Stopped the test rides and took the leap. I should preface this by saying I have made this trip more times than I can count over the past 3 or so years but only on pedal power and 'bikes on busses' program. So the trip is nothing "new". Had two major hi-rise bridges to go over to get to the beach where my accounts are. The Subaru tire scrubber w/1-1/8" roller handled them both at 16-18mph with light pedal assist, as opposed to walking/sweating. On the flats I kept it to 20-ish as it is still in the break-in stages. However, punching it a couple of times I could get to 26mph and it feels like I'm ready for take-off! That's all these old bones need or want...for now.
Beautiful morning here in FL at 7AM. On the way to the beach, I looked off to my right over the seawall and saw a large wake breaking the calm water of the bay. A dolphin then surfaced about 10ft. off the wall. Ah, the things most of us take for granted here. Out to the beach and through the traffic circle and on to the second high bridge. Traffic...non-existant. Motor humming along flawlessly.
Hit 3 work stops and headed for home. Yeah, right! The long way. Cruised the beach road, still vacant at 9:30AM. Over a smaller draw bridge to the mainland...no sweat, 18mph up the span. Stopped at a local county park for a snack and checked the fuel tank. Hmmm. Maybe enough to get home if I plan a direct route...Nah! Stopped a gas station. Ah, the adventure REALLY begins. As some of you may know in these high priced fuel times, ...pay in advance. HOW?! Into the store I go. Pull out a dollar bill. Said to the clerk,"I don't know how much it will hold but here's a dollar. That should more than cover it". Smiles were exchanged as he looked out the window toward the pumps at the lonely bicycle sitting there. I fueled up. The pump was extremely slow. Had to look at the display to see if it was registering. It was. RATS! 46cents US! Change was in order. Went into the store and the clerk was ready and waiting with my change complete with stupid grin. I guess I had one too. Since I use whatever means of transport for my self employment I always get fuel reciepts. Just didn't have the stones to ask for one this time. I figured, "this one's on me, Uncle Sam". Upon my exit from the store the clerk, in a friendly, joking manner, said, "thanks! Now I can retire"! LOL
So, off I zipped (I'm zippy now). Took the long way home for a 25 mile shake down cruise. For some stupid reason, I felt I should be doing something and found myself pedaling in hi-gear A LOT! Seemed like I was cheating if I didn't.
And, the looks you get. People on the street stop and stare as I go by. People in cars slow down as they pass to get a good look. At one point a group of 3 children in the back seat of a car were all turned around staring at me after they passed. Joggers, pedestrians, even a guy on a 'formal' scooter smile as I passed by. Weird! And my bike is nothing special. A simple rack mount on a Schwinn hybrid with ape hangers for comfort. I can't imagine the looks you guys with the HT kits on a cruiser get. Got a "drop dead" look from a Spandex dude on the top of the second hi-rise bridge while he took a break as I passed by. He was breathing hard. I was wearing my knee brace(tendonitis) so maybe he thought that was the best I could do. Yeah, I'll keep that thought. OR... the Spandex crowd can just eat my shorts! Zipped past a couple of other "Lance" wannabes. Guess that doesn't happen to them much as they were looking back to see where that shadow was coming from.
Oh, and speaking of shadows...glanced down at mine more than once. The thought that came to my mind...Dr. Suesse. My shadow looked like something out of one of the story books! All I needed was a tall striped top hat!
Well that's my story for my inaugural voyage on my WayBack machine. Note to self: need larger fuel tank; decent eyewear (Home Depot Safety glasses worked, but...eh; helmet mount mirror (no room for anything else on the handlebar;
Question?: Has anyone figured out how to get the perma-grin off of ones face? Ah, then again, why would one want to? They say it takes less muscles to smile than to frown!
CHEERS
WC
Beautiful morning here in FL at 7AM. On the way to the beach, I looked off to my right over the seawall and saw a large wake breaking the calm water of the bay. A dolphin then surfaced about 10ft. off the wall. Ah, the things most of us take for granted here. Out to the beach and through the traffic circle and on to the second high bridge. Traffic...non-existant. Motor humming along flawlessly.
Hit 3 work stops and headed for home. Yeah, right! The long way. Cruised the beach road, still vacant at 9:30AM. Over a smaller draw bridge to the mainland...no sweat, 18mph up the span. Stopped at a local county park for a snack and checked the fuel tank. Hmmm. Maybe enough to get home if I plan a direct route...Nah! Stopped a gas station. Ah, the adventure REALLY begins. As some of you may know in these high priced fuel times, ...pay in advance. HOW?! Into the store I go. Pull out a dollar bill. Said to the clerk,"I don't know how much it will hold but here's a dollar. That should more than cover it". Smiles were exchanged as he looked out the window toward the pumps at the lonely bicycle sitting there. I fueled up. The pump was extremely slow. Had to look at the display to see if it was registering. It was. RATS! 46cents US! Change was in order. Went into the store and the clerk was ready and waiting with my change complete with stupid grin. I guess I had one too. Since I use whatever means of transport for my self employment I always get fuel reciepts. Just didn't have the stones to ask for one this time. I figured, "this one's on me, Uncle Sam". Upon my exit from the store the clerk, in a friendly, joking manner, said, "thanks! Now I can retire"! LOL
So, off I zipped (I'm zippy now). Took the long way home for a 25 mile shake down cruise. For some stupid reason, I felt I should be doing something and found myself pedaling in hi-gear A LOT! Seemed like I was cheating if I didn't.
And, the looks you get. People on the street stop and stare as I go by. People in cars slow down as they pass to get a good look. At one point a group of 3 children in the back seat of a car were all turned around staring at me after they passed. Joggers, pedestrians, even a guy on a 'formal' scooter smile as I passed by. Weird! And my bike is nothing special. A simple rack mount on a Schwinn hybrid with ape hangers for comfort. I can't imagine the looks you guys with the HT kits on a cruiser get. Got a "drop dead" look from a Spandex dude on the top of the second hi-rise bridge while he took a break as I passed by. He was breathing hard. I was wearing my knee brace(tendonitis) so maybe he thought that was the best I could do. Yeah, I'll keep that thought. OR... the Spandex crowd can just eat my shorts! Zipped past a couple of other "Lance" wannabes. Guess that doesn't happen to them much as they were looking back to see where that shadow was coming from.
Oh, and speaking of shadows...glanced down at mine more than once. The thought that came to my mind...Dr. Suesse. My shadow looked like something out of one of the story books! All I needed was a tall striped top hat!
Well that's my story for my inaugural voyage on my WayBack machine. Note to self: need larger fuel tank; decent eyewear (Home Depot Safety glasses worked, but...eh; helmet mount mirror (no room for anything else on the handlebar;
Question?: Has anyone figured out how to get the perma-grin off of ones face? Ah, then again, why would one want to? They say it takes less muscles to smile than to frown!
CHEERS
WC