On the Road Again
As I noted in an earlier post (here), I’m a biker. A serious one. A racer, even — a silly thing for a senior citizen to be, but so be it. Anyway, due to circumstances beyond my control I haven’t been on the bike since last August. But today, for the first time in longer than I care to remember, I rolled out my lovely Pinarello and went for a ride. Boy, am I out of shape.
In commemoration of this event I’m pleased to bring you Kraftwerk, my forever-favorite group (which, thanks to Henry Farrell, I had the pleasure of seeing live a couple of years ago), performing an abridged version of the grand anthem of cycling. Even if — perish the thought! — you’re not into techo-pop, the visuals are great.
Comments
Welcome back to the Bike, Lee. And what were you wearing for this auspicious occasion?
Posted by: trevor | May 15, 2008 07:57 AM
Trevor: As the Self-Appointed But Universally Acknowledged Style Czar of the Bicycle Place Sunday Ride, it is incumbent upon me, of all people, to keep up appearances. Consistent with my life philosophy of "Accessorizing is everything," I selected an ensemble to complement my black, red, and white Pinarello (the prettiest bike in the peloton, festooned with red bar tape, black with red carbon handlebars, red saddle, black bottle cages with red and black bottles, black and red crankset, black and red wheelset, black with red-stripe tires, and, yes, even red tire valve caps) as follows:
Black, red, and white Giro Pneumo helmet.
Black, red, and white Pinarello jersey.
Black, red, and white Pinarello bib shorts.
Black, red, and whie Pinarello socks.
Black, red, and white Pinarello gloves.
Red Diadora shoes.
It goes without saying that I was ravishing.
Posted by: Lee Sigelman | May 15, 2008 08:25 AM
So, Lee, are you riding a Prince or some old and glorious lugged model that recalls Indurain's best days?
Posted by: Kurzbein | May 15, 2008 10:38 AM
It's an F4:13. Sleek and looks like it's going fast even when it's just sitting there. Looks-wise, it's a twin of the newly upgraded Prince. In my heart of hearts, I prefer the old classics; but for riding really fast, especially up hills, there's nothing like a carbon fiber or ti bike.
Posted by: Lee Sigelman | May 15, 2008 10:49 AM
Pinarello = this year's Cervelo. Total DLA.
(DLA = "douchebag lifestyle accessory.")
5/10: Sub-five-hour century on a SOMEC SLX-tubed frame (total bike weight: 21 lb). It's NOT the bike. And it's definitely not the jersey/shorts/sox with the bike's name on them...
(ps: I can afford a better bike, thanks. I just can't seem to find one I fancy more.)
Posted by: Jim | May 15, 2008 11:26 AM
Jim: You're not really saying that it's the rider (not the bike or the accessories) that matters, are you? What an odd notion! Why, that sentiment could destroy the entire cycling industry! Such anti-capitalist sentiments cannot be tolerated.
Posted by: Lee Sigelman | May 15, 2008 11:51 AM
That's a nice frame, Lee. Believe it or not, I've not yet enjoyed the magic of a carbon fiber frame. I do use a carbon fork and seat post, and that makes a big difference.
Jim - Congrats on the sub-5 century. An SLX-tubed frame would be perfect for a century, but I'm not sure I'd want it in a crit.
It may not be the bike, but it might be the wheels. I did a Superweek crit last summer that had neutral support from SRAM. They had carbon-rimmed replacement wheels which I got to try when another rider bent my front wheel. Talk about dampening vibration. I barely felt like I was touching the pavement.
Posted by: Kurzbein | May 15, 2008 02:11 PM
You rock Lee. Next time though, please get a photo, so we know it wasn't just a drug-induced hallucination :)
p.s. Did you shave for the occasion?
Posted by: Phil | May 15, 2008 04:40 PM
Great to hear that your are bad in the saddle. But did miss something in your description of your attire on bike day. No pink?
Posted by: Bob Stein | May 17, 2008 07:25 AM