For the last couple of mornings it has been cold right above freezing. I am talking about 33 and 34 degrees when I head out the door to work. Thankfully it has not be raining and this cold. That will really suck. I am very happy about that. I can only imagine how cold I will be when it is raining and about 36 or so, then add in that wind that comes of the pacific, wow. But for now I will just keep on riding.
I must say that I do really enjoy riding to work and back. It is funny to also watch how many miles that I ride during the month. So far this month I have only traveled about 95 miles. Last month I rode about almost 150 miles. However I was able to ride with my family a couple of times and this month I have not.
I have also noticed that I am having to clean my bike a lot more now that the bad weather has been showing up more often. I am not talking about the simple rinse and wipe down. I am talking about taking the bottom bracket out and removing the rear cassette to clean out all the build up. I also removed my front derailleur do to the amount of crap that would get struck in it. In order to keep my chain where it belongs I have a nice chain stay. It is loud but it won't catch as much stuff in it. Plus now I don't have to worry about the cable stretching and derailleur shifting around. I am would like to get rid of the back derailleur as well. But I am going to need about 50 bucks to get all parts that I will need. Then I will be a single speed. That will be fun. I am also looking for some way to put a fender on the back of my bike. It will look bad but it will nice.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
What a Morning
So this morning I was getting ready to ride to work. Dark gray cold and wet. Pretty normal for this time of year and to be expected to be around for a while. It will be fun to ride in the rain and cold for awhile but I can see it getting old fast. Mostly because it will be cold and wet. Under normal circumstances one would have all the gear that is needed to ride and not be uncomfortable. However I sit in a position of wanting or needing to care for my family first and foremost. So I choose to put them first, above my comfort. I will always put them first.
I would like very much to get a nice pair of pants that would keep my ass dry. However everything is so damn much money. It would be nice if my car would sell, or I would get paid for the forklift deal. But because of the people involved, I have been moved to the side and told not to worry about it. So I sit around waiting for something to happen. If the car sold or some money from the lift showed up, I would take some of it and get some kind of rain pants, or something along those lines. I would also go and buy some more food so that my freezer has some steaks in it. I think that I would buy the food first and make sure that my family can eat and stay dry before I worry about what I want.
It is a funny thing needs and wants. If you want more money it can fill that want, but if you need more money, there will never be enough. Which make me think about what we have been taught through the years. We as people are told that needs out weigh wants. But I sit here and wonder if that is true. If I need a light or a pair of pants, and I go and buy them, is this need filled? Or do I want that light or a pair of pants, so if I go and buy it, is that want filled. I am just not sure. That makes me wonder about my very bad habit that I have. I chew, so do I need to quit or do I want to quit. Which one is it? As I sit here and write this one out I am feeling that needs and wants, are one in the same and that we choose which word that we want to use based on it level of importance to us.
So this brings me back to the beginning. I would like some rain pants. If I state that I need them, the level of importance is higher then wanting them. however I don't need them, I have pants for riding in, so I would just want them. But even now I am not sure that I want them, I would just like to have them. So I guess that the rain pants are at the bottom of the list. What I really want or need is to be able to take care of my family, and provide them with a roof, and clothes, and food. I want to do this, so I personally feel that what I want is more important then what I need. Most would say that I need to take care of them. I feel that if I needed to take care of them, it will cause problems. The reason that I say this is because we have all had that feeling of resentment because we have been told that this or that job needed to get done. But if it was a job that we wanted to do. we would do it with pride, joy, and love.
So I think that needing to do something, or needing something is not very important, but wanting something or wanting to do something is way more important. I want to care for my family, because I choose to. And that is the real gift of being a me.
I would like very much to get a nice pair of pants that would keep my ass dry. However everything is so damn much money. It would be nice if my car would sell, or I would get paid for the forklift deal. But because of the people involved, I have been moved to the side and told not to worry about it. So I sit around waiting for something to happen. If the car sold or some money from the lift showed up, I would take some of it and get some kind of rain pants, or something along those lines. I would also go and buy some more food so that my freezer has some steaks in it. I think that I would buy the food first and make sure that my family can eat and stay dry before I worry about what I want.
