I spent my rest days in Salt Lake City mostly resting. In addition to sleeping, relaxing, and talking with my friends, I also cleaned my bicycle, cleaned and oiled the chain, and readjusted the rear derailleur. I had never really spent the time to adjust a derailleur, but after hanging my bicycle up with some parachute cord to the underside of my friend’s deck so the wheels could easily spin, it was not too difficult. I have been cleaning my chain regularly, and carry around a little can of 3-in-1 oil. I know it is not the best oil for cycling since it is relatively light, but it seems to work OK, and there was nothing else where I bought it.
I had ordered new front panniers that were the same make as my rear panniers (Ortlieb) and in the same color to make sure everything matches. After all, I gotta look good. Although some might argue that since I chose the bright yellow I wouldn’t look too good. I wear obnoxious, fluorescent green shirts and jackets. Certainly not going to win any fashion contests with them, but I like to think that because I wear them people can see me more easily. The sooner a motorist can see me the better, I think. The same thinking went into my color choice of panniers. REI offered red/black, black, and yellow/black. All have reflective patches to be seen from the front or rear of the bike, but red and black are really dark so they don’t help to be seen from the side. The yellow is not obnoxious, but at least it is lighter and more visible than black or red. Continue reading Day 28 to Day 30: Rest days in Salt Lake City, UT (September 26 to 28)
