I used to think fenders were dorky and wondered why anyone would want fenders on their bike. I remember when I was a kid, fender removal was one of the first modifications to a new Huffy. I never saw Greg LeMond, Davis Phinney or even Bobke ride a fender equipped on their Reynolds 853 Eddie Merckx. Andy Hampsten did have fenders when he rode to a Giro stage victory during a blizzard in the Gavia Pass.
However, as I have gotten older, and I would like to think, sometimes wiser, I realize that fenders scream hardcore. A bike with fenders is a bike that is all business. It's a bike that is about riding. It is not a bike where someone is trying to save half a gram (28.35 grams to an ounce, just in case you were wondering) with carbon valve stem cores. It is a bike that says that there is no honor having a wet, black stripe of road grime extending from the tail of your seat to the top of your jersey collar.
I've got to get some fenders. But first, I need to spray some shout on the back of my jersey.
Monday, February 19, 2007
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