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FROM THE SUMMIT Have you participated in a multi-day bike tour? I have been on a number of them, and I highly recommend it. You can plan one on your own or you can go with a tour company. Tour companies offer trips to a variety of destinations. Some are longer or shorter than others. Some offer more challenging riding than others. Some include activities such as rafting or hiking in addition to cycling. Tour companies offer camping and inn trips. If you are interested, you should be able to find a tour that is suitable for you. I have traveled with four tour companies, and I would go with any of them again. If you have any interest in going on a bike tour, you’ll want to attend this month’s meeting. FFBC member Laura Spano guides trips for Undiscovered Country Tours, and she will present information on that company and its tours. I am going on a bike trip on the big island of Hawaii this month. It is a six day trip. It will include a couple of fairly short mileage days, at the beginning and end of the trip. In between there will be at least two long riding days. The trip will cover a variety of terrain, including beaches, an active volcano and cattle ranches. Some of the riding will be challenging, but I hope to come back refreshed and with a better tan. Last month I was scheduled to lead the Gary’s Nightmare ride on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Having overslept Al’s Birthday Ride, I went on a short ride on my own on Saturday afternoon. My bike had not been shifting smoothly, and I had adjusted the rear derailleur. My adjustments didn’t seem to make much of a difference. On Saturday afternoon my rear derailleur cable gave out. I know bike shops are usually busy on Saturday and last minute repairs can pose a challenge. I got to Bicycle Garage at about 4:00 PM or maybe a little later. Alan replaced both derailleur cables and housings while I waited. I really appreciate him being flexible enough to handle a last minute repair on a Saturday afternoon. I guess I could have avoided this problem with preventive maintenance. Now I understand the importance of replacing the derailleur cables and housings periodically. There was a strong turnout of FFFC members at the Strawberry Fields Forever ride last month. I was happy to see so many FFBC jerseys at that event.
Gary |
