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St Louis is a shithole.

For the longest time I collected and restored old Schwinns. At one point I had over 35 bikes in my house. I still have a bunch of old ones. Phantoms, Sting Rays, Fastbacks, Krates, Paramounts, lightweights, middleweights, etc. They can be seen here: https://blue72beetle.smugmug.com/Schwinn/ One of my favorite old Schwinn stories is the rare 1951 Paramount Tourist I got for $160 in outstanding condition. Hung onto it for awhile, then sold it on ebay for $1,200. Another one is the one-year-only Flamingo Pink Tandem I found just a few blocks from my house. They were the original owners and won it in a radio contest in Chicago (home of the old Schwinn company) in 1977. Never rode it, the crank bearings were spotless. The one I regret selling the most was the 1971 Grey Ghost Coaster in original paint. My real bicycle addiction is the Schwinn Homegrown line. From back when Schwinn made high end bikes before they became a walmart brand. I started a Homegrown group on Facebook, it's got nearly 500 people now and we've done some cool stuff in keeping these classic bikes going. Even have Mert Lawwill on there and some people that used to work for Schwinn. I used to ride a lot, I haven't lately, I need to get out and ride more. Problem is just like with motorcycling, northern Indiana is boring. https://blue72beetle.smugmug.com/Homegrown/ Yeah, you could say I love my Homegrowns....

NC...... to quote OR's own version of Gandalf "St. Louis is a shithole".

Followed the girlfriend around on hers. Longest ride yet for her, 22miles. Only the third time riding on the street now, she's doing well so far.

Put her back in street form to meet @Isaac's Papa for brunch. It was muy delicioso.

If you are gonna ask, ST Louis, leaves more open in NC for me.

NC for sure.

Welcome home...although your timing could have been a bit better, in that you've arrived just as the weather is going to get cold, wet and gloomy. You probably already knew that. Hope you kept some good friends as contacts in the balmy southwest, where the brutal heat is giving way to a warm, sunny winter. :o) Not sure exactly what you mean when you say your fork is leaking (I assume you mean the fork seal?) but I'd take it to the AFJ Race shop (http://www.afjraceshop.com/) on Eastern Ave first and talk to Brandon or Eric. There are other shops that are qualified--Cadre (http://cadrecycle.com/motorcycle-service-and-repair/) and Pro Stock Performance (https://www.facebook.com/pg/Pro-Stock-Performance-Dyno-194361860610764/about/?entry_point=page_nav_about_item&ref=page_internal) come to mind--but they're out in the suburbs. There are a few groups here in Cincinnati that would be reasonable first contacts to connect with the biker community, and then filter out what doesn't have relevance. I'd check out Cincinnati Cafe Racers and LocalRiders on FB Groups, where you'll find a list of meet-ups in the area: Comet in Northside every Tuesday night (everything you could want in a bar--hipsters, surly waitstaff, and burritos bigger than your head!), Fuel Coffee on Riverside every Saturday morning from 8-12 (cars and bikes), and Northeast Tuesday Bike night every other Tues in Milford by MJ's on Main. You just missed the MotoberFest event but the next worthwhile gathering is the Alley Meet at Fuel Coffee on Sunday morning, Oct 9th, 8-12. Big gathering that Fuel opens for on Sunday (normally closed) prior to the Devil's Staircase Hillclimb event in Oregonia. Guaranteed to keep you entertained for an hour or two, plus good coffee, lattes, mochas, and bisquits'n'sausage gravy.

Welcome!!