Life on the new Jamis Quest has been fun. Still need to tweak the fit a little bit, and I'm not crazy about the Ritchey BioMax handlebars, on which the shoulders are swept back from the flats just a little bit. I never understood that. Whose wrists naturally angle outward, away from the center of the body? I'll be shopping around for something short and shallow soon -- maybe the Salsa bars by that name.
However, I did 35 miles on the thing last Friday and fairly flew the whole route, including, surprisingly, on the hills. I mean, the bike is a few pounds heavier than the CAAD 8, that aluminum razor blade I tortured myself on for three years. But there's an X-factor to it -- it just moves.
The jury's still out, but it seems there might be something true about the reputation for liveliness that steel has -- quality steel. There's a certain zing I get from it that's hard to describe. As if there were tailwinds the whole route, or invisible wings on the chainstays. Lovely!
My family and I buried my dad's ashes in a lovely country cemetery in the Catskills of New York State last weekend. It was a brutal week leading up to it -- like going through his death all over again. The family relations were weird. But on the day of the event, the clouds parted -- literally, since we had sun for the only time in days -- and a small, sweet group of friends and family came together and made the day right. In the end, Pop would have been pleased, though he would have said something restrained, like, "That was correct." Good ol' Pop, heaven forbid he get excited. Miss him like crazy every day.
Off to yet another interview in preparation for the adoption. Was supposed to be the last, but it turns out, there'll be another. As Dad said when he was going through cancer treatment, "It's their world, I just live in it." If Mister Overbearing, 1933-2011, can go with the flow while facing off with his Maker, I can do this. No sweat.
Tomorrow? Sunny, low 70s, and 40 miles of New England hills with a friend -- a tonic for the stress and senselessness of the world.
3 comments:
Good to have some things behind you and some promising things ahead. Seems like your getting to know the Quest. I like the X-factor. I think I know what you mean. It's a feel.
It's funny,my Mother's parents were old school Boston. They called soda "tonic". But, again, I think I know what you mean. Have a good time.
I guess the big challenges never end, they just get replaced. Too bad you can't get that steel glide in all things life. It seems like you are clearing the rooty stuff with smooth technique.
Thanks, guys. The constancy of your support means a lot. Great metaphors, WB!
Post a Comment