Beautiful Battle Damage: A Photo-Essay

After returning from a brief ride yesterday, I found I had forgotten my keys. It happens when you break with routine. I therefore had plenty of time to sit on a park bench and stare at my bike. I started to pay attention to all the time and detail some engineer spent trying to produce a functional piece of equipment to satisfy a number of criteria. It was absolutely fascinating. 

What was more fascinating was stepping back to appreciate the equipment with a healthy dose of use put into it-- to have been used for its intended purpose. 

All the hand worn rubber and crusty alloy...the grit that annoyingly works its way into every joint and lever... it all took on a sheen of time tested beauty. 

No, it is not a dirty bike. It is proudly displaying some battle damage.