Crusty Cassette

Linda, Doug, Lance

More Chili Pics

Bright sun, cool crisp air: Autumn's a great time for cycling. And a great time for chili and chili wine.

Even with tired legs from Saturday's century, Doug showed up on the new bike ready to ride.

But it was his wife's pepper wine that was the hit of the party. Nicky, the official club win . ., eh, connoisseur approved heartily. Doug says his wife has gradually made the drink hotter but that this version was not the hottest--that's the white version. Doug's wife doesn't drink the stuff herself. What d'ya spose that means?

Everybody pitched in. Lance baked his special cornmeal muffins. Okay, they hadn't risen but they were just the thing to dampen the fire on the tongue from Linda's chili with a pepper wine chaser.

Me, I was on a century appetite. I'd've eat anything.

Linda harassed Mike and Nicky into putting aside efforts to Sean moved out of their house into his own. The furniture is reported moved; the boy, not so much.

Mike's concerned that Nicky may move too. That'll give 'im more time for power washing the house.

"What an unnecessary make work job," I shouted in dismay.

Crisp, cool, sunny autumn days are made for cycling and chili.

For the ride of it.

Doug's proud of his new red handlebar bag on this it's first ride.You may think that's Sean's Pilot 5.2, but you'd be wrong. That's Doug's bike. Sssh. Don't tell his wife.

Sean's job's too easy.

Bike's seem pretty much to sell themselves. Look in my garagae for proof. Look in your own, or, if you dare, look in Sean's.

Sean shed's bikes like a caterpillar sheds its skin. Turns out, Doug was looking for a new skin.

"I've got a Pilot for you, Doug," Sean interrupted his conversation with a customer.

Doug's mouth was watering over the Trek Madrones but at 4,000 a ride, he wasnt' quite ready.

But he was ready for a new bike. Sure that Specialized was new this season. But I knew by Doug's eagerness when I suggested a stop at B&L that a new Pilot or Madrone was in Doug's future.

Does that make me an enabler? Maybe I should get a commission?

Nah, it was too easy. Sean popped on a set of pedals, a shorter stem and sent Doug out for a spin.

It might have been five minutes when Doug was back, his sales resistance screwed up to the max.

"What d'ya think?" That was Sean.

"I'll take it." That was Doug.

Sean's job's too easy.

Though the wind blew and the temps dropped 20 degrees from Tuesday to Wednesday, its been a great week to be on a bike. Eat your hearts out, working slobs.

I made a Lapwai Loop and grabbed a few pictures of and near the condemned Grouse Rd bridge we use to cross to old highway 12 and head for Arrow Bridge. Read about plans for that bridge and a bike path here: http://twinriverscyclists.org/Advocacy/Advocacy.htm

The best foliage, though was along the Green Belt Trail. On Wednesday I road south to the 10 mile bridge. Pretty nice yellows along that route as well.

You can see more pictures here

For the ride of it.