Best New Tool
Actually it isn’t even a new tool. Behold an old air compressor:
You may be asking what’s so wonderful about this old compressor. Well, let me tell you. I never have to pump up a bike tire with a hand pump. Of course if the power is out and if I’m out of air cartridges, I guess I’ll cave and use the hand pump. Until then, I’ll enjoy this modern invention.
And I can’t leave without mentioning the tool’s sponsor: my dad. He and one of my brothers decide I should have it since they both have nice air compressors. I want to know why I didn’t know about the air compressor when I was a kid. I would have used it to pump up my bike tires. I think my dad was holding out on me.
Earth Day 2009
Apr 22, 2009 Cycling
I think Earth Day should be on a Saturday. So I have time to properly think about the day. Instead, my brain and body were deep in thought about work. I guess in my own way I did do something good for the Earth. I rode my bike to work. In fact, this week I’m 3 for 3, and tomorrow is looking good as well.
(The pretty picture is courtesy of Trek)
I did give my bike/myself a small present today. I installed a water bottle cage to my handle bars. Unfortunately for me, my arms are too short to reach my water bottle from the frame while riding. For longer rides, I have a small Camelback. I’m all about proper hydration. It’s the difference between a fun ride and a not-so-fun ride.
All Talk, No Action
No! I’m not referring to voting. That’s a whole different topic. I’m all about that kind of action. Luckily, I voted early, my attempt at avoid the long, long, lines.
I’m referring to riding my bike in inclement weather. Oh the ironies of life. Yesterday, I write about how my bike is ready for fall weather. Then today it rains, not just a little rain, but a lot of rain, especially by Utah standards. (Remember I live in a desert. So it doesn’t take a lot of rain to make me think everything is going to float way, including me on my bike.) Faced with the rain, do I buck up and get on my bike? No, I totally wimped out. I took the bus. It’s so much easier to let someone else drive through huge puddles while I sit back and listen to my iPod. And tomorrow? Well the rain should turn into snow. I haven’t decided how I feel about cycling in snow. I guess I’ll decide tomorrow morning. On the upside, the forecast for Thursday looks promising.
And in the name of change, get out and vote!
The Need to Accessorize
Nov 3, 2008 Cycling
I never understood why anybody would want to accessorize their car with aftermarket stuff (sorry Dad) until I bought a bike. Now I get it. My bike needs to personalize to meet my daily needs and convey my personality.
Out the gate, I bought fenders, a rack, a pannier, a bottle cage, a new water bottle, a bike lock, and a pump. For my own personal protection I bought a helmet, a rain jacket, and padded shorts. I did this without thinking, considering all their accesories essential items. (My youngest brother thinks this is all crazy and that I should be more of a minimalist.) I was very picky about my fenders and rack. I wanted silver to match the rest of the metal. My bike shop ordered both to fit my small bike. The fenders arrived in less than a week. The rack was on back order. So they gave me a black rack until the silver rack arrived. I finally got my silver rack. Totally worth the wait.
A couple of weeks ago, I started to think about the time change back to standard time. My ride home would in in the dark without lights. Now my bike sports this front light and this back light. I like both of them. They served me well on my ride home tonight.
I’m taking a small hiatus from accessory buying. I need to save my money for the approaching holiday season. However this isn’t stopping me from making a wish list. In the near future, I hope to gloves, a water bottle holder that fits on my handles, new pedals, and clipless shoes. I’m sure this list is incomplete. Of course, I reserve the right to modify as needed.
Catching Up
I’m so guilty of neglecting my blog over the past few weeks. I have plenty to blog about. My excuse is more about being tired at night. While I probably should just stick with the current stuff, I have to recap a bit of the past, because it was fun.
I went on my first long bike ride over Labor Day weekend thanks to Jen, the grand trip planner. We (myself, Jen, Brian, and Dale) met at the train station in Salt Lake. The commuter train in new to us in Salt Lake. So this more than just a mode of transportation, it was a new experience. We rode the train to Layton, a suburb to the north. Then the real ride began.
From Layton, we rode out to Antelope Island, which is in the middle of the Great Salt Lake.
The ride out was easy. The terrain is fairly flat, the heat was bearable, and I had lots of energy. On the island, Jen and Brian tested their ability to float in the lake. Sure enough if you walk out far enough, there is enough salt in the lake to make you float.
Of course you have to be willing to tolerate the smell of brine shrimp. Me, I’m not so adventurous. I have no desire to be covered from head to toe with water from that lake. However, I did get my feet wet.
This is a brine shrimp or sea monkey.
They are the only thing that can live in the lake due to the high salinity level. The lake is like the Dead Sea. The lake has inlets, but no outlets.
The trip back to the train station was a lot harder. Physical and heat exhaustion started to set in. I got a quick reminder that I live in the desert (hot wind with no trees near by). To top off the experience, we rode home into a headwind. Headwinds have been the hardest thing for me to adjust to while cycling. They quickly kill my enthusiasm.
Of course no trip would be complete without a flat tire. Unfortunately, Dale was the unlucky victim. I really need to get slime liners for my tires.
By the time we got back to the Salt Lake train station. I was sick (the slurpee was really bad idea), but not sick enough to regret the trip. In total, I rode 37 miles. Not bad. Now my next hurdle is riding up hills. I live by plenty of hills. I avoid them. I just need to start working my way up so I can ride in the mountains.
