Disappointment! June 11, 2007

I just got a call that the LAB Road-1 (Cycling with Confidence) class that I was suppose to go to tonight and the next 2 Mondays was canceled due to low attendance. I’m seriously bummed about it. I guess I will have to check Arlington to see if their class fares better than this one.

“New” Road Bike June 9, 2007

Craigslist.com is one of the best inventions ever for the web.  I have been scouring it the past few weeks for a road bike that is reasonably priced and in good shape.  Yes, I realize I just bought a new bike a few months ago and not a road bike at that.  I still don’t want a new road bike.  I just wanted something that I could ride that I could get use to.  Growing up I use to have a road bike and use to ride my dad’s old road bike but I always found them to be uncomfortable.  Now I know it was because it was the wrong fit.  Who knew that that was so important when it came to riding bikes?  Certainly not my dad, who was our bike-buyer.

Anyway, after a few failed attempts to check out some bikes I finally landed one.  The bike was older and belonged to a great family who kept the bikes in the garage.  Slight rust but no where near as much as on the old mountie.  The tires were flat and we pumped them a bit enough for me to ride.  She needed new tires and tubes and some lubing but she road as smooth as I could imagine.  She needed new handlebar tape also.  She is an old Lotus Challenger, salmon in color.  I’ve had her for a few weeks and she’s been a great project.  I replaced her tires, lubed her up, cleaned her down, adjusted the handlebars and brakes.  I’ve actually been doing a lot of adjusting on the three bikes the past few weeks. I have learned a lot.  I’ve always been a very hands-on person and it really has been very fulfilling to me.  I just need to pump the tires to their specified PSI and I can’t do that with my hand pump.  Now I know I need a floor pump.  I’m debating whether or not to take it out for its maiden voyage tomorrow.  I want to get some good miles in and I don’t know if I’m ready to ride her that far just yet.  We shall see.  She is certainly a welcome addition to the ‘family.’  🙂  I really need to get some pictures up.