catsittingstill (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
catsittingstill) wrote2007-09-21 06:40 pm
catsittingstill) wrote2007-09-21 06:40 pm
Much Happier Now
I posted, I guess it was back in April, about riding my bike. I've been riding my bike into Jefferson City (about 4 miles) nearly every day (except when my brother and my dad were visitng) since then. I'm in way better shape than I was, and I think I've shaved about 10 minutes off my round trip time. I know I've lost about 8 pounds. Here is a picture of the bike in question (kitted out to go the Carson Newman library at the time, complete with a curious mimmoth.)
Yesterday I actually rode in twice. On the way home from the second trip, I was coming down the little hill just outside Jefferson City, trying to keep my speed up for the long run up to the traffic light at the turn for Jefferson Memorial Hospital. I saw the board—it has been lying on the shoulder for weeks. I'd always avoided it before, but this time I noticed it a bit late, and I was kind of tired---and I didn't swing wide enough around it. There was a loud pop, which I thought might be a piece of gravel, and then the bike got harder and harder to pedal. I got off and looked. The rear tire was flat. Flat like a pancake.
I was halfway between Jefferson City and home. I could walk back to Carson Newman College and ask Kip to drive me home. Or I could just walk home. So I walked the bike home. At least I was getting plenty of exercise, and it wasn't all that hot yesterday, and I had already taken the groceries home.
But, when I got the bike home and got out the tools, figuring I would remove the rear wheel, buy a new innertube (and maybe a new tire—the tires are about 10 years old anyway, and are getting kind of worn) I realized that my bike has a 3 speed hub gear in the rear hub. I had no idea how to take that loose so I could get the wheel off. I grumped my way back inside and called the guy who tuned my bike up last week. He makes house calls on Fridays. I was hoping I could get him to come help me today. But he didn't call back that evening.
I drove to Carson Newman to use the gym stationary bike today. Whew doggies, I used to set it up to 9, and now I can set it up to 10, but it's lot's more fun riding a real bike with real breezes, and more interesting too. I came home feeling out-of-sorts because I hadn't heard from the bike guy. But then he called this afternoon just as I had run out of things to do, and said he was outside my house. I walked out to talk to him and he had an innertube in my size (the rear wheel is 20 X 1.75 inches, which is a bit non-standard). He disconnected the rear derailleur so he could disconnect the hub gear, so he could remove the rear wheel, (and I think I have a fighting chance of doing it myself next time now that I've seen it done) and put in the new inner tube, and I'm so psyched that my bike is fixed. I was feeling kind of crippled without it.
Yesterday I actually rode in twice. On the way home from the second trip, I was coming down the little hill just outside Jefferson City, trying to keep my speed up for the long run up to the traffic light at the turn for Jefferson Memorial Hospital. I saw the board—it has been lying on the shoulder for weeks. I'd always avoided it before, but this time I noticed it a bit late, and I was kind of tired---and I didn't swing wide enough around it. There was a loud pop, which I thought might be a piece of gravel, and then the bike got harder and harder to pedal. I got off and looked. The rear tire was flat. Flat like a pancake.
I was halfway between Jefferson City and home. I could walk back to Carson Newman College and ask Kip to drive me home. Or I could just walk home. So I walked the bike home. At least I was getting plenty of exercise, and it wasn't all that hot yesterday, and I had already taken the groceries home.
But, when I got the bike home and got out the tools, figuring I would remove the rear wheel, buy a new innertube (and maybe a new tire—the tires are about 10 years old anyway, and are getting kind of worn) I realized that my bike has a 3 speed hub gear in the rear hub. I had no idea how to take that loose so I could get the wheel off. I grumped my way back inside and called the guy who tuned my bike up last week. He makes house calls on Fridays. I was hoping I could get him to come help me today. But he didn't call back that evening.
I drove to Carson Newman to use the gym stationary bike today. Whew doggies, I used to set it up to 9, and now I can set it up to 10, but it's lot's more fun riding a real bike with real breezes, and more interesting too. I came home feeling out-of-sorts because I hadn't heard from the bike guy. But then he called this afternoon just as I had run out of things to do, and said he was outside my house. I walked out to talk to him and he had an innertube in my size (the rear wheel is 20 X 1.75 inches, which is a bit non-standard). He disconnected the rear derailleur so he could disconnect the hub gear, so he could remove the rear wheel, (and I think I have a fighting chance of doing it myself next time now that I've seen it done) and put in the new inner tube, and I'm so psyched that my bike is fixed. I was feeling kind of crippled without it.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Impressive looking bike. What'd that set you back? I've always wanted a recumbent.... I used to spend endless hours as a kid designing what was essentially a recumbent with this monster aerodynamic shell....
no subject
My bike is a BikeE AT. Unfortunately BikeE went out of business a number of years ago. In general the company's recumbent bikes were very popular, perhaps because they were considered cheap among recumbents, though heavier than usual and not as fast as some.
The AT was the second model up, about $1,000. (It has a shock absorber for the back wheel; the entry level model, without shock absorber, was $650 at the time.) The windshield was a separate extra, made by a different company.* If I recall correctly it was about $300, but it was a Christmas present, and I don't remember exactly. The big back on the back was an optional accessory from Bike E, and has enough space to carry two bags of groceries, or a load of laundry (if you pack it tight, but you can also just take the bag off and bungee a laundry basket to the back). IIRC, it was about 70$. The wire net is a pac-safe, designed to make it difficult for someone to steal a backpack or open the pack and steal stuff out of it (mostly used by people staying in youth hostels or other places where their luggage is not locked away from other people). IIRC it was about $40. I originally added it because I wanted a secure way to leave the bag on the bike and leave stuff in the bag (like a trunk). Nowadays I often don't bother to lock it; living in a small town does that to you. The folding baskets below the seat (one is unfolded and has a blue plastic bag in it in this picture) were about $20, and the under-seat rack they're attached to was about $70. They're sturdier than they may look; I have carried 3 full 2 liter bottles of pop in each. Because of the shape of the seat above them, it's a little tricky to put large things in them, but I'm generally quite happy with them.
All in all it is a pretty expensive rig. But I can't ride a regular bicycle much; the neck injury means I just can't crane my neck around that way anymore. And it can carry a *lot* which makes it practical for errands that would normally call for a car. When I made the original investment (back in 1999 or so) I rode it to work every day, and frequently to the store or to the library. I have ridden it thousands of miles, and it looks like it will be good for thousands more.
I'm actually thinking about adding an electric motor. Alas, the one I want is really expensive; I have good taste. :-)
--------------
*Mueller Human Power, which is a great company. When my fairing was damaged by a would-be bike thief they sent me the replacement parts in the next day's mail for free, even though none of it was their fault.
no subject
no subject
no subject
I've just had my conventional bike tuned up. Now, when I find rain gear (harder than it used to be; REI has gone fru-fru), I can commute on it...
no subject
saw this, and thought of you
http://www.qwantz.com/archive/001078.html
*grin*
Re: saw this, and thought of you
Re: saw this, and thought of you