Old Faithful

A MB-6 Bridgestone dark moss green with gold lettering, which I bought in SoMa in the mid-90's as a alternate form of transportation, since parking in SF was horrible, has been my bike for three triathlons.

If you Google it now, it will come up as a Vintage Classic bike. The nubby tires I had in SF for the hills and curbs in the city and for the trails of Sonoma, Napa and Half Moon Bay, have been replaced by smoother, thinner road tires for these races.

I have one other bike, an Elektra Townie, that has served me well in suburban life and for the stop-n-go of biking with my children as they were learning to be proficient and manage longer distance. I love the "flat foot" proportions and the chopper-like staring with the grip gear controls. I've even ridden in trails through the woods to get to rail-trails with the kids, and it's muscled along nicely. It's a very girlie bike ~ metallic pink with brushed aluminum fenders.

But my old faithful is my Bridgestone. It's amazing how well it will perform with toe clips, an every ready allen wrench set, WD40 and a spit shine. I may have to duct tape the seat before the race in two weeks, as it's worn spots are now sprouting holes, and it if rains the foam inside will get punky.

I'm very much a New Englander of the waste-not, want-not school of machinery. I've looked on Craigslist for Tri-bikes, but they are so darn pricey and if you're going to be investing in a fine machine that will properly fit, it's best to know you'll use it for a very long time, and that it will serve you well. Tri bikes aren't just Road bikes on steroids; they're designed with different aerodynamics in mind and can be heavier than a road bike. It seems that Quintana Roo is the bike of choice for people of my gender, age and stage. I've had two different showroom guys steer me towards the Dulce model. But when I look at it (and it's price tag), I figure my old faithful is good for another season of sprints.

In the background of the picture above you'll see the nose of an antique kayak with a race number peeled off it's bow. I bought that kayak, second hand,  with money I got for selling my Moss Green Raleigh Supercourse bike and that I'd earned working on Donaldson's Chicken Farm, when I was 12 years old (40yrs ago) and it's still my kayak of choice, too. It is an Old Town touring kayak, and still tracks better into the wind than many new fangled yaks with rudders!

I guess as long as my nearly 53 yr old frame is capable of maneuvering my ancient toys through the modern games and traditions trails I love to travel, than I'll hang onto these old faithfuls for a while longer. Tonight's sunset cruise of 8 miles before coming home to make dinner was full of quick shifting gears and the sweet smells of a new spring's fragrance filling the air. Ahhh to be out and about on my bike!

Good night, fellow wheeled folk, G'night!