Velo Madness
Ride faster! Ride Faster!
Yes folks, the cycling bug has bitten hard since arriving in Boulder. Eight or so years of no bike riding has made Robby a frustrated boy. Since moving to Boulder, I have had Scott Moninger ride his bike in front of my car while waiting to make a left turn, bought a cyclocross bike which I use as a daily commuter bike, and attended a giant bicycle swap meet in Denver, but things are really getting out of hand now.
I bid on, and won, another bike on an online auction. But here’s the thing: it’s a mountain bike. I decided I wanted to get something with fatter tires for the coming winter snow, and holding to the principle that has sustained me throughout my cycling life — never ride shitty bikes — I looked to eBay for a quality bike that I could still afford. I found fat tire bliss in a Dean titanium mountain bike that I was surprised to win. It should arrive on Thursday. Being primarily a road bike fan, and a steel fan to boot, this is quite the switch. But I think it could be fun to finally ride Ti (always wanted to, and besides, my wedding band is made of the stuff (by Boone Technologies, I know I’m dating myself here)), and I’m certainly in the right place to finally give mountain biking a fair shake.
Lastly, as evidence that it is impossible to NOT get back into cycling while living in Boulder — regardless of how pathetically far you have let yourself get out of shape, and how eroded your right kneecap has become — I submit: my neighbor.
I met my neighbor across the street just last night. As I rolled up to my garage door, I saw him — watching a friend test ride a rather fancy time trial bike up the street — and nodded hello.
“Nice bike”, he says.
Now, I had suspected that this guy was a serious bike guy, because I always see nice bikes parked in front of his house, and I once saw him in his garage at night and noted that he has a full-on shop in there, with a nice stand and wheels hanging from the ceiling and all. So when he said “nice bike”, I of course rolled on over to continue the discussion.
Turns out, my neighbor is the Chief Mechanic for the Trek Mountain Bike Team. (!) We chatted for a few minutes, and he’s a really nice guy, even offering his extensive garage-shop for my use if I need it. His friend? Just getting ready for Nationals next month, getting his bike dialed-in and all. Sheesh, fifteen years ago, I used to read cycling magazines and read about these places, places where the great cyclists lived and trained and rode, and wish I was there. Now I’m here, but as an out-of-shape, beer drinking, computer hack. It’s funny how life works.
But hopefully there’s time to get back in the saddle, and get back into the air as well. For now, cycling celebrity sightings, watching the glider tow planes dive back to Boulder Airport as the glider that just released heads for the front range, riding nice bikes (slowly) to work, and the occasional nighttime bike path jaunt under a starry sky for a loaf of bread (as I did on Sunday) will have to do, and honestly, that’s doing just fine.
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6 comments
So, when are you going to buy an airplane?
I can sense your excitement, Rob. Keep your eyes out for Ron Kiefel (formerly Team 7-11), I think he still lives in N. Boulder, not sure if Connie Carpenter-Finney (sp?) and her husband Davis still live here or not… but they may. Off of cycling… you can also see many world-class, professional runners as well, and an ocassional actor / actress. (Harry Connick Jr. and his wife come here relatively often, since Jill is from Boulder and her family still lives here, Steven King had a place here, met Richard Grieco (haha), and so on.
Fun place Boulder is! Keep enjoying!
Paul, I gave up on the idea of owning a plane when I left sea level. I’m 200lbs, and live at 5,400’, but can’t afford more than 100HP, which is why I sold N6993F when I left NJ. I’m toying with the idea of learning to fly gliders here; there’s a nice club right here at Boulder Muni. Otherwise I’ll rent or join one of the clubs down at Jeffco. But for the moment, cycling is doing it for me. I’m a little tapped out between the move and the bike purchases recently. I’m past due for a biennial too. But mountain flying looks like fun (Leadville Airport, the nation’s highest, is only a couple hours away in a 172), so I’m sure I’ll be up there sooner or later.
Amy, read the article I reference here: http://www.rumblestrip.org/2005/06/16/back-in-the-saddle
The people you mention are all here, as are many others. As for movie star sightings, well, I think I left that mecca behind when I left New York.
Out of about two dozen homes on my block in Longmont, I’m one of six “enthusiast” level cyclists or triathletes who live there. Yeah, it’s a nice area to live.
Oh wow… thanks for pointing me to that paticular article of yours. :) I knew all those folks once upon a time, back when the Coors Classic was being ridden over on the Morgul Bismark. Been over there riding yet??
And, yeah… I understand about the “movie star” thing. (I’m originally from NY state, but have actually seen more “stars” out here… go figure.)
On a side note… Ron Kiefel is a great guy. He shopped in the small, independently owned grocery store where I worked back when Team 7-11 was around. Same for the Phinney’s. (Thanks for the spelling correction… been a while!)
I gently rubbed the wheels of my racing bike last Sunday. It is forlornly hanging from the ceiling of the garage, quietly humming “Glory Days” to itself. I then plopped my out-of-shape, beer drinking, computer hack butt on my Gary Fisher sit-up-and-beg bike and went for a ride on the bike trail with the family.
I’m glad to hear you are getting settled in a bit out there.
Phil
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