This looks like great fun... jacket and tie required!

We get questions about Ironweed's water resistance all the time.  We can talk about water resistance, but we thought it might be more useful to show you.  This is a pannier that I've used for two years and a bag I took on RAGBRAI last year.  I placed a bed sheet in the bag and gave it a good soaking. I hate wasting water, but it was for a good cause.  See what you think.

Last week I joined three friends for a century ride.  Our intent was to take part in an organized ride, which never really happened.  We did, however, ride 105 miles.  Most of it was pretty flat, but there were some horrific headwinds. 

I rode a late 70’s Raleigh Competition converted to 650B wheels with a porteur rack, porteur handlebars and a 1x7 transmission - a city bike set up.  It’s the bike featured in the banner on our website.  One of the crew was on a ’59 three speed Schwinn Tiger.  We all had panniers and too much stuff, and we probably made too many stops for libations and conversation.  Finally pulled in around 10:30PM.

I’ve had this Raleigh for a few years.  I picked it up with four other bikes that included a large-frame Gitane Tour de France and a Peugeot PX10.  I have not touched the two French bikes, but chose instead to set up this Raleigh.  Looking around my shop, there are an embarrassing number of nice bikes that don’t get ridden enough.   

This tends to happen as an expression of bicycle love.  There is, however, a threshold on collecting and one should be alert to crossing that line.  One should listen to loved ones and visitors for cues that you may have a diagnosable state. 

I have about 25 bikes in my shop to accommodate a family of four.  To ward off calls from reality show producers, I have a “one in - one out” policy.  So I do occasionally sell or give away bikes.  But there are a couple of bikes that I just can’t seem to part with. 

One such bike is a ’76 Raleigh Super Course mixte.  I bought it as a frameset.  Over the years I continue to make improvements, despite the fact that even with several potential riders in our household, it spends all of its time hanging on a hook. 

I have seen a few really nice vintage mixtes and this is one of them.  As with all Super Courses of this vintage, the main tubes are Reynolds 531 straight gauge tubing and, at 27lbs, is fairly light. The welds are a little sloppy but you can’t beat the paint scheme.  I took it to the Heartland Velo show in Madison a couple of years ago as a model bike for panniers.  But other than that trip it’s been on the hook. 

I should probably pass it on, but I can’t seem to do it.   Meanwhile, I’ll check the DSM-5 to see if I’ve passed over the line.