Crusty Cassette

A fat tire ride seemed in order for the weekend. The forecast was mixed when Doug proposed a Sunday ride rather than Saturday. I'd been wanting to take Doug on Meisner ever since we had ridden up Asotin Creek and I'd gotten all those flats.

Doug and I drove over. I know Steve would have wanted to start at the boat launch but I figured 25 miles on the mountain bike would feel like a ride to me. Sean showed up on one of his two new mountain bikes. Claims to have bought two and sold four for a net loss of two bikes. Of course, he rode from the orchards and had that, how did he put it, unmentionable hill to look forward to on the way back. Actually I think he may have said, "hardly worth mentioning," but you get the idea.

The time had fallen back giving the day another hour to warm up. The sign at Valley Foods in Lapwai said 53 degrees at 10. The Map shows returning via Garden Gulch. Instead we turned up Garden Gulch and came down in CuldeSac. We stopped at the Thunderbird for a snack just before noon before tackling Lyle Gulch just across from Jacques Spur. You can see it on the map if you look for it.

What a gorgeous day to be on a bike!

Boys in red

Sean and Doug agreed that red bikes are faster than blue bikes. That's as good an explanation as any I can think of, so I'll take it.

The house at the top of Lyle Gulch

The pretty section today was from this house down to Garden Gulch Road. Sadly, who has time to stop to take pictures when he's white knuckled and screaming?

All down hill now.

This was the last I saw of these two until we hit Garden Gulch.

For the ride of it.

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.