It is a funny thing needs and wants. If you want more money it can fill that want, but if you need more money, there will never be enough. Which make me think about what we have been taught through the years. We as people are told that needs out weigh wants. But I sit here and wonder if that is true. If I need a light or a pair of pants, and I go and buy them, is this need filled? Or do I want that light or a pair of pants, so if I go and buy it, is that want filled. I am just not sure. That makes me wonder about my very bad habit that I have. I chew, so do I need to quit or do I want to quit. Which one is it? As I sit here and write this one out I am feeling that needs and wants, are one in the same and that we choose which word that we want to use based on it level of importance to us.
So this brings me back to the beginning. I would like some rain pants. If I state that I need them, the level of importance is higher then wanting them. however I don't need them, I have pants for riding in, so I would just want them. But even now I am not sure that I want them, I would just like to have them. So I guess that the rain pants are at the bottom of the list. What I really want or need is to be able to take care of my family, and provide them with a roof, and clothes, and food. I want to do this, so I personally feel that what I want is more important then what I need. Most would say that I need to take care of them. I feel that if I needed to take care of them, it will cause problems. The reason that I say this is because we have all had that feeling of resentment because we have been told that this or that job needed to get done. But if it was a job that we wanted to do. we would do it with pride, joy, and love.
So I think that needing to do something, or needing something is not very important, but wanting something or wanting to do something is way more important. I want to care for my family, because I choose to. And that is the real gift of being a me.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
"O" What to do
While sitting here at work at the end of the day I look out at the current weather and wonder what to do. Well for one I will ride home and spend some time with my family. I will try not to get to wet or to cold. I am hoping that soon things will change a little bit, and I will be able to get some wet/cold weather gear. I know that I am going to need some kind of a bike jacket. But I am not sure what kind of pants to get.
The cycling pants are most likely the best bet, we all believe. However I am not so sure. I don't get why I have to pay 120 or more for cycling pants, when there are how many different winter sports out there. I am sure with a little bit of searching and being cheap I will be able to find something that will work just as well and not cost me so much. The jacket thing I am little more sold on getting from a bike shop for the fact that it will be small and light enough that I won't cook myself.
The other thing that I am wondering about it the whole light issue. I know that I need lights on my bike. however much like my fender I think that lights are really ugly and will just add a bunch of weight. Now I have to weigh safety of my life against the weight of the lights. And I also need to think about my son. If I am not showing him how to do things the right way or the safe way, then I am showing him the wrong way or a not so safe way. I guess I will need to find all of the stuff to make my ride safe, dry and warm. O what fun.
The cycling pants are most likely the best bet, we all believe. However I am not so sure. I don't get why I have to pay 120 or more for cycling pants, when there are how many different winter sports out there. I am sure with a little bit of searching and being cheap I will be able to find something that will work just as well and not cost me so much. The jacket thing I am little more sold on getting from a bike shop for the fact that it will be small and light enough that I won't cook myself.
The other thing that I am wondering about it the whole light issue. I know that I need lights on my bike. however much like my fender I think that lights are really ugly and will just add a bunch of weight. Now I have to weigh safety of my life against the weight of the lights. And I also need to think about my son. If I am not showing him how to do things the right way or the safe way, then I am showing him the wrong way or a not so safe way. I guess I will need to find all of the stuff to make my ride safe, dry and warm. O what fun.
Monday, October 6, 2008
My Inner Geek
So I had to break down and finally embrace my inner cycling geek. I went and got a front fender for my bike. WOW. It is due to the location in which I live. Being that it rains like 200 some odd days in the year. So I went over to the shop and got a Topeak DeFender M1. I hate it. It makes my bike look stupid. But I will see how well it works today. Being that it is supposed to be raining today by the time that I get off work.
So after I cleaned my bike up and got it looking nice again, I installed the fender. Holy shit it looks bad. If it works it means that I will not have to eat as much dirt and road grime that flies off my front tire. This is going to be the only good thing.
