The bike served me very well, and in particular the Shimano Tiagra was something of a revelation. It's the newest Shimano stuff I've used aside from the Di2 on the Renovo, and in addition to having the same lever shape it shifts nearly as well. It's genuinely hard to see what you gain from more expensive components, except I guess an extra gear--though frankly I can't tell the difference between 10 and 11 speed without counting the cogs.
There was also the exciting moment when the Steel Bridge opened for a passing boat:
And some guy scurried right up the girders:
See?
He then disappeared into a hatch in the roadway above:
Indeed, Portland has some tenacious vagrants. (Or maybe it was some viral Nike parkour thing, I really have no idea.)
Even more tenacious are the gentrifiers, and I saw not one:
But two luxury bicycle-themed apartment buildings within blocks of each other:
None of which is to say Portland is failing to live up to its reputation; indeed, the dream of the '90s is still alive and well there, especially when it comes to show flyers:
At first glance all the fliers appear identical, but upon closer inspection there are in fact subtle differences:
I find it amazing that there are people who can not only discern these differences but also find significance in them, even though decades ago I myself was one such person.
Anyway, you'd think my now they'd have run out of morbid-sounding similes but clearly they have not.
But of all the things there are to love about Portland, few are more endearing than Bloody Marys with bacon in them:
Thank you, Portland, for your gracious hospitality. You certainly know how to live.
33 comments:
That guy climbing up the bridge has some chutzpah!
The lonely VHEMT volunteer says: I want to be last.
thats a lot of seatpost on that rental bro.
Di2 to 105 to Tiagra all in the span of a few days ..you do truly celebrate Shimano's entire catalog. Any feedback on the differences between their Beastmaster and the Forcemaster?
What weight line you running bro?
Reel question (see what i did there?): what exactly does a bike theme apartment entail? just like bikey art on the walls and such?
Did you scream "bicycle rights!" At mortorist?
...Bacon is Lob's delight!
I once left a Yakima roof rack with fork-mount bike trays on my car, and drove it to work that way. No big deal. I left work to find a fishing rod and Shimano reel in the bike tray.
A colleague who went everywhere with his fishing gear thought it was funny.
Love me some Tiagra all day long Brando.
There is a noticeable difference between Tiagra hubs, and Ultegra hubs.
Last Friday, I ordered some custom wheels wheels with whiteind.com T11 hubs. Looking forward to not being concerned with hubs for a few years.
Unicycle with dura ace, it’s the only way.
Tan Ten...welcome back
Chazu.. A bikerack is ideal for travelling up the creek to a new trouthole without breaking down your flyrod
Welcome back,tan wild cat tenovo.
Thumbs up for last weeks Outside column. Few can express righteous frustration and anger in witty ways. I’m more the type that fantasizes about carrying a three-pound hammer around the city. Violence gets us nowhere, but nothing important changes without eloquent anger.
Also, cheaper Shimano- I’m a fanboi of SLX, Deore, and Tiagra. Of course XT and Ultegra are awesome, but by now the cheaper stuff is just as good in almost every way except weight and bro-status. I wish Shimano made sense all the time, but unnecessary things like flat-mount brakes and dual-control levers make me insane. At least they usually are more sensible than the GripShift/Sachs guys. I guess they’re actually called “Shram” now, which again makes no sense.
"what exactly does a bike theme apartment entail? just like bikey art on the walls and such?"
pbateman as far as I can tell it entails a communal bike room and an extra $800 in rent.
Bummer you got the Tiagra (Al?) Diverage, it means you missed the chance to '"review" the current Future Shock.
Tiagra 4700 is the easiest shifting 10-speed kit Shimano has ever made. Not that it's lighter than 7900, but man, it works a whole lot better.
so what i've learned by reading this here journal of cycling excellence these past few days is that there is no discernible difference between Dura Ace and Tiagra.
so basically Tiagra is now the new 105? or is Sora the just as good now too? where is the cut off? and i do feel bad for shimano's marketing/brand managers - even they have to think: "we should really only make 3 groups - the cheap one, the middle one, and the fancy one"
i wish they would rename 105. all the other groups get these fun sounding names and then out of the whole bunch they just slap a darn number on it? and why 105? at least make it cool and bad ass like 666 or 69 or...whats that phone number from that old song? 85754309? thats too many numbers i think.
Ultegra was once known as 600.
Had a mail order purchaser call the shop; he had ordered a Dura-Ace 10S cassette- I couldn’t figure out until later (WTF), he thought 10S on the cassette spacers was 105. His plussedness was palpable.
Shop Rat,
They really do look similar.
--Tan Tenovo
You should really get a steel Italian bike with Potenza on it. Really. Try a Mondonico.
Wesley Bellairs,
Do Campy shifters still require the periodic overhaul?
--Tan Tenovo
Wesley Bellairs,
Do Campy shifters still require the periodic overhaul?
--Tan Tenovo
Double comment?
We need some sort of comment moderator to assure that this sort of thing does not occur.
876-5309.that's Jenny's number.
If @WIWM took over comment moderator duties, the WildCat could have time for more Rock Machine travel documentary bike-ride write-ups and downs.
867-5309.
@badboy- go look on the wall again.
Close, but its 867-5309
bad boy....you'll never get a date with Jenny unless you call 867-5309
I got it! I got it!
So. . By rent you mean that because you mentioned the bike & the shop, it was more or less free. ;-)
Not hatin, jus sayin
Mas
Anonymous 6:42pm,
No, by "rent" I mean I went to the rental portion of their website prior to embarking, reserved a bike, and when I arrived I paid a fixed amount of money to utilize the bike for the duration of my stay. What you are referring to is called "borrowing," and had I borrowed a bike I would have said so.
--Tan Tenovo
What was Jenny's area code?
Who knew the commentaria was full of Jenny Freds
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