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...and will be cursing my name - again!

...can you? I didn't realize I was the local legend on that segment Damn, I missed my chance to post a sign at the start so folks would know when they were on my turf!

Are the cicadas causing mayhem with bike rides right now? I can imagine taking one to the forehead at 20mph would be a surprise. Or crunching them would be unsettling. Last big outbreak, I remember dancing around them on walks, but not being too annoyed while riding, but maybe it is a little worse this brood?

Thumbs actually doing fairly well. Pains very minimal, the dissolvable stitches they didn't remove that attached the nail/nail bed back are bothersome and I'd like to pull them out but I tried one and a millimeter was all I could endure. That is a unique pain. I was at a vacation property with the family this past weekend (until Wed) and swam (kept the hand mostly up) and kayaked. I can envision that in a month or so I should be able to grip handlebars again and the thumb might be healed enough to actually go for a few rides. With that in mind, I should start ordering parts. So onto the bike rebuild. I'd love some recommendations/suggestions. My bike is a 2006 Lemond Tourmalet (here and here) The left shifter is fuckered as it's what took essentially the full impact. I'm not sure what version shifter I would need in Shimano as I only know its a 9spd system and " 105 STI for Flight Control". Looks like I cannot buy new of the same (makes sense, it is 16 years old) but the Ebay used look almost as gnarly as mine now and are expensive for banged up used shifters. I have reviewed and researched and this China Brand seems well reviewed. There is a youtuber that does a ton of upgrades and building using China carbon and components, he's using these and so far has thousands of Kms on them and is happy. The front fork is Carbon but doesn't show any major sign of taking direct damage. A direct replacement is again problematic if it is deemed I should. I've found a few on Ebay as well as, again, the china brand the Youtuber recommends. So the questions here are, should I replace the fork? How do I tell it's actually bad besides visible damage? The same applies to the handlebars. They took the hit should I be reviewing anything else. I plan on taking the parts to my LBS for install and a solid going over. I don't want to sink a bunch of money that could be spent on another bike later in replacing the parts on this one so I'm leaning fairly heavily to the China replacements. Handlebars: $50 Matched Shifters: $56 Front fork: $100 (Ebay, Lemond knockoff?) or $35 AliExpress Opinions? Suggestions?

...free reads (and available July 1):

I was wrapping up a short ride and while waiting for the light, a nice pack of us gathered. One that was directly behind me was a Trek ebike, and as we got rolling again, he passed me. I was befuddled when neither guy in front of me increased their pace to take advantage of the ebike's massive draft. I hopped aboard and was immediately zipping along at 26mph at a relatively easy effort. Sure, it took a kick to get his wheel, but after that, this guy provides a nice pocket of air to sit in. I think I've seen him several times before over the past few years, but in reality, it could be almost anyone on an ebike putting in that relatively easy effort.

But is @ChrisL ready for new kicks?

After every ride, that damn thing demands my input, yells at me about my ride, and tries to guilt me into changing my riding habits. WTF Garmin?!?!?!? Get out of my head, and just report the numbers!!!

...that robbed @jsharr's Boy Scouts? And what about that trailer? Anything ever happen with that?

...that I actually like the club jersey this year. I can't say I will but it, but for the first time in a while, I can say I might buy. Not totally sold on the big RBC on my moobs, but definitely nice enough looking in general.

...but he can rest assured I told each and every one of them that they were wearing the wrong color socks! N00bs!

NBC used to carry the Giro back in the Lance days, but it dropped off in recent years. I've been watching the Giro on the GCN app, but now I see, for whatever reason, NBC is going to show stage 17 to 21???? Weird. For the first time on Cycling Pass, watch Stages 17 through 21 of the Giro d'Italia! Catch up with the peloton as they face the toughest challenges and Egan Bernal tries to extend his growing lead through a high mountain stage and an 11km climb to the finish. Before the top Grand Tour riders line up for the final-stage individual time trial at the Giro, watch the first stage of Critérium du Dauphiné on NBC Sports Gold starting at 9:20 a.m. ET this Sunday*! NBC Sports’ Steve Schlanger and Bob Roll guide fans through all eight stages and examine the fitness of riders hoping to compete for the yellow jersey this summer at the 108th edition of the Tour de France.

51.5 miles into a 52 mile ride and ... another FLAT TIRE Luckily, I was meeting my wife at the beach, so I only had to walk a few blocks to throw the bike in the car, but what a bummer Looked at it this morning, and first thought, before pulling the tire off, was that the small gash let in something. I don't remember getting that gash, so not sure if that caused a flat or not in the past. I don't think it did But then, as I pulled the tire off the rim, I looked at the tube from that area and it looked fine. I decided to put some air into the tire and see if I found the leak. BINGO! ...what's this little shiny thing? Maybe a staple of some sort? My last flat a couple months ago on my front tire was a staple, but far more substantial in size. What's up with CA and staples???? You can see how tiny it is when shown against the tire levers.

Do some chains have rollers that are tight no matter what? I always notice the rollers on my other chains really loosen up after a cleaning, but the chain on the Hei Hei has rollers that never seem really free. It's a good chain, so I don't know what to think.

...and I want it NOW!

...to a day of racing

They are apparently a bunch of kiss asses! "Superior", "top 1%", and "Fitness Age is 20" seem like a bit of blowing smoke up my ass. Gotta love it.

...were two exciting Giro stories early in the week. I'm ALWAYS pulling for the guy named Taco in pretty much any event. And my local pro - Joltin' Joe Babyface Dombrowski finally backed up his now-distant promise from the Baby Giro. Too bad shit went sideways fast on his birthday

I've been waiting a floor pump for years. Nice big gauge, nice head (but it snaps down real hard!), smooth pump action....I like it!! (The color is way faster than in the pic)

https://www.efprocycling.com/efs-2021-giro-switch-out-kit-unveiled/

:)O

With FIVE identical emails about the awesome Mr Durst grabbing my Local Legend title???? Granted I took it back from him a couple days ago, but still... We'll likely continue to go back and forth as I often finish my ride with that climb, so now I just have to remember to do it every time

I kind of want to paint the frame. White is nice, but the front half in slime green would look betterer. Still need to pick up a front derailer, some bar tape, and who the hell knows where my cycling shoes and shorts went..

...what you'll see on a ride (and why I love riding ):