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| Joined: | Wed Mar 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Buffalo, New York USA |
| Posts: | 332 |
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Is that a cross bike? I envy you, Jack... you are going to have a great time. Now the best I can do is ride the lovely trails here with my kids in tow. ...
Oh, you have fun you whippersnapper. I am certain you'll face some challenges but it sure sounds like a great manly bonding experience and one you'll always laugh about and remember fondly!!
Not exactly a [cyclo]cross bike Paxman, but it has a similar geometry. It is more of a randonneur. Meant for unassisted long road racing. My brother Greg (WIS) is riding a classic touring machine and Dave (not WIS) rides a touring converted mountain bike.
Those trails you posted looked cool. I have only done mountain biking in the Belmont area of Fairmont Park outside of Philly. That was a while ago for me too. These days I no longer get excited to see washed out tree roots to hop over while trying to keep downhill speed on technical singletrack. The trip is planned for 400+ miles of smooth crushed stone and paved bike trails along the (mainly Erie) Canal system running from Albany to Buffalo.
Back in '86 we "sailed" (motored with a stepped mast) the Canal system with our father who passed away in '90. We three sons took turns on different legs of that journey. This trip is planned as a commemorative to that odyssey as well as a brotherly bonding exercise.
Here is the bike more recently as it is being outfitted for the "Tour de Farce"
Cool additions are the sewn-on elk skin handlebar tape (think butter) over gel, the Gilles Berthoud panniers and handlebar bag (tres french) hung on a Herse styled rear rack, hammered Honjo fenders and (for bike geeks only) a Phil Wood bottom bracket.
Thank-you all for the supportive and sharing comments.
Edgel, that's exactly the kind of thing we are planning, 400 miles in 7-8 days. Dear God, I hope that's not a racing pace. We do want to swim in the finger lakes, drink the local wines, and gamble away our cache funds at county fairs. woohoo.gif
