On 9/9, I rode 99 miles (actually, 106 (Strava Link – Part 1, Strava Link – Part 2)! I have an affinity for #9 since I was born on 9/9. I try to do something “epic” every year on that date. Though I’d ridden 100+ many times, I’d not done a century since my last Ironman in 2006.
Probably my most epic 9/9 was 9/9/89; the day I turned 30. That day, I completed my first Ironman (of 10).
In La Bicicletta – Part 1, I explained how I “found” cycling, but leading to that first Ironman, I found the magic of BICYCLES!
Although I graduated top of my Mechanical Engineering class, I was a “book” engineer. My class grades were nearly perfect, but when it came to lab application, I was clueless! My ZERO mechanical aptitude was exposed in lab. Up to then, I was not into cars or taking things apart…only sports!
In La Bicicletta – Part 1, I mentioned flats and wrecks. Those tribulations forced me to buy my first tool – bike tools.
Initially, working on my bike was a mess, and I’d screw more things up than I’d fix. I couldn’t even change a tire!
Before YouTube, I bought books on bike mechanics, building, design, and metallurgy. We have a friend, Terbo, who’d spend countless hours with me.
ASIDE – today I watch YouTube daily to get bike maintenance tips! END ASIDE
With pain and missteps, I learned. And just as important, working on my bike made me a better engineer! My book learned mechanical background transformed into real engineering applicable knowledge and led to my first of several inventions and patents thanks to the MAGIC OF BICYCLES!
Now, except for very specialized work, I do all my own work and tear down and rebuild all 8 bikes…yes, 8! And have re-built and resold dozens of bikes from Craigslist.
So, cycling made me a better person while bicycles made me a real engineer!
Meet Mia Bianchi!
As a present for 9/9, and more importantly, making it 6 month since surgery, Santa Catarina (my wife…formerly known as C in the blog), allowed me to purchase my dream bike.
I wanted this bike since riding one across Southern Italy in May 2019. And, although, I bought a different bike in June 2019, and have ridden it over 6000 miles, I just don’t feel comfortable while riding it :(.
For me, cycling is more than phyiscal, it’s emotional! So, having an emotional connection with my bike is important to me! Therefore, having an Italian designed bike by the oldest bicycle brand in the world is special for me.
So, why is it called Mia? I name all my bikes; typically mucho male names. This bike is too pretty to have a male name! I’d previously called my vintage Miata, Mia, but I sold that last year. Since that Miata was a beauty too, I felt it appropriate to reuse the name. And besides, I’ve always liked the name Mia!
Great Pizza Search (GPS) #29 – PaPa’s Place, Clyde, NY
During that 99 on 9/9 ride, I rode out to Savannah. No, not that Savannah, but Savannah, NY to capture it’s PO. I’d never been there before. I’d not missed much!!!
But, it was pretty incredible that the town hall had a time and temperature sign. And BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT WAS 99 DEGREES ON 9/9!
On the way back, I decided to stop at PaPa’s Place Pizzeria in Clyde, NY. When I looked at their website before I left home, it had a great About Us, so beside’s being 65 miles into my ride by then, I was really looking forward to trying their pizza.
Before I get to details, PaPa’s Pizzeria in Clyde, NY was nearly PERFECT! This is my 14th visit to a pizzeria in my quest called the Great Pizza Search, and it is my first GREAT PIZZA!
Ambiance and Presentation = GREAT
From the outside, PaPa’s is my vision of a JOINT! Corner lot! Brick Building! Center Entrance!
On the inside, it was perfect! Counter at the back! Tables along the side!
On top of that, the workers were very friendly, well masked, and polite!
IT’S A JOINT!
Dough and Crust = GREAT
PaPa’s crust is probably the best that I’ve had yet in the Great Pizza Search! Thin, light, airy, and bubbles! With some crunch! Very tasty!
Sauce = Good
There was a nice amount of sauce, and it was not overpowered by the cheese. Although, it was not overly tangy nor spiced as I would like. But, the fact that there was a noticeable amount is a change for many of the places I’ve been.
Cheese = Good
Again, a good amount of cheese. It was a tasty moozedell, but I did not notice a hint of parmagain as I’d like.
Overall Rating = GREAT!
The pizza was very, very good…nearly great! The building and location are outstanding! That combination makes it great! in my book!
Would I Go Back = ABSOLUTELY! CAN’T WAIT TO RIDE THERE AGAIN!
Great Pizza Search (GPS) #30 – Homemade with Sourdough Dough
This past weekend, we had the kids come over to watch the Browns versus Raisins. I had made sourdough white dough for Italian bread but decided to repurpose it for pizza. I’d not made pizza from sourdough for quite awhile…now I remember why!
In general, this pizza was MEH.
1. dough and crust – good
— the sourdough was wet making it very difficult to work into a crust and slide off the pizza peel. Multiple doughs tore while sliding into the oven causing a mess to be made on the pizza steel
— despite that, sourdough rising incredibly in the oven and become a light and airy crust
2. sauce – MEH
— I made the sauce from fresh tomatoes from our farm co-op. Although the taste was very good, it was too watery. I learned that when I make fresh tomato sauce that I must boil it down to thicken it.
3. cheese – Great
— there’s really nothing to mess up anymore with cheese – moozedell and parmagian in a good mix and good amount!
Overall – MEH
— the torn and mangled crust and water sauce…though tasty, the presentation was not good
— lots to learn about sourdough for pizza and homemade sauce…but it wouldn’t be fun if there wasn’t something more to learn!
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