This is what the Foothills air looks like when it’s not full of imported particulates.
The air is definitely a tad chewy around here today on the first day of summer.
The Woodbury Fire in Arizona is sharing its smoke, a little treat we asthmatics can do without. I took a couple peeks out various windows, and cracked the front door for a nanosecond, and that was that. None of the old bikey ridey for Your Humble Narrator, not today.
Yesterday I shipped the latest “Quick Spin” video to Adventure Cyclist. It features the Masi Speciale Randonneur (pictured above). Masi is deep into the bike-travel thing and has been for a while now. I think I first saw their Giramondo at Interbike 2015, and as touring bikes go, it still seems like a hell of a bargain to me — chromoly frame and fork, 10-speed Deore drivetrain (with a low end of 24×36), TRP Spyre brakes, and Tubus racks (Tara front, Cargo rear), all for the low low price of $1,399.
Masi offers a 650b version of the Giramondo, too. No racks, but more adventurous.
The Speciale, as you might guess from its name, has roots in randonneuring, so it’s more of a road bike, happiest with a front load and maybe some other light bits scattered around and about in frame and saddle bags.
It will be staying indoors this morning, however. As will I. So don’t go looking for me at Stonehenge.
Meanwhile, when you see a flat-footed statement this thick — “Road bikes average 10-15 pounds.” — you have to question the rest of the story.
Tags: Adventure Cyclist, Masi Speciale Randonneur, Quick Spin, Woodbury Fire
Mad Blog Media 
June 21, 2019 at 6:51 am |
Hurben: More daylight hours headed your way down under! Hang tough, bro! Ride on! 🙂
June 21, 2019 at 7:13 am |
One sandal tan, comin’ up!
June 21, 2019 at 8:10 am |
Don’t encourage him guys! And, where is Herb these days? I was going to try and talk him into the Sky Island Tour.
Happy solstice you hosers!
June 21, 2019 at 6:43 pm |
Herb is indeed up to his ass in those gators POG mentioned. Just got back from a week in Denver and Outdoor Retailer. Every area of the country has tales of Weather Woe to tell. When I landed in Detroit it was 61 degrees and raining biblically. Michigan is so green and lush it looks like the jungles of the Amazon. And speaking of Amazon…it is killing both bike and outdoor stores. I expect to see serious fallout in the upcoming months with closings.
If all goes well I’ll be in Scotland during the Sky Tour but appreciate the invite. Now I gotta scoot and mow the ever-growing fields before the rains roll back in..
June 21, 2019 at 7:42 pm |
I wondered whether you might be at OR, Herb. I’m guessing you heard some horror stories from retailers. With the auto, moto and pedal industries all diving into e-wheelers at once, I expect we’ll all hear a few more.
June 21, 2019 at 8:11 am |
I think Herb is doing the beez-a-neez. Everybody I know in The Industry is up to their arses in allligators. Save for Your Humble Narrator, of course.
June 21, 2019 at 2:22 pm |
Thanks, JD. I’ve just got back from visiting my daughter in Melbourne, Australia. Cold & wet so I’m glad to be back. Bought an Australian cold back, It’s like an NZ cold but more snot & whining.
June 21, 2019 at 9:34 am |
Happy Solstice back at ya.
“Junuary” continues in Southern Cal. Cool, cloudy, drizzle, humid, wet riding. 12 hours of sunlight? Looks like it’ll be 12 hours of gloom.
Perhaps things will take a change for the upcoming 4th of July weekend.
That Masi Giramondo looks very nice indeed.
Happy trails,
~doug
June 21, 2019 at 9:49 am |
Yeah, Hal said it was 65 and raining yesterday in Weirdcliffe. Not exactly summerlike.
That Giramondo is a good-lookin’ rig, for sure. If I wasn’t already up to my keister in touring bikes I’d buy one just ’cause the price is so damn good.
I sez to Herself, I sez: “I can’t afford not to buy one!”
She sez to me, she sez: “Shuddup.” (Pow!)
June 21, 2019 at 10:22 am |
The air in Fanta Se this morning was so thick with particulates you could cut it with a knife.
June 21, 2019 at 10:32 am |
And the weather for the Woodbury wildfire area is hot, dry, and very windy for the next 48 hours. Oy. Sorry AZ is smoking you out up there.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6382/
June 21, 2019 at 10:50 am |
It’s turble bad down here. Eyes, snout, pipes, phaw. Not conducive to the healthy outdoor exercise.