Tandemania

Wherein Jeff and Sara take the new bike out on the road...

So, here's the present to ourselves that we picked up in Ramona on Saturday! A brand new KHS tandem, with 27 delightful gears and an sssortment of other useful widgets.

After some fit adjustment, changing of the handlebars and stoker (back) seat for more cushy comfort and fine-tuning of all the angles, distances etc. we hit the road with the bike on our new whiz bang swivel roof rack, off to our rent-a-home in Morley Field.

Sunday morning, after Jeff patiently and very kindly suggested that we not leave until "Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood" (my favorite program) was over, we put the bike back on the rack, an easy and smooth process (we worked together like a well-oiled machine) and headed to downtown to start the San Diego Bay Bike Loop.

We found a great parking spot, ready-made to give us plenty of room to remove the bike, but then the problems began. No longer a well-oiled machine, we attempted to take the bike off without pushing a crucial button that allows the bike to pivot to the ground. Then, we discovered that the strap meant to hold the handlebars straight, that we didn't attach because we were told wasn't really necessary, turns out to be very necessary, at least to us amateurs. We found ourselves both trying to support a 40+ lb, unwieldy bicycle built for two, which was attempting to twist out of our grasp in the most unhelpful and frightening looking ways! Somehow we finally removed the bike without busting off the front fork or taking a chunk out of the top of Jeff's car, and took a moment to collect our frazzled selves. I guess we must have looked more in control then we were, because there was a patio full of folks eating breafast across the street that didn't think it necessary to offer any assistance!

But then... ahhhhh, the ride...

We did the loop past the convention center, down harbor drive, and through the Gordy Shields bikeway. After the fun section on Palm, we entered the southern section, heading west to pick up the Strand.

We've done this loop about 5 times, or just the up and down on the Strand, and almost every time, we run into Hawkeye - either coming or going. He must do this ride every day of the week. We had a great chat, and took a few pix to commemorate the occasion.









Hawkeye took this intense action photo of our team under way, screaming at flank speed down the Strand. Of course, at this point, we were actually heading north to the ferry...





Saw this great trio of White pelicans on the ride - and a larger group of about a dozen of them up near the ferry landing. Nice. We always see scads of egrets and herons, plus those weird birds that hover before diving into the marsh to grab a snack.

Athe end of the trip, we get to enjoy a ferry cruise back. Can't beat the view. We made it with only a few minutes to spare, so we rode down the wooden pier, testing the shock absorber in Sara's seat.



The ferry slowed so we could pay homage to Fred the sea lion, who occupies this buoy 24/7. Pleasant fellow, great job.




After bidding adieu to Fred, we headed to the city side landing, hopping back on the bike for the return trip to the car. Getting the bike back up was a snap - all you have to do is follow directions, do things one step at a time, and voila. Breakfast at Cafe 222 followed, right across the street from the parking spot. All in all, an excellent first voyage on the good ship Tandemania.
Next, we do more tuneups in preparation for the trip to Borrego in January. Nice.