Kudo's to Dan for another great CR ride, always a highlight of the vintage season. There's nothing better than rolling in after a good-n-hard 30 miler, opening a beer, sitting on Dan's deck watching the trout stream roll past while someone dials up the Tour on the TV. Aah, nirvana.
Just a few additional notes on the day. Thanks to Steve Maasland for leading me to Dan's house after I forgot to bring the directions with me. Lucky I was able to remember the the exit number off the interstate. Can't beat the early morning adrenaline rush ("I KNOW I put the map in the car!") for pre ride preparation.
Being thoroughly acclimated to the NJ flatlands now, I'm extra careful about picking a bike to ride in the hilly Baltimore area. And after all, we're talking about Dan "Iron Legs" Artley here. When he says that a ride is "challenging but possible" for a fixed gear, I sensibly brought my '74 Paramount with the newly installed 24 tooth granny ring. Alas, I forgot though that you have to test shifting under load to detect bugs, so on the first big hill I dumped the chain to the inside and was lucky to get my feet out of the clips to prevent a crash landing. Careful shifting the rest of the way got me through without having to walk, although it was close a few times!
Dan shouldn't feel alone about his ride on Steve's Longstaff trike, as my first, very brief, trial resulted in the devilish machine diving to the left straight at someone's car. I grabbed a brake lever and got stopped, and that was enough for me. I believe M. Sanford almost hit the same car on HIS test ride! The experience is very counter intuitive, as you don't lean to steer, you steer to turn. If I try it again, it'll be in a big flat parking lot. It's the first time I've seen anyone ride a lightweight trike, and the sight of Steve hangin way over the side to make a downhill turn is hair raising.
Loved Dan's house and collection, including the absolutely gorgeouos Paramount track machine. A great story about him getting it from a retired racer, who kept throwing more and more swag into the pile for Dan as he "wanted to get rid of" all this old obsolete stuff. I can just picture Dan there with a stupefied look on all the choice bits the guy was dumping on him. We all hate you, Dan.
Anyway, thanks again to the Artleys, and I hope we weren't too much trouble. I wouldn't change the route a bit, it was stunning.
Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
>From: "Daniel Artley" <dartley@co.ba.md.us>
>To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Subject: [CR]Re: Dan's vintage, OK it might not have been fixed gear friendly, ride on Saturday the 17th (long)
>Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 08:31:20 -0400
>
Snipped
>
>I felt it was a success when Steven told me that "I've got to do one of
>these rides at my house soon!" 'Course its flat where he lives. Hear
>that! Its FLAT at Steven's! You might want to check that one out. Now
>that's a bike collection I'd like to see! I wish I could make Tom's
>ride next weekend too, maybe next year.
>
>Dan Artley
>Parkton, Maryland
>
>
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