Porsche Parade 2023 Palm Springs

Set up day for the 2023 Porsche Parade in Palm Springs, CA. Here’s a couple sights that caught my eye. Particularly like Mirage (since watching the new movie last week) and the 963!

Bike R!

And the next bicycle project is … a 1999 Porsche Bike R!  My goal is to refurbish this bike and ride it on the SeaGull Century October 14. So far, I took it apart down to the last bolt, cleaning, lubing and tuning. I replaced the bar tape with Fizik (a Porsche Bike OEM) yellow tape. In 1999, the Porsche Bike R originally had yellow bar tape. I also changed the tires to Continental Grand Prix 5000s. The Bike R had yellow Continental Grand Prix 3000 tires, but the 5000 series only has partial yellow. I haven’t road tested the Bike R yet as I’m about to leave for a week-long business trip. When I get back I’ll check the brakes and gears and go for a spin. Next, I would like to replace the brake pads, bottom bracket, update the Shimano Dura Ace gear set, detail the frame paint, and replace the saddle with a more modern, and of course yellow, seat.

For those not familiar with the Porsche Bike R, the “R” is for road racing and this 19 pound aluminum frame bike was introduced in 1999 and only made through 2001 when it was replaced by a carbon fiber Bike R in 2002. Even though the frame color tends to look purple-ish, technically it was called midnight magenta in 1999 and was based on the RAL 5022 Nachtblau (night blue) color. This is similar to Porsche’s night blue metallic, minus the metallic. The Bike R won the award for excellent design quality by the Zentrum Nordrheim Westfalen in 1999.

I can't wait for the next steps in the project!

May BWI ride

 

23 miler from the house around BWI airport on the 2004 Porsche Bike X today. 

More short rides

 

Couple more recent short neighborhood rides on the 1998 Porsche Bike S. 

Ride between rainy days

Rained all day yesterday, and gonna rain again all day tomorrow. So I snuck in a little 16-mile neighborhood ride on the 1998 Bike Bike S today. 

More spring rides

 

More spring rides on the 1998 Porsche Bike S the last couple of days. 

Spring ride

Spring is here. Great neighborhood 14-mile ride on the 1998 Porsche Bike S. 

Ride and oil

24-mile ride around BWI airport on the 2004 Porsche Bike X after changing the oil in the 2001 Porsche Boxster. Great spring day! My garage work bench is clear again after changing the Cayenne valve cover gaskets and oil in both Porsches. 

It’s hot!

Winter apparently went straight to summer. Almost 90 degrees this afternoon. Short and hot neighborhood ride on the 1998 Porsche Bike S. 

A couple more rides

Got in a couple more short rides over the last two days on the 1998 Porsche Bike S before beginning valve cover gasket replacement work on the 2006 Porsche Cayenne S. This will be my Easter weekend project. 

Weather is improving

Another short ride on the 1998 Porsche Bike S ... with a stop for margarita fixings!