On the road again

Out on the road bike for the first time in abouta year....
My @1993 Specialized Epic Carbon. Yep, that name that has since been re-branded as their popular high-end FSR rig, was originally a carbon and aluminum road bike. Carbon fiber tubing glued into aluminum lugs.
I bought it at Belmont Wheelworks in 1994. Not sure if it's a '94, or if it was NOS from a previous year , but I got it for a sweet 700 clams. At any rate, the salesman told me that in previous versions of the frame , the interface(glue) of the tubes and lugs was prone to react with the materials, breaking down and causing them to separate....but this particular model year they had painted the surfaces first so this chemical reaction would not happen. I believed him, and couldn't pas up on this fully-105- equipped, light weight machine. I test rode it and loved it. And to this day, ( knock on carbon fiber) , no sign of anything separating....
I once or twice tried to sell this beast back in the day of internet bb's, then decided  I wanted to keep it, and for years after kept getting emails about the original posting. One guy insisted on giving me exactly what I paid for it but at that point I had realized how much I loved the ride and that carbon fiber bikes were getting really expensive....
I've really never ridden another road bike ( except for the Reynolds steel bianchi-styled St Etienne with Campy-copy components that I bought in 1975) , so I don't have much point of reference, but the Epic rode like a dream. And still does.
On a warming pre-spring day when the trails were still soaked from 36 hours of rain,  a rare ride on the road was Epic.

Single Speed

Those who are close know that I have been on a singlespeed bent lately. I converted my Redline D460 to SS last year. Didn't take it all that seriously just riding around the local smooth flat loops. Just made me sluggishly topping out my speed  and/ or silly spinning 140rpm's on the local roads in between.  A few months ago, I tried riding the Blue Hills. Never thought I would be able to with one gear.
So, this (non-) winter I stuck with it quite a bit. I had been switching out pedals and shoes so much with the rollercoaster temps that I finally just left the flats on the RL for the sub-45F days, and spd's on the Tranny for those tasty springlike days....
It has not been easy, even with the current 32x21 gearing. Singlespeed nerds will tell me that I should ramp up the gear ratio because I can just 'tractor' over everything even easier and go faster. I think what they're saying is that I'm going too slow....
Anyways, I rode the SS BH quite bit this (non-)winter, and enjoyed it very much. There are some bigger hills in the BH but not many that are too steep for me to climb, gears or no gears. And even though it's mostly doubletrack and non-technical, it's still a challenge going up and FUN going down and there are long enough loops that I can get a great workout in 1.5 hours, or 2-3 hours if I start at home.... I have a great time at Wompy too with the non-hills and lots of twisty singletrack. Even Prospect Hill is fine, especially ambling up the backside over the stonewalls and such. And somehow I feel even better after a good SS ride...
That said, I recently rode Adams Farm 5 miles one sunday morning. Then back at the parking lot,  we joined another group for 8.5 more miles. Adams' 70 acres or so is CHOCK FULL of tight twisty singletrack. It's also a lot like the Cape with lots of little steep uphill grinds. This is where I need some help. Walked a bunch that day. Could be my late night kitchen hours and a 60 hour work week. Could be I'm getting old. Could be my gearing. Could be my diet. The latter I do usually keep a handle on, eating good before and after the ride. The three former 'excuses' may be more likely, with the first two probably more directly affecting how I feel going up hills, which lower gearing may not cure. I know I could use more sleep, but theres something about getting up early on a Sunday morning and forcing my friends to do the same that brings me joy in an S&M type way. Maybe its the tight spandex. Maybe it's the chains and rubber.
Truthfully, it's just getting 'out there' with the roosters and my fellow riders and the ensuing hootin' and hollerin' that brings the most joy. And the fact that I get home late morning, and have the rest of Sunday to spend with my boy.
But getting to bed at 2 am Sunday after a 12 hour non-stop grill shift and waking up at 6 to ride isn't easy. Usually worth it though.
My reason for all this writing was to justify the fact that I don't really want to buy more parts to switch gears. So I'll keep that 32x21 for now, switch it up with the geared Transition for even more fun. And try to find a way to work less and sleep more.
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Not sure whose picture that is, but it is truth.
We all have time to ride, so thats not the excuse. I work upwards of 60 hours in the kitchen and still find time to ride. So I will keep this short, 'cause this really is my time to ride. Weekday mornings. Wicked early 6 am Sunday mornings, even after working till midnight and not getting to bed till 2am.....Night rides on the nights I don't work. Rides while the boy is at soccer practice. Long rides on days where the rest of family is outta town. Short 20 minute rides when thats all I got in between painting the house and mowing the lawn and fixing the kitchen sink and catching up on the latest Walking Dead episode.......thats all. Ride your bikes kids!!