Until my back yard metal building gets built in the middle of October, a lot of my stuff will remain in storage. But, I brought home some stuff from storage this week, including our Screamer tandem and the Xstream. I also found my bike tool kit, and brought it home. Rose and I did a 25 mile ride on the Screamer yesterday morning. Then, I broke out the bike tool kit and did some maintenance.

I dug out my old HED wheels, put a 28mm wide tire on the rear wheel, and a 25mm wide tire on the front, and put them on the Xstream. I moved the A23’s that were on the Xstream, which had the same width tires, to the Corsa. So now, neither the Screamer, Xstream, nor Corsa have skinny road tires (at least not on the rear wheel). A bit wider tires seem appropriate for the rough roads I too often end up on around here. I also installed a new fairing on the Xstream.

The Corsa’s chain had been making some noise and shifting a bit funny, so I broke out the chain checker and inspected it. Sure enough, it’s dead. Not only did the .75″ side of the checker fall into it, so did the 1″ side. So, the Corsa will remain parked until its new chain arrives.

I spent the first couple of hours this morning spreading topsoil in my back yard (got a dump truck load of it yesterday). Then, I decided to try and get in a ride before the rains show up. I took off on the Xstream, my first ride on it since early spring. The brand new fairing didn’t stay new long. At mile 15, it started raining, and it rained on and off for the next 15 miles to Martins Mill. I managed to avoid the showers on the return ride, and the roads dried out pretty quickly. I ended up with 60.3. miles.

On the road with a new fairing.

Today’s route.