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9/28/2011

Wordful Wednesday - Just Some Bike Stuff


Actually, I had a photo for today, but I wasn't able to do the gymnastics necessary to get it posted. From now on, I'm keeping a REAL camera with me, not just the Cameraphone.

Bought some brake pads for one of the bikes I'm working on, today. And I put them on the bike. It's an older Roadmaster Mt Storm, once ridden by my youngest son. I'm trying to get it into condition to sell - I'll use the money to help fund the purchase of parts for other bikes I'm working on. The thing is, I put the pads on the front and got the brakes all set up and working properly, only to realize the rear tire is flat. It seems, when I adjusted the spokes while truing up the wheel (yes, I know how to do that), I must have torn the tube. So now I have to take off the back tire of an 18 speed bike and put in a new tube. Which I will have to buy tomorrow. I don't happen to have any 24 inch tubes.

So far, I have 5 bikes in the garage, and #3 Son has one, as well. That makes 6. I have GOT to sell the other three bikes - keeping Captain Comfy, Roscoe, and #3 Son's Mongoose. Then I should be in shape to buy a new bike. I want a brand new bike for distance riding. A bike I can trust on a 24 mile trip. As much as I love Capt. Comfy and Roscoe, both bikes need critical systems to be rebuilt completely - cranks, hubs, chains, wheels and headsets - it's gonna be cheaper and faster to get a new bike. It'll just take longer to do the rebuilds - what with the money spent on a new bike NOT being spent on new parts for the old bikes.

If you ride, be sure to check your chain for signs of binding and rust. Lubricate your chain frequently. Chains wear out - and quicker if you don't keep them lubed. Use sewing machine oil, or go to Walmart and buy their bottle of chain lube. It's good stuff. Be careful of drips - they dry white.

Ndinombethe.

5 comments:

Grandmother Mary said...

That's exciting that you're getting a bike for distance riding- you've built up to that- good for you! There's new beauty to be discovered.

Tara R. said...

We've had good luck selling items on Craig's List.

I'm excited for you and your stable of bikes and the adventures you'll have.

Big Mark 243 said...

You are such a handy cat! Man, I wish I had a quarter of your mechanical aptitude! When I think of all the money I could have saved on being able to keep my bikes in good condition...

My instructor is a cyclist and he has six bikes... I have never had more than one at a time... but I do plan on purchasing a road bike (the one I am currently pedaling is an off-road bicycle) and am thinking Giant but we will see...

...maybe I will ride my bike to Chicago..! It could happen, so you'd better watch..!

Have Myelin? said...

Hmm...I can't ride bikes due to MS but I told ALex I wanted to rent a Vespa and go scootin'. Couldn't find a local shop that rented them. Denver does though! Oh well....

CaraBee said...

I haven't been riding in a hundred years. I dated a guy back in the day who was an avid biker and we went out most weekends. But we broke up and my bike was stolen and I've just never gotten back into it. Now that my daughter is riding her bike, I should really look into getting myself a new one, make it a family activity.