I picked up Brutus from the bike shop today (it ended up getting dropped off at Hart's in Pennington, not Knapp's) and almost didn't recognize him when the owner wheeled him out. He not only had brand new tires (Continental 4000s, an upgrade from the original Continental 3000s), but his cables were tightened, the bar tape was redone, and he appeared to have been powerwashed. Seriously, he was glistening. Just like new...what an amazing site.
Immediately after picking up my bike, I headed out on a 30 mile ride through Pennington Boro, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Princeton Township, Princeton Boro, and Hopewell Boro. The landscape here is so beautiful, it reminds me a lot of Knox/Licking/Morrow County, Ohio, where I spent 2002-2006 at Kenyon College. Rural views include unmowed grass, sunwashed red barns, stands of oak, maple, and pine, an occasional brook or stream, and fenced-in pastures for horses and cows. The rolling hills add to the beauty, with narrow two-lane roads that lack the double yellow lines of their busier counterparts, with certain places where the land seems to literally touch a cloudless sky (this definitely reminds me of Ohio). So much more scenic than the busy roads of the Washington, DC metropolitan area that I spent the past 8 months riding in preparation for two Mondays from now.
Brutus did well on the ride, which had more hills than I expected. Some parts I hadn't ever ridden before and it never fails to surprise me how much more steep the hills seem via bike than via car. Overall though the ride was fantastic.
I received my final bike parts in the mail today: extra tubes and spokes, as well as some Carb Boom packets (suggested by Tamara Parr, American '07). I'm sure I'll have to be getting some last-minute items in Providence (or somewhere in Pennsylvania...or Indiana...or Kansas...etc etc) but for now I'm all out of money!
Thanks to the following shops for their merchandise:
Revolution Cycles, Washington, DC
http://revolutioncycles.com/
Hart's Cyclery, Pennington, NJ
609-737-3008
Bicycle One, Gahanna, OH
http://bicycleone.com/index.cfm
Bike Source, Columbus, OH
http://bikesourceonline.com/
And online vendors:
www.performancebike.com
http://www.terrybicycles.com/
www.teamestrogen.com
Favorite brands:
Pearl Izumi
Terry
Today's hardest bits of my ride:
-hill going east on Rosedale Road in Princeton Township.
-hill going north (and straight up) on Hopewell-Wertsville Road in Hopewell Township.
-Aunt Molly Road, Hopewell Township. They forgot to pave the middle of it. I did get a nice 10 minute walk in, though.
Today's prettiest bits of my ride:
-Van Kirk Road in Lawrence Township.
-Carson Road in Lawrence Township.
-Pretty Brook Road in Princeton Township.
-Featherbed Lane in Hopewell Township.
-Wargo Road in Hopewell Township (this is one of my favorite roads, I try to ride it every day).
Fastest speed:
40mph on Pretty Brook Road.
N.B. The Park Avenue hill I struggled to get up every time I biked back from Kunkle Park growing up is no longer a big deal.
12 days till Ptown :)
Immediately after picking up my bike, I headed out on a 30 mile ride through Pennington Boro, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Princeton Township, Princeton Boro, and Hopewell Boro. The landscape here is so beautiful, it reminds me a lot of Knox/Licking/Morrow County, Ohio, where I spent 2002-2006 at Kenyon College. Rural views include unmowed grass, sunwashed red barns, stands of oak, maple, and pine, an occasional brook or stream, and fenced-in pastures for horses and cows. The rolling hills add to the beauty, with narrow two-lane roads that lack the double yellow lines of their busier counterparts, with certain places where the land seems to literally touch a cloudless sky (this definitely reminds me of Ohio). So much more scenic than the busy roads of the Washington, DC metropolitan area that I spent the past 8 months riding in preparation for two Mondays from now.
Brutus did well on the ride, which had more hills than I expected. Some parts I hadn't ever ridden before and it never fails to surprise me how much more steep the hills seem via bike than via car. Overall though the ride was fantastic.
I received my final bike parts in the mail today: extra tubes and spokes, as well as some Carb Boom packets (suggested by Tamara Parr, American '07). I'm sure I'll have to be getting some last-minute items in Providence (or somewhere in Pennsylvania...or Indiana...or Kansas...etc etc) but for now I'm all out of money!
Thanks to the following shops for their merchandise:
Revolution Cycles, Washington, DC
http://revolutioncycles.com/
Hart's Cyclery, Pennington, NJ
609-737-3008
Bicycle One, Gahanna, OH
http://bicycleone.com/index.cfm
Bike Source, Columbus, OH
http://bikesourceonline.com/
And online vendors:
www.performancebike.com
http://www.terrybicycles.com/
www.teamestrogen.com
Favorite brands:
Pearl Izumi
Terry
Today's hardest bits of my ride:
-hill going east on Rosedale Road in Princeton Township.
-hill going north (and straight up) on Hopewell-Wertsville Road in Hopewell Township.
-Aunt Molly Road, Hopewell Township. They forgot to pave the middle of it. I did get a nice 10 minute walk in, though.
Today's prettiest bits of my ride:
-Van Kirk Road in Lawrence Township.
-Carson Road in Lawrence Township.
-Pretty Brook Road in Princeton Township.
-Featherbed Lane in Hopewell Township.
-Wargo Road in Hopewell Township (this is one of my favorite roads, I try to ride it every day).
Fastest speed:
40mph on Pretty Brook Road.
N.B. The Park Avenue hill I struggled to get up every time I biked back from Kunkle Park growing up is no longer a big deal.
12 days till Ptown :)