On Friday when I was going home I noticed that I was having a tough time shifting in and out of the bottom three gears. So after I got the bike cleaned up and wiped down I struck it up on the stand and took the back tire off and noticed that there was a stick and some other junk stuck in there. So I got the bag 'o' tools out and took the rear cassette apart. Wow, what a mess of junk down there ( and Jesse if you are reading this one after the seat post was cleaned well the bike stopped squeaking ) dirt and grease and sticks and I am not sure what all else. And this brings me to my next point. It is very important to clean your bike. So this next weekend I am going to have to tear down the BB and the steer tube and make sure that it is all clean and not filled with road grime.
Till next time.
So after I cleaned my bike up and got it looking nice again, I installed the fender. Holy shit it looks bad. If it works it means that I will not have to eat as much dirt and road grime that flies off my front tire. This is going to be the only good thing.
On Friday when I was going home I noticed that I was having a tough time shifting in and out of the bottom three gears. So after I got the bike cleaned up and wiped down I struck it up on the stand and took the back tire off and noticed that there was a stick and some other junk stuck in there. So I got the bag 'o' tools out and took the rear cassette apart. Wow, what a mess of junk down there ( and Jesse if you are reading this one after the seat post was cleaned well the bike stopped squeaking ) dirt and grease and sticks and I am not sure what all else. And this brings me to my next point. It is very important to clean your bike. So this next weekend I am going to have to tear down the BB and the steer tube and make sure that it is all clean and not filled with road grime.
Till next time.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
A New Time
As life goes on, it is important to start new things. I started biking again, and as I got more into again I started to look at the way the industry is going. So here I sit thinking about were I want to go, with the main stream or against the main stream. My normal nature is to move against what everybody else is doing and go my own way. However like most changes, I am not the first to go this route. I will be on the leading edge for my little town, but way behind the big cities, like NYC, San Fran, etc.
The new change is going to be going from a multi-speed bike to a single speed (SS). The reason for this is that there is less moving parts and less shit to deal with breaking. This is not something new by any means. It is just new to me. So I have a 2006 HardRock Pro, 18 gears and 100mm of travel from the MZIII on the front. The new frame that I want is the Surly 1x1. I will still be able to keep my disc brakes and fat tires. With a couple of new parts added to the old hub I can go from a 9 speed cog to a 1 speed.
From the SS I want to go and get a fixed gear. This will be the best thing for me. Going from the downhill / free ride to commuting, it has been hard. The fixed gear will bring back some of that freedom. The challenge of learning to ride again, and having to become one with my bike.
I am also going to convert my girlfriends bike over to a SS as well. The biggest reason for the make over on her bike is that she does not shift gears now, and I will be able to shed some weight on her bike making it a little bit easier for her to handle
So while the high dollar guys add gears and splatter them selves with spandex, trying to be everything that the doping tour guys are, I am going to follow the small group that goes against this. I am not going to worry about what I wear, or how much my bike cost, what the frame is made of. I am going to go back to riding, for the fun of it. See you all around.
The new change is going to be going from a multi-speed bike to a single speed (SS). The reason for this is that there is less moving parts and less shit to deal with breaking. This is not something new by any means. It is just new to me. So I have a 2006 HardRock Pro, 18 gears and 100mm of travel from the MZIII on the front. The new frame that I want is the Surly 1x1. I will still be able to keep my disc brakes and fat tires. With a couple of new parts added to the old hub I can go from a 9 speed cog to a 1 speed.
From the SS I want to go and get a fixed gear. This will be the best thing for me. Going from the downhill / free ride to commuting, it has been hard. The fixed gear will bring back some of that freedom. The challenge of learning to ride again, and having to become one with my bike.
I am also going to convert my girlfriends bike over to a SS as well. The biggest reason for the make over on her bike is that she does not shift gears now, and I will be able to shed some weight on her bike making it a little bit easier for her to handle
So while the high dollar guys add gears and splatter them selves with spandex, trying to be everything that the doping tour guys are, I am going to follow the small group that goes against this. I am not going to worry about what I wear, or how much my bike cost, what the frame is made of. I am going to go back to riding, for the fun of it. See you all around.
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