Late Sunday afternoon: my favorite time to do a little work on a bike, listen to a little John Prine, maybe some Leonard Cohen. I bought my Gilmour nearly 20 years ago as a F/F, and built it with "brand new" Dura-Ace 7 speed. While changing the brake cable housing, I pulled the bar and stem just to see what was happening down there. In a moment of complete brain fade, as I pulled the stem out, I carelessly banged the end of the handlebar (no plug) against the top of the top tube. After countless miles ridden through countless counties in two states, the bike has remained nearly flawless. Most of the time, chips are unavoidable. They just show up. Even though this new chip is small, it is the ONLY ONE in the top tube, and just about the ONLY ONE visible to the casual eye. But I PUT IT THERE. As penance, I'm considering borrowing my neighbor's (off topic) Huffy for a ride downtown. I'll sleep fitfully, and wake up with a crick in my neck.
Sweet dreams, all.
Pat Moffat
Tempe, AZ