PolarLava::Blog

I've wanted to start riding a bike to work for a long time.  And when gas started to skyrocket I tried to setup my old Schwinn Continental II.  So I tuned it up, put a rack on it and took it for a test ride.  That lasted exactly 1/10 of a mile before the front tire blew out.  It was heavy too which didn't thrill me.  So I began to watch the Buffalo bicycles on craigslist for a suitable but affordable replacement.  A few thing that intrigued me, but nothing that was right for the right money.

So out of the blue, Rob pinged me a couple of days ago to see if I'd be interested in his old road bike.  Well, uh, yeah!  We're about the same size although his legs are a bit longer so I figured it might work out.  So he dropped it off last night and as I suspected it's a bit bigger —56cm, than what I usually ride —54cm…that's about 3/4 of an inch which is alright.  Anyhow, so now I'm the happy and proud owner of a 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert "Dave Scott" bicycle:



It's been sitting unused for a while so the tires and brake pads need to be replaced due to dry rot, but overall it's in nice shape.  And how can you possibly go wrong with that hot 80's paint scheme?

So although my initial thought was to make this my commuter bike, I've scrapped that idea now as my Schwinn LeTour is better suited for that roll primarily because it's drilled for a rack mount.  Thus the Centurion will be fixed up for duty as a replacement for the LeTour as my wind trainer bike.  But it also should be well suited to doing double duty as a secondary/foul weather bike when I don't want to get my Trek 2120 all grubby.  At least that's the plan until I can get a new primary bike to replace that one…which hopefully will be next season.

A followup post(s) will be made on the Centurion's rehab once I get some parts and start making some progress.  And always remember, one can never have too many bikes…contrary to what mothers, fathers, wives, sister, brother and others may say!!!

I'm a notoriously slow reader.  I drive myself crazy because it takes me months to read most anything.  But not this time!  I've just finished the wondrously insightful In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan.  I found this book incredibly fascinating.  Like, "don't want to put it down because I want to keep reading" fascinating.  As well as actually staying awake and alert enough to do so at bedtime.

As those that really know me should know, I'm somewhat fanatical about health, fitness and exercise.  Although I sometimes don't live up to my own standards, I try to do so and encourage others to do so as well.  If you're serous about learning where we went wrong and (with the U.S. government's help) got our diets off-track (Hello there High Fructose Corn Syrup!) and you're interested in trying to eat healthier, this book is definitely for you.  I really can't say enough positive things about it.

You may also find of interest my previous post of Michael Pollan at Google.

So yesterday I came across one word.  The basic premise being it gives you one word and then you have sixty-seconds to write about.  Very simple, very easy.  This is something I can see doing periodically.  So yesterday's word was "spark".  To which I came up with:

There was a spark that ignited a single flame. But that's all it took to bring the entire house down to a pile of ashes. Sadness reigns.

The voices rang from on high.  As the church hall filled with glorious sound.  And there were smiles all around and much happiness.  The sound of peace.