Monday Meanders - Labor Day, 2011 9-5

I was pretty darn proud of myself - I'd lost a solid 20 pounds from my 'high' and gotten back into 40" waist jeans. I was feeling pretty darn good about it, as I said - until, that is, I saw the pictures that you'll see, below.

When I was a skinny little kid on Kedvale Avenue in the late 40's and early 50's, my knickname was 'Fatboy'. It is a fat piece of irony that now is when the knickname fits. Of course, the reason I even HAVE the bikes pictured below is to afford myself a relaxing and fun form of exercise, so as to work that gut, so very visible in these photos, down to more reasonable dimensions. We can only hope.

Here is my project bike - the Sears Spaceliner my friend Bones gave me - just after I put the big comfy saddle and new tubes and tires on it. His name is now "Captain Comfy" and he's very easy, now, to ride. I adjusted the front bearings (and lubricated them) so the wheel would turn freely, and made the same adjustment to the coaster brake hub.



And this is me, astride Captain Comfy.



And this is my Huffy 'Santa Fe' Cantilever - I believe the current model of this bike is called the 'Cranbrook' - which now sports a Schwinn 'No Nose' saddle and a new tire on the rear. The rear hub needed adjustment - it was binding and not freewheeling - and the whole bike was in general need of lubrication. That done, I tied the Harley-Davidson tool bag to the handlebar for a touch of class.

His name is Roscoe.



And this is me, astride Roscoe.



Happy Labor Day.

Ndinombethe.