Saturday, May 29, 2010

There is Fuji Crazy, and Then There is Fuji Psychotic

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130392668230&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1071

Fuji Otaku (see link to his blog over on the right) has been posting some vintage fuji gear on ebay lately before he moves to Japan.  I wonder if he imagined this 80's water bottle going for almost $40 when he put it up for sale.  First, let me say I did not bid on this auction.  Now, being Fuji Crazy myself, I have been desiring one of these old water bottles to add to my collection, and 'complete' my Opus III.  However, after my jersey fiasco, I've realized that the Fuji Infatuation can get out of control at times.  This is a good example of that.  

A couple of months or so ago, there was a beautiful vintage fuji on ebay, and I noticed that it had one of these water bottles in the cage.  I emailed the seller to ask if he would sell it to me separately, and all he could say was "how much are you willing to offer?"  I didn't respond.  I could tell my $8 would not have sufficed.  

Fuji is just a word after all.  Let's not forget that it is the internal things that matter more than the external.  I'll continue using my generic and well-used Performance brand water bottle before I toss more than $8 to one that is over 20 years old just because it says Fuji on it.  

Friday, May 21, 2010

My new favorite ride





I just returned from a ride, with my two and a half year old in tow, to the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum here in Charlottesville, VA.  This is one of my favorite places to go here in Cville, and I didn't think it was possible to do on the bike, but it is!  I made my way to the Rivanna Trail, which is paved from Riverside Park.  I rode that until it spit me out at a very busy intersection of High St. and the 250 bypass toward Pantops.  I rode a short distance on the wide sidewalk over the river up to the  Shell station, then carefully rode around that parking lot, and through the shopping center to South Pantops Drive.  I took this straight to the backyard of the museum.  There is a dark wooden fence that goes along the border of the property by the road, but it ends near the entrance to the UVA Credit Union, where we walked through the grass right up to the museum.  We had a very nice time looking at the exhibit and watching a 'Dreaming' cartoon that was looping on their television set.  They always have some neat show about Australia to view.  I bought a journal and a new cycling wallet for myself, and a children's book for Haley Mae.  We had snacks at one of the backyard tables before heading home for lunch and nap.  It was a very special time in that it possibly could be our last visit to that museum.  We move to Pennsylvania at the end of July.  

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Charlottesville's Ride of Silence

Tonight was Charlottesville's Ride of Silence.  About 60 locals gathered at Charlottesville High School before embarking on a ride to downtown and back.  Unlike the professional Tour of Italy riders, we had no crashes!  Almost all of the cycling clubs and advocacy organizations were represented.  Three police officers escorted us through the intersections on their motorcycles.  We rode for about 45 minutes with no talking.   Some of the sounds I noticed made me realize how imperfect our bikes, as well as ourselves are:  grinding gears, floppy fenders, clunky chains.  Many in our group have been hit by motorists, and survived.  Five to Ten known Virginia cyclists were mentioned who had died in the past year by being struck by motorists.  Two Hundred Ninety-Five Rides of Silence happened across the world tonight.