"Is this some kind of joke?"

[BiggJawn]

We had our annual "Employee Appreciation Day" on campus, and one of the popular features is the "Car Show". Everyone brings their antique and custom cars, truck, motorcycles, and farm tractors. Yes, Tractors....
Now, this past winter, I built me a sweet little red number with honey-brown Brooks saddle and fat Panaracer tyres. Yes, I'm rather proud of it, so I enter it.

And I park it between a red 'Vette and my cousin's B-i-L's red MGB and everyone settles in for an afternoon of fun.

Most the comments were favourable, but I had more than one variation on a theme of "Is this a joke?" "Are you serious?" "What is this? A BICYCLE?" (no asshole, it's Luke Skywalker's speeder, you BLIND?)

I don't understand it. Just because it consumes no OIL, it's not a real vehicle?

Ah, well, I had SEVERAL people come up to me and say "You brought your BIKE? I think I might enter MINE next year!"

In the words of a famous Hoser...
"Bring it On!"

[Longhorn]

1. Seems like they should rename the "Car Show."

I think it's great that you showed off your wheels and I hope that more follow suit next time!

[Kolesar]

2. Hey!

Pictures, pictures! We want to see the bicycle.

[BiggJawn]

3. Oh, sure, I forgot....

Here it is, "La Velo Rouge"
http://tinypic.com/2m9xm9

and

http://tinypic.com/1sjst5

[Kolesar]

4. BiggJawn has a big bike

Those look like the Panaracer Pasela TG tires I bought for my girlfriends' bike. The natural color sidewalls give it away. Sort of like gumwalls. It came with under-spec 700x25s that measured 23mm. So I bought the 700x28s They perform nicely on unpaved rail trails and towpaths.

[BiggJawn]

5. You have a very good eye...

They're Paselas, but not the TG model, and they're 35mm.
It's a 62cm Bridgestone 200 and that's a Nitto Technomic stem

The bike is a blast to ride on Chippenseal roads and what we call "Gravel Roads" around here. Very smooth, very sure-footed.

[Kolesar]

6. I went to college in Indiana

I had a 10 speed that cost $100 in 1976 that I used to get around. Could not afford a car or get a parking permit for a car.

[BiggJawn]

7. Which college?

The big one up north, or the big one down south? I work for the big one up north...

[Kolesar]

8. North!

I went to Purdue engineering school.
I didn't think you were talking about Notre Dame.

[BiggJawn]

9. I bleed Black and Old Gold, too.

We've probably ridden some of the same roads then. :-)

[Kolesar]

10. I remember the road to Fort Ouiatenon

I don't remember many other rides that well, but then again, Jimmy Carter was President when I started so I am excused for forgetting. I mostly commuted and the weather was not great. I ended up transferring to another engineering school that was not out-of-state so I was not there that long.

[BiggJawn]

11. I ride up around Battle Ground and points North.

They're similar roads, all cracked, potted and rough now....;-)