Bianchi Eros

I forgot to mention in my last post that I rode the Apple Butter permanent on a new bike. The seat stays on my commuter bike frame (Fuji Sagres) developed cracks, so I replaced it with my Raleigh Gran Sport frame that was my club ride/short brevet bike. I had wanted to replace the Raleigh because it did not have any bottle cage bosses or a head tube frame peg for a frame pump. I had one cage clamped to the down tube. I did not put a cage on the seat tube because that was where I put the frame pump. The rear dropout spacing is also only 126mm, and I was tired of trying to cram in a 130mm wheel. I could have cold set the frame to 130mm, but it is perfect for the 8-speed Nexus red band hub I had on the Sagres.

I bought a Bianchi Eros on eBay in December and built it up using parts from the Raleigh and my parts bin. The bike came with the headset and seat post. There was also a stem and handlebar that I resold on eBay. The "only" new parts are: a Sugino compact double crank (34x50), a Shimano cassette (12x28), a Rivendell V Brand handlebar bag, two Spanninga RL-1 taillights and a second King bottle cage. I also have a new Selle An-Atomica Titanico saddle I plan to put on after I lace it.

The frame is steel, but not lugged. It appears to be a 2002 model. Other than not being lugged, the only downside is that the fork, with the fenders, will not let me run more than about a 25mm tire. I was a little concerned about the narrower tires not absorbing the road vibrations, but I did not have any problems this weekend. I may look for a replacement fork, but for now I plan to leave it as is. On rides where I know there are particularly rough roads, I can always ride my Rivendell Canti Rom with 28-32mm tires. The setup is pretty well tuned in except for the stem. I would prefer a stem about 2cm shorter. The problem is that I have already shellacked the cork bar tape, so the stem will be a hassle to replace.

Shellacked cork bar tape looks good with the blue frame














Rivendell V Brand handlebar bag














Rivendell Little Joe saddle bag (no longer available)














Hard to believe we were riding a 200K two days ago.

More Cold Apple Butter

I went to Baxter Springs again to ride the Apple Butter 200K on Saturday with Mike and Nancy Myers. It was cloudy and about 32 degrees when we left at 7:00. We had a southeast wind that swung to the southwest about Noon, so we had a five to 12 mph headwind most of the day. The Myers had a flat tire just south of Galena, KS, about five miles from the start. That was the only mechanical problem the entire day.

East of Joplin, we rode by a field where there was a mare and recently born foal. The mare still had blood stains on her hind legs. As we approached, the stallion charged up to the fence between us and the mare and foal, the mare and foal started running, but the foal got tangled in its legs and fell. It quickly got up and headed off after the mare. A little further along, we were passing a field with goats when the herd dogs in the field beyond started barking. The goats looked at the dogs, then at us, then back at the dogs and then again at us before they decided the silly dogs were making much ado about nothing. The goats went back to grazing. The sun broke out after we left the control in Sarcoxie. It finally began to warm up, but I don't think it got much above 40 degrees the entire day.

The most excitement of the day was when I lost my Permanent card. I forgot to zip the pocket in my reflective vest where I keep my card. I realized the card was gone about a half mile after leaving the control in Mount Vernon. I told the Myers to go on, and I headed back towards the control. I checked the trash can at the control to make sure I did not accidentally toss it. Then I headed back along the route. Luckily, I found it about 5 feet off the road just a few hundred feet from where I realized it was gone. I did not see it when I first went back because there were ditches on both sides of the road. Good thing it was not at night, but having ridden half the distance, I was prepared to spend as much time a s necessary to find the card. With the headwind, I did not push it, so I did not catch up with the Myers until the control in Sarcoxie. I also saw former Missouri US Senator Jim Talent at the control in Sarcoxie. We got back to Baxter Springs just before 18:00.

Eight rides complete and four to go. The rest should be brevets, although I may ride a permanent in early March because the first brevet is not until March 20. Last year's brevet, there was snow on the ground, so the weather can still be a problem.

Fixing a flat














Mike & Nancy

Springbike Super Bowl Ride

The ride started at 1:30 PM at the James River Assembly of God Church, just north of Ozark. There were about 25 riders. The skies were overcast, and the temperature about 33 degrees, but the roads were dry. Dave Christiano, club president, started us off and provided SAG. It was good to get out on the road because the weather has been to wet and cold to ride. I rode the longer route (32 miles). The sun broke out on the way back from Rogersville, and it warmed up to a toasty 38 degrees. There is snow in the forecast for tomorrow, but hopefully, the weather will start getting better.

Getting ready to start














Crossing the Finley River at Riverside

Precious Moments 202K Permanent

A new Permanent has been approved by RUSA. The Precious Moments 202K starts in Carthage with the turnaround in Willard. There is an intermediate control in Miller. There is about 8,000 feet of climbing. Let me know if you want to ride it. You must be a member of RUSA to ride.

Cooky's Solo

The cold, snowy weather finally broke and with the month winding down, it was time to ride a 200k. No one I knew could ride this past weekend, so I took off on the Route 66 & Cooky's Pie Permanent on Sunday morning at 6:30 in a heavy fog. Rail traffic has been down, but I had to wait for a train at Nichols Junction. Fortunately, it was a short train. I had already gotten damp from the fog and would chill quickly whenever I stopped for any length of time. The ride outbound was uneventful, and the fog held up all the way to Golden City. Riding in the fog is almost like riding at night. Many of the landmarks disappear, so that the sense of time and distance is lost. Judy, my wife, met me at Cooky's for a leisurely lunch, and the fog had broken when I left a little after Noon.

The Cooky's route has a number of dogs that usually aren't much of a problem, but this time there were some new ones. I was chased by two large dogs at one time on the way out, but easily pulled away. Fortunately, they were not around on the way back. Inbound, there was a large German Shepard, with a cowbell tied to its neck, that charged about a hundred yards across his yard. Now why would anyone tie a cowbell to a dog unless it is to warn of your imminent demise. The Shepard stopped about 10 feet away after four or five sharp NOs, although he may have also recognized the can of Halt! I had in my hand.

As I was passing the Springfield airport, I heard the train whistle behind me and I was glad I beat it to the crossing on FR 124. I then heard the whistle ahead of me at Nichols Junction, so I expected it to be clear when I got there, but it was a coal train that was still adding cars in Wyoming. I made it back a minute after 17:00. That makes at least one 200k each of the last seven months.

Waiting for the train in the damp dark














Still foggy in Halltown














About 1/2-mile visibility














Ready to head back



















New signs on Historic Route 66














End of the coal train

Cycling in the Netherlands in the 1950s

I particularly like the family out for a ride in their cycle car.

First Ride of the Year

Springbike Bicycle Club held their annual New Year's Day ride even though the temperature was about 10 degrees below the 30 degree cutoff. The sky was clear, so once we got going I was not cold. The ride started from the Logan Elementary School, east of Springfield, at 11:00 a.m. There were 22.5 and 30 mile options. About 15 riders showed up. The four cyclists I rode with rode the 30-mile route.

Not a very good self portrait














Bundled up for the cold