Sketchy! Very nice.

I pick “my beggars” wisely, Scott, even if my name IS Karen..I am fortunate to have good “antennae” for who to say something to and who to avoid. Despite my very poor hearing, I am also lucky to have evaded some “sketchy” characters when I am removing graffiti.

License is charged! :)

You're a fantastic writer, Scott. Damn....... Your tales aren't even about cycling, but I keep coming back for more! Keep doing what you're doing.

Maybe they don’t come armed with shivs and guns and needles down there?

Regarding the beggar : My usual retort is “get a job; we all need to work for our share”…

Well, Dodie was going to suggest pull on support sleeves to ease the pain in Rachael's feet, but she beat her to it. Hope the ankle supports help.

When I bought my fancy new prescription cycling glasses, I got a cord for them that’s secure and comfortable for just this reason. I was always taking my old riding glasses off to use my camera and, since I couldn’t just put them on my head while wearing my helmet, holding them in my teeth. Now I rateky bother with the cord and just depend on the autofocus indicators in the viewfinder.

Thanks so much for that, Lyle. That’s really helpful and encouraging. I’m sure she’ll look at it when she takes her bike in for its overhaul when we get to Tucson.

Kirsten suffered from sore wrists (early stage arthritis as well) and switching to flat bars with Ergon GP3 grips have made a big positive difference. The grips are the main game changer in her opinion. The GP3's have a small 'bar end' that gives an alternate hand position that is pretty close to riding the hoods on a standard drop bar configuration.

https://www.ergonbike.com/en/product/?a=griffe

I'm sold on this configuration too. I've got drop bars on my lovely old Kona Kappu steel road bike, but ride flats with Ergon grips on everything else (which is 90+% of our riding)

It really gives an ominous tone to the scene, doesn’t it? It makes me think of the Twin Towers.

Thanks, Ben. There has been talk of that, or of going to flat handlebars and so on. She’s going to start with consultations with the specialists to see what ideas they can come up with for her. Ideally she’d rather keep with the BF because she feels so secure and familiar with its handling.

The good news though is that we’re not thinking about converting to a tandem so she can lead a sightless copilot any more.

Rachel might give some thought to a recumbent bike. Takes all the pressure off the hands (and pretty much everything else.) Azub makes the origami which is a folding recumbent. I’ve managed to stuff it in a Tern Airporter suitcase. It was my touring bike before I migrated to Velomobiles. Same 20” wheels as your Bike Fridays. Has a built in pannier rack. Nice little bike. I still have mine but haven’t ridden it now in a couple years.

And thanks again for the nudge. I just ordered one from Lone peak, express delivery so it will arrive before we leave for Tucson.

Which happens next Monday, btw!!!!!

January 12? Hmmm