Life is better on a bike.
ODA A LA BICICLETA, PABLO NERUDA
Oda a la bicicleta
Iba
por el camino
crepitante:
el sol se desgranaba
como maíz ardiendo
y era
la tierra
calurosa
un infinito círculo
con cielo arriba
azul, deshabitado.
Pasaron
junto a mí
las bicicletas,
los únicos
insectos
de aquel
minuto seco del verano,
sigilosas,
veloces,
transparentes:
me parecieron
só
lo movimientos del aire.
Obreros y muchachas
a las fábricas
iban
entregando
los ojos
al verano,
las cabezas al cielo,
sentados
en los
élitros
de las vertiginosas
bicicletas
que silbaban
cruzando
puentes, rosales, zarza
y mediodía
Pensé en la tarde cuando los muchachos
se laven,
canten, coman, levanten
una copa
de vino
en honor
del amor
y de la vida,
y a la puerta
esperando
la bicicleta
inmóvil
porque
sólo
de movimiento fue su alma
y allí caída
no es
insecto transparente
que recorre
el verano,
sino
esqueleto
frío
que sólo
recupera
un cuerpo errante
con la urgencia
y la luz,
es decir,
con
la
resurrección
de cada día.
Ode to Bicycles
I was walking
down
a sizzling road:
the sun popped like
a field of blazing maize,
the
earth
was hot,
an infinite circle
with an empty
blue sky overhead.
A few bicycles
passed
me by,
the only
insects
in
that dry
moment of summer,
silent,
swift,
translucent;
they
barely stirred
the air.
Workers and girls
were riding to their
factories,
giving
their eyes
to summer,
their heads to the sky,
sitting on the
hard
beetle backs
of the whirling
bicycles
that whirred
as they rode by
bridges, rosebushes, brambles
and midday.
I thought about evening when the boys
wash up,
sing, eat, raise
a cup
of wine
in honor
of love
and life,
and waiting
at the door,
the bicycle,
stilled,
because
only moving
does it have a soul,
and fallen there
it isn’t
a translucent insect
humming
through summer
but
a cold
skeleton
that will return to
life
only
when it’s needed,
when it’s light,
that is,
with
the
resurrection
of each day.
- Pablo Neruda, 1956
Numerous reservoirs on fire roads around Daegwallyeong-myeon
Daegwallyeong Mountain, Gangwon-do, South Korea (25km from Gangneung City)
Welcome center at the Sheep farm.
Daegwallyeong Sheep farm is also surrounded by 1000 meter descents into Gangneung by single track hiking trails. From the sheep farm to the radio/cellular towers, a long downhill mountain bike track.
This bike climbs like a billy goat. The steel frame is ultra-smooth for soaking up bumps and rides like a full suspension on XC trails. One of the best bicycles I have ever owned...
She's gone!, but I will remember her.
Bicycle Type Mountain bike, front suspension
MSRP (new) $1,399.00
Weight 24.4
Sizes 18"
Color: Forest Green
Frame & Fork
Frame Construction TIG-welded steel
Frame Tubing Material Columbus Max Or
Fork Brand & Model Rock Shox Judy Race
Fork Material Aluminum, triple-clamp crown
Rear Shock N/A
Components
Component Group Shimano Deore XT
Brakeset Shimano Deore XT mechanical rim brakes, Avid lever (front), Hayes trail disc (front)
Shift Levers Shimano LX GOLD (dual mechanical; swapped with Shimano LX Rapid-fire 9-speed)
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore XT Compact Drive, bottom-pull/clamp-on 28.6 mm
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore XT GS
Crankset Shimano Deore LX Compact, 22/32/42 teeth
Pedals Shimano PD-M535 SPD (clipless)
Bottom Bracket
Shimano Deore LX Integrated sealed BB/Hollowcrank
Rear Cogs 9-speed, 11 - Shimano Deore XT M770
Chain Shimano HG, 9-speed Dura-Ace/XTR
Seatpost Kona Race Light O-Beam, 27.0 mm diameter
Saddle SMP Selle
Handlebar Bontrager Titec 150g
Handlebar Extensions Ergon GP2
Handlebar Stem Kona Race Light Velocity
Headset 1 1/8" Kona Race Light Control Center
Wheels
Hubs Shimano Deore XT w/suspension front axle
Rims Mavic 217 SUP, 32-hole
Tires Front: 26 x 2.25" Schwalbe Racing Ralph, Rear: 26 x 2.35" Schwalbe Fat Albert
Spoke Brand Stainless steel, 1.8 mm straight gauge
Spoke Nipples Brass nipples
