Cycle Oregon.  On Jessica J, the fix gear.  ('Though I told myself I never would do it again!  Jessica's just too much fun.  And a sweet persuader.)

401 to 488 miles in seven days.  Day 5 is a rest day with an optional 62 mile ride.  Day 2 has a 25 mile excursion that can be done.  30,000 - 35,000' of climbing.  Climbing is well spread out over the week; never more than 6700' or less than 2700'.  The majority (and all the 6000' days) before the rest day.

Day 3 has a 2800' climb in 14 miles starting at mile 3.  Down 1200' and right back up.  Day 4 looks less impressive, but on the fixie could be really hard.  Lots of stops and gear changes or lots of muscling over stuff in big gears, then finding those gear painfully (and scary) small on the other side.  The rest day will be much appreciated!  (Its got 3300' of climbing, but looks very straight forward.)

Bike is all ready to go.  Cog wrench will again be strapped to the top tube, now with custom black "toestraps" (I had a local leather company cut me toestrap width quality leather in long lengths.  Dyed black and now riveted to Zephal/Christroff toestrap buckles.  Really nice!  Both for toestraps and accessory straps.  And since I have the dye, I can keep them looking brand new.  Treated with Snowseal bees wax dressing.)  Hub wrench/lockring spanner is a Pedro's tool that fits under the tool bag in webbing straps and held in place with a velcro strap.  Takes no time at all to pull it out (to flip the wheel around for gear changes.  The wheel is fix-fix double sided.  I will bring cogs 12 though 23.  42 tooth chainring.  All 1/8" track.  I can carry 2 cogs velcroed to the tool bag.  (I can carry more, but two do not rattle.)

3 WB cages.  The 3rd is under the DT and is a Lezynne (sp) cage with sides but no front.  Teva Sandals just fit in the slot it forms.  They are in a zippered bag (the idea of a sandal stap catching a crank at 45 mph = 250 RPM scares the s*** out of me) and help in place by a toestrap.  I have had enough issues with my feet, esp my right little toe, ever since the 2012 CO when we climbed to and around Crater Lake that I know I have to get my feet out of cycling shoes at every opportunity.  Oh, and under the DT means I cannot see the sandals.  Since I cannot see them, they don't slow me down.  They have verified that in testing, haven't they, CK?

Wheels are a Campy hubbed (older Chorus?)/Open Pro front, Miche Pista/Velocity Aero rear both laced 3X with light DT spokes.  (Since the rear wheel is symmetrical and the flanges widely spaced, running 2.0-1.6 Revolution spokes on both sides works just fine.  Love those track hubs!  And the Aero rim has a deep usable braking surface -important when the wheel is slid almost two inched in the dropout for gear changes.)  Tires are Vittoria Open Pros, 24c.  Good, good fix gear tires.  Grippy, smooth.  Tires you stop and pinch because you are sure they are under inflated!  Also tires that stay gripped when the road surface is lousy and your RPMs are up there.

Other big change - a new fork for the bike, like brand new.  In my hands now 6 days.  A rush job.  This one's a keeper.  Beautiful traditional crown, flat top, simple, fairly deep scallops outboard and a deep drilled tang inboard.  531 blades.  The crown is a modern investment casting, but the big picture is a classic fork of any time over the past 90 years that should last a lifetime.  And wow!  Does Dave Levy do nice brazing!  Fork is bright, bright red, the color of my original image of the bike.  This was such a rush that a pro paint job was impossible, so it is model enamel from a spray can, applied beautifully and looking very professional.  The reason for the new fork?  I'll just say I had a BIG scare and major learning experience.  I'll post more when I get back.  (While the fork was made, the bike's ti tubes got buffed and re-decaled so the package looks spiffy!)

Oh, the bike has its pista bars on with new levers (Tektro V-brake levers; huge hoods my hands love and great braking with Shimano dual pivot calipers.)  Cinelli 1A stem.  Just looks right.  Black cloth tape, new.  Would you/this bike expect anything else?

I rode 1000 miles with 2 centuries last month and have 5000 for the year.  94,000' for the year, one 1/4 of that last month.  Right on target weight-wise.  I should be ready.

And to be completely in character, I will be spending the week internet free (except I hope to be able to learn a few Vuelta results over the week), so after today, you won't hear from me until I get back.  Wish me well!  Especially next Tuesday and Wednesday!

Ben