Joe Weider Has Passed at 93

He was a mentor to millions and a nice man to boot. My thoughts are with his family.

Another Beautiful Day, Another Skewer Failure

It was a good ride, but I don't think the locking skewers are going to work out. Once again I stopped, this time to take a pic of this neat mailbox and the tire slipped.

I had the tool with me and fixed it and all was fine until I stopped again for this cool railroad mailbox. So I fixed it again.

I was only a couple of blocks from home so I walked Lucy just in case. That's when I saw this cool radiator mailbox.

Riding my bike is helping me see so many cool and interesting things and I'm going places that I would never walk to. I would never walk through alleys because you never knew what might be in them, now I just zip right through. I'm finding pockets in my own neighborhood I never knew existed! It's fantastic!

Once I got home I took the locking skewers out and compared them to my quick release ones. The gripping part of the Forte skewers is much smaller and it's just a ridged washer made of aluminum. It's not steel on that part and doesn't have much texture to it. They are going back to the store tomorrow, it's to bad I tossed the receipt but at least I'll get store credit. 

On a happier note I ordered the saddle and it should be here Wednesday or Thursday! I can't wait to try it out!

Fun At The Track

Yesterday we went and watch my sister-in-law run for her school. It was tons of fun and I got sunburned. Maybe now I'll get a tan!
Her school won most of the events and wow is she fast! I really hope she stays with it next year when she goes to middle school.
Her twin brother had to stay on class while we were there. Poor guy missed a great time with lots of energy. Maybe next time!
There's just something about watching our youngsters running that inspires me. It gives hope.

That Was Fun(ny)!

I took yesterday off from the bike and my butt felt much better for it. Today's ride started out great. I saw the beautiful gate. Waved to my neighbors as we flew by and it was tons of fun.

I like it!

About a mile from home I saw this inviting alley and had to go down it. There were lots of dogs behind the walls. Nothing like phantom dogs to make you pick up speed fast! I left the nice alley behind, but we will be back!

It's almost a paved!

Laughing at myself and enjoying the breeze we pulled over to a curb to get a drink. So far this was the best ride yet! The air was crisp, Lucy was rolling great and it was perfect. A pigeon yelled for us to move on so I mounted up couldn't go anywhere.

Lucy wouldn't move.  I was worried that I had broken her and almost freaked out. I'm not a small woman, I'm short at 5'2" but hefty at around 250lbs so it is possible for me to break things if I'm not careful.

Then I noticed the problem. Her rear wheel was rubbing the frame and had wedged there, it had come unseated and was not going to move. My husband had  fitted her with locking skewers so when I am able to go to the store I wouldn't worry about her tires being stolen. I guess they weren't on quite tight enough and bouncing out of the alley had shaken the tire loose. I'm glad it happened when I stopped. It could have ended in a crash and damage to me, Lucy and whatever I hit!

Wheels don't go like that!

I reached into my pocket and didn't find the tool to fix the wheel. Silly me, I didn't have the tool with me to unlock it and reset the wheel. I had left it at home on a bookcase. 

For want of a tiny tool, that is now on my keychain, I had the dubious pleasure of carrying Lucy home. 

This now lives on my keychain!

Thank goodness it was less than a mile, and that alley had put us closer to home. We must have been a sight, me marching stoically while carrying my fallen steed across my chest. She isn't light and weighs about 35 lbs. Once I get the folding baskets I ordered she'll be even heavier so I'm glad it happened now. I have learned an important lesson, always have at least a mini-tool with me! And when you get something that fits on your keychain it does so for a reason, put it there!

On the plus side I got to tinker with her a little more and I had forgotten just how much fun that can be.

The Second Ride

I took the pedals off another bike and put them on Lucy so my shoes won't slip. I've always liked these pedals a lot but the bike i had then on was too tall for me, even though I rode it for 10 years before I got Lucy. Her name is Zipper and I still love her, but rarely ride her.

Don't they look nice!

Today's ride was not as nice as yesterday's. The weather was beautiful, the birds were singing, the sun was shining through the clouds in a nice hazy way. It was picture perfect out, a great day.

Nice and hazy! I see fingers!

Great big tree! I wish the sunrise came out better.

But my butt hurts. As soon as it touched the saddle I wanted off. Hard to believe that the short ride yesterday was the cause but it was. I was all over the seat today trying to get comfortable and after a mile I gave up. Now it hurts just to sit on a chair so I must be doing something right.

I plan to do it again tomorrow with hopefully better results.

Come payday I'm ordering a saddle that will hopefully work. It's the Terry Liberator X. It's got to be better than the 5 year old Bell saddle from Walmart I'm using now. Until then I'm going for the pain.

The feeling of freedom is to good to give up just because my butt hurts. Besides if I can't sit down I may get more housework done. It's a win win.

My First Bike Ride in Over A Year

It's hard to believe it's been over a year since I last rode Lucy or any bike. I had even sold my stationary one to try to save my salon. Good thing I'd been going for walks.
I was cleaning up the storage and found poor Lucy neglected. She was covered in dust and shrouded in cobwebs. Her tires were flat and she was a shadow of herself.

Can you see the web?

Lots of dust!

It took two days to clean her up and get her functional again but it was worth it. She shines like the star she is.

All clean and ready!

I took her out to see how she handled this morning and it was great. Only a few things need tweaking. I was only going to go for a mile, but ended up going a mile and a half.

For the first quarter I didn't think my knee would take it. It felt tight and painful, as though the tendons would break. Then suddenly it relaxed and felt better than it has in a long time.

We went slow at an average speed of 8 mph, but it felt like flying and I was grinning like an idiot. Every time we hit a bump her bell chimed in joy and I would smile harder.

I didn't want to go home, but my butt was starting to hurt and the rear brake was squealing a bit.

Today I'm going to make a few adjustments and tomorrow I'm going to do it again! I can't wait!

Happy New Year!!!!

I hope everyone is safe and happy at the start of this new year. It's going to be an interesting one. Hopefully some of our dreams can come to fruition soon.
It's going to be great!