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My second 10-speed was an Austro-Daimler SLE. The SLE differed a bit from an SL; it had a three-spider Stronglight crank, and Huret derailleurs. I bought the bike from a shop in Knoxville, TN that was filled with a small inventory of bikes, Campy components, and cyclocross pictures. At the time (’77-ish), a ‘cross rider in Knoxville was like an Inuit in Mombasa — rare.

But back in the day, diversity in bikes was the rule. There weren’t any monster brands dominating the scene — just a wide variety of 10-speeds, with each having its own distinctive look. I kept that bike until 1989 or so, when I sold it to a neighbor’s boyfriend. I wonder where it is now.

Zac, formerly of the Michigan lakeshore and now a Seven guy, has a web site/team/concept thing.

Thanks for the tip to the folks at Velo City Cycles in Michigan. Nice people, cool bikes….

Issue #33 of the Rivendell Reader has been mailed and already the denizens of the RBW mailing list are weighing in on arrival times. Let the drama begin (Hey! Where’s mine?!?)

Bikes on the beach. Hilton Head, SC. 2001.

Inspiration, perhaps, for a Winter fixie project.

Less rain, more sunlight is what I need. My mileage is suffering, and with a century ride coming up I can use a few miles in the saddle. Particularly since the saddle in question is attached to a still-unfamiliar bike.

I can still vividly remember some past centuries. I’m anxious to get back to those kinds of rides, and have my eyes on TOSRV — maybe not in ’05, but certainly the next year.

Pro Tour DOA? This was a poor idea from the get-go, and the lack of information coming out of the UCI hasn’t been reassuring.

“The ProTour will go on with or without the Tour de France,” said the UCI. Oh yeah?

It’s typically not a good idea to change all your cycling equipment at once….which is why I did it anyway. After 12 years of riding my Look-compatible Mavic pedals I sprang for some Speedplay Zeroes. The verdict: I already love ’em. There’s none of that skating on ice feeling that some folks warn about — just free float that is mostly imperceptible. Like the Mavics, I can dial in the amount of float, but unlike the Mavics I can clip into either side of the pedal.

56 miles this weekend gets me closer to my modest season’s goal of 1,500. I can tell, however, that I haven’t been riding as much as I should would like. Those hills, you know?

I’m checking out the fixed gear gallery and thinking about some surgery for the Pinarello. Just another winter project.