for another 40 years.