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An initially frustrating shakedown ride this morning smoothed out into a nice afternoon soul ride. Finally got around late last night to the fork and wheel upgrade I'd been thinking of for years. Wrenching on old bikes can be a little like working on the plumbing in an old house...the deeper you get into it, the more you find you need to replace. Got good deals on a brand new 140mm fork from EBay, and compatible wheels on Pinkbike, which came shod with nearly new tires. The new fork didn't have a star nut with it, so had to wait for the shop to open this morning. Installed that on the tailgate, and did a few laps, but I guess I didn't have the bearings completely seated because it loosened up. Went back and tightened 'em up, then ran into the morning crew back for a brew. Had a fun tailgate session with Big Clyde, BC Jr., Kimba, Belizean, and A-Street. I think I'm a better, more patient mechanic after two beers...went back out, got the headset tight, and figured out an annoying click wasn't the headset or bottom bracket like I thought, but the result of a new chain on a worn out granny ring. Stopped on the trail to try out different bar and spacer combos, tweak the rebound damping, and hit some favorite trails. I like the longer travel and relaxed head angle, and that 2.4 Trail King on front has as good or better traction than the 2.5 Nevegals I've been running the last year or too. And I hit a new line I'd noticed earlier on the way back to my empty cooler...the day turned out fine.