J
Jonesy
Guest
Bike in the stand, tool box open, crack open a Bigfoot and listen to some Zepplin. Really, does it
get any better, without actually riding the thing? The good smells of new grease and chain lube, and
a lazy evening of no pressure to do anything else. Theraputic, I tells ya.
Took the bike out a little during lunch yesterday, just for a ride around the 'hood. Don't want her
to thik I've forgotten her, right? A little nippy out, so I put on some thermal wear from
Performance:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=15605&Store=Bike
(LS crew pictured, but I have both the crew and the pants.)
They are nice and warm, and deal with wind pretty well. They do not wick sweat away as well as some
of the more expensive gear, but for the price, I'd say they did a pretty good job. All in all, a
pretty good deal.
I thought some more about the CamelBak resevoir. I can't remember having cleaned it before, and it's
been around a while. Mostly, it's lived in the basement (the unheated portion) which is about 50-60
degrees F all year round. Heck, if I only clean the thing once every three years, I have enough
tablets to last 20 years! And where in the heck does one find a coated wire hanger? I could only
find 4 wire hangers in the whole house - plastic ones are everywhere!
Changed out some worn der. pulleys, got the old chain soaking in solvent to remove the dirt, and
generally tidied up the gear, spares and tools. If being a bike mechanic paid anything, and was
stable employment, I'd change careers. I know, they wouldn't let me drink Bigfoot on the job (during
work hours), but the rest would still be a heck of a lot of fun.
The snow is finally melting, and next week, I might actually be able to get on the trails and ride.
To heck with the roads - gimme the roots and rocks.
One last thing - talked to John Castellano the other day. When I bought the frame, the warranty card
said that if you sent it in, he'd send back a free tube of elastomer lube. Well, I never got it, and
called to see if there was some mix-up, or whatever. We chatted for a bit - he's a damn nice guy. He
seemed genuinely pleased to talk to me, like I was actually *somebody.* It makes me sad to say it,
but that kind of attitude seems really rare nowadays.
--
Jonesy
get any better, without actually riding the thing? The good smells of new grease and chain lube, and
a lazy evening of no pressure to do anything else. Theraputic, I tells ya.
Took the bike out a little during lunch yesterday, just for a ride around the 'hood. Don't want her
to thik I've forgotten her, right? A little nippy out, so I put on some thermal wear from
Performance:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=15605&Store=Bike
(LS crew pictured, but I have both the crew and the pants.)
They are nice and warm, and deal with wind pretty well. They do not wick sweat away as well as some
of the more expensive gear, but for the price, I'd say they did a pretty good job. All in all, a
pretty good deal.
I thought some more about the CamelBak resevoir. I can't remember having cleaned it before, and it's
been around a while. Mostly, it's lived in the basement (the unheated portion) which is about 50-60
degrees F all year round. Heck, if I only clean the thing once every three years, I have enough
tablets to last 20 years! And where in the heck does one find a coated wire hanger? I could only
find 4 wire hangers in the whole house - plastic ones are everywhere!
Changed out some worn der. pulleys, got the old chain soaking in solvent to remove the dirt, and
generally tidied up the gear, spares and tools. If being a bike mechanic paid anything, and was
stable employment, I'd change careers. I know, they wouldn't let me drink Bigfoot on the job (during
work hours), but the rest would still be a heck of a lot of fun.
The snow is finally melting, and next week, I might actually be able to get on the trails and ride.
To heck with the roads - gimme the roots and rocks.
One last thing - talked to John Castellano the other day. When I bought the frame, the warranty card
said that if you sent it in, he'd send back a free tube of elastomer lube. Well, I never got it, and
called to see if there was some mix-up, or whatever. We chatted for a bit - he's a damn nice guy. He
seemed genuinely pleased to talk to me, like I was actually *somebody.* It makes me sad to say it,
but that kind of attitude seems really rare nowadays.
--
Jonesy
