On SART, the first five to six miles were spent warming up, getting our morning legs loose and warm before we kicked it into high gear. Meme was chopping at the bit and made a few choice comments about picking up the pace. Slowly we went from 10 to 15 mph and by the time we reached the Honda Center we were cruising at about 20 mph.
About 2/3 of the way to Newport we passed some Hipsters sporting Fixies. These guys were headed to the beach from Fountain Valley.
The ride to Newport went fairly quick. Michael and I decided to ride to Balboa Island. While in Balboa Island we came up to Pain Du Monde, "Bread of the Worlds" (And really GREAT Cinnamon Rolls). Much to Michael's dismay they have closed their doors for good.
Next to them Pain Du Monde was this coffee house and by the looks, they picked up were Pain Du Monde left off. We didn't order up any lattes or deserts but simply stretched and headed back to Newport to meet up with Meme and Kevin at Chicago Bikes.
On the way back we sped past a rider standing on the sidewalk and by the looks of it he wasn't there for the scenery or to take a breather. As we past him, I could see a long skinny steel tail trailing from his rear wheel, a busted chain! We kept on riding and I my mind went wild with inner communication, "That sucks, I have all the tools to help him and yet I kept on riding past. I should stop and turn around. Wouldn't I want someone to lend a helping hand if I was stuck. I wonder where he's riding from?" I yelled to Michael and said, "I can't do it, I need to turn around and help our fellow rider." I met up with the downed rider and offered my help. I was right, his chain was busted. We mended his chain and headed to Chicago Bikes.
Chicago Bikes is an emporium of all things both old and bike related. From vintage bikes, tools, tubes, chain rings and cogs. Tony, the owner has been servicing Newport for many years. A signed Guerciotti by Eddy Merckx sits on one of the display cases (Tony was very quick to note that Eddy is a person family friend).
The sign on the door says, "Customers Beware - Safety Checks Happen Without Notice!," Tony is both and eccentric mad scientist and artist.
All things bicycles! Chicago Bikes is a hole in the wall filled with everything you can think of! I loved the Wall of Chain Rings.
Tony is a Mad Scientist, he mad a bike that spins the wheel forward whether you pedal forwards to backwards (Not to mention the bike is hinged!).
Tony has spent so much time with bikes, its common law now.
Rear Suspension and many options to fill your tires
360 Degrees of Chicago Bikes
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