Aren\’t we lucky? We have all sorts of gearing nowadays; but this wasn\’t always the case!

In fact, if this video is accurate, climbing used to be brutal for the cyclist. Can you imagine having only two gears on the rear wheel; and having to stop and get off the bike to switch gears? And, in addition, having to flip the wheel in order to change gears? That would be enough of an aggravation with the modern quick-release!

And aren\’t we lucky to have easy-care cycling clothing? The chamois in cycling shorts is now made of synthetic material; but it used to be, literally, chamois. This leather shorts lining needed special care; but now all we have to do is wash our shorts. I do notice that the chamois needs at least 24 hours to dry, thanks to this humid climate; but that\’s a small price to pay for not having leather-lined shorts.

What did cyclists do before the invention of Chamois Butt\’r? I read somewhere that some of them would slide a slice of raw meat into their shorts! Aren\’t we lucky that we don\’t have to do that? Especially now, with all the talk of e-coli. It also sounds like a waste of meat to me, because who would want to eat that meat afterwards? Not I!

I\’ve been pretty lucky with the weather lately; and I hope it lasts. Yesterday, on the return leg of my ride, I rolled through some 9-10 miles where it had rained not long before; and I\’m glad that I didn\’t get caught in that downpour. One day, I know, my luck will run out. Again, the week\’s forecast is full of showers and T-storms! It\’s very monotonous; but at least a T-storm is preferable to a hurricane!