Thanks for posting the albums. Both bikes look great. I took my 650b'd Romulus out for a quick ride this morning. I've always enjoyed it, but with the wider supply tires, it's just that much better. Love your cheviot. I'd be lusting after one more (and in that awesome green) if I didn't already have a bombadil.
Sky in new west On Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 8:18:02 AM UTC-7, WETH wrote: > > > As I spend a beautiful weekend indoors nursing an irritated sciatic nerve, > I thought I'd write about my bike commute. My commuting route winds > through sleepy Washington DC suburban neighborhoods, down hill along a > stream, across a regional park and creek, up hill under an eight lane > intestate highway, along a major commuter artery where vehicles travel 40 > miles per hour, through quiet urban neighborhoods, and finally, 8 miles > from home, onto the grounds of the worlds 6th largest cathedral. Departing > the house about 6:15am, I cycle in the cool predawn air, passing a few > joggers and mostly dark homes. After two and half miles of peaceful > suburban roads, I join a steady stream of cars. The constant whine and hum > of traffic quickens my pace. Three miles later I slip onto quiet > neighborhood streets as the sky brightens. Back on a six lane urban road > the cathedral beckons in the distance. I arrive invigorated for the day! > At 5:30pm, I reverse the route as I exercise away the days frustrations > and mistakes. The final two and a half miles to my house wind along a > creek where the roar of traffic grows fainter and dusk settles in as I give > thanks for the day as I spin contentedly toward home. > > Since early April, I have made this ride exclusively on my rehabilitated > Romulus with albatross bars and a small Saddlesack. Nimble, quick and > comfortable, this bike is an extension of my body such that I feel I am in > it rather than riding on it. The shorter wheelbase and uptight riding > position puts me over the rear 35mm tire so I feel the road the way I would > in a sports car-a bit rough but in command. > > I greet runners, walkers, and cyclists while marveling at how many respond > in the morning and how relatively few I encounter in the evening. Kindred > souls take to the road in the morning darkness.* I marvel at the > politeness and courteousness of most drivers. I wave a hand in thanks much > more often than I glare or gesture at an inattentive or aggressive driver. > I try to put Mildred Norman's words into action: "But, you see, I love > people and I see the good in them. And you're apt to reach what you see. > The world is like a mirror: If you smile at it, it smiles at you. I love to > smile, and so in general, I definitely receive smiles in return." > > Fall's chill is creeping in, and I must layer more clothes. Soon I will > be carrying my work clothes while cycling in winter gear and changing at > work. To that end the Cheviot is built with rack and large Saddlesack, > ready to take over as my daily commuter until spring. The Romulus will get > cleaned and tuned-up to be ready for weekend adventures. > > I placed my favorite photos from my 2016 Romulus commutes in a folder: > https://flickr.com/photos/86975051@N08/sets/72157674823367155 I will add > more as they occur. > > The Cheviot is ready, and I look forward to the beauty of fall and winter > mornings. Cheviot photos here: > https://flickr.com/photos/86975051@N08/sets/72157665232090983 > > Safe cycling wishes to all, > Erl > *I love the early morning hours, yet I am not a morning person. > Vocational obligations and a loathing of heavy traffic get me out the door > early on weekdays, while weekends find me sleeping later. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
