[CR]'38 Paramount does century, rider survives.

This past weekend was the 28th (?) Great Peanut Tour http://www.greatpeanuttour.com/ near Emporia, VA, just N. of N.Carolina. The roads are marvelously free of traffic, running through pine, peanuts, soy, and cotton. Yup, cotton fields. Straddles the line between the almost flat coastal plain and the slightly rolling Piedmont. So, the century ride was, of course, through the Piedmont. It was much less hilly than Paul Raley's Amish ride in southern Maryland, which I convinced myself I ought to do on my Roma fixed gear several years ago.

So, if it is flatland, might as well enjoy the '38 Paramount, resplendent in its 2005 Waterford repaint. But with a brake, vintage saddle, and off-topic pedals. Wood rims, block chain, Torrington 15/17 spokes. As she was meant to be, set up 26x10. It was great fun, and just plain agile in the packs.

We chat often about making our bikes visible, in the hopes that others will come to share our enthusiasm. What impressed me again, is how few of these recreational riders are "into" the bikes as machines, artifacts, or history. Have bike, ride bike. Or not. Out of adjustment? see the shop. I guess we're just different, as Pirsig taught me decades ago.

Keep the rubber side up!

harvey sachs
mcLean va.