My day went pretty well. Twenty three or so miles on the bike with good friends (none of whom understand my love of classic steel). A previously mentioned sighting of a late 70's top o' line Bianchi ridden by a man who has owned it since he was just a young man and both he and his bike are are as lively and functional as ever. (Unfortunately my Spanish is only fair and I can only communicate 1/2 of what I would so much love to say to some of the owners of the local classic mounts). A wonderfully prepared organic turkey cooked to perfection at 300 degrees. A terrific afternoon spent with my beautiful wife and drop dead gorgeous 2 and a half year old son. An hour or so spent fantasizing about a Santana tandem in hot pink on Ebay for my wife and I. (Still have no idea what sizes we would need being both about 5'9"). Also feeling sentimental about my friends here at CR. (Strangely enough I have garnered intense love and friendship from so many of the members while at the same time having alienated as many for my outspokeness.) I just heard that my 91 year old beloved uncle passed away in Del Rey Fl. just tuesday night, but my mother and I enjoyed reminiscing about this classic old man and top rate engineer.
If there is any one thing that appeals to me about the classic steel bike it's that in spite of the forces of time which cause decay and decomposition, it is possible with knowledge, labor and love to keep alive those things in this world that are of real value. When an old frame comes to life it is a prayer that divine mathematic composition, human evolution and the celebrated human soul can triumph in spite of daily stories in the news which state otherwise.
Garth Libre in hurricane recovering South Fl (Miami).