Petroleum - Satan's Energy Drink

That's what is says on the back of my newest jersey, purchased yesterday in Seaside, CA. Methinks if I ever do a cross country ridr thru Texas, I'll leave that jersey at home.

I wasn't really planning to visit a bike shop in Seaside, but the bike had different plans. I had a beautiful morning ride thru the Santa Cruz mountains to get back on route. The redwoods aren't as big as up north, but a nice background for riding nonetheless.

Soquel, Aptos, both nice enough towns to ride thru. But outside of Moss Landing the rear derailleur cable broke. When that happens, you're talking high gear, and only high gear. But me, being prepared, have cycling maps that list all the bike shops on the route. And the one in Marina is less than 10 miles away. And I have the bike GPS to guide me.

It guides me about 2 miles out of the way, to the county airport, where there is nothing of interest. I call the number listed for the bike shop, it rings endlessly. I call directory assistance, it connects me the the same number, with the same result. As they say on talk like a pirate day, arrrrgh.

so the ride back to the route is both uphill and into the wind. In high gear. Good thing I have that singlespeed mountain bike for practise.

Seaside is the next town, and being no fool, I call the shop first. And confirm their street address. And wgat's another 10 miles on fresh legs with high gear, anyways?

So the guy in the shop was very helpful, and fixed the bike quickly. He even confirmed that there used to be a bike shop out by the airpoty in the middle of no where. I think I have some idea why they didn't get enough traffic to stay in business. And since the guy was so good about fixing my bike, I felt obligated to buy some stuff while I was there - hence the Satan's Energy Drink jersey.

I'm glad I had fresh legs, but I was hoping to use them on Big Sur hills, not mechanical problems.

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