The bike shop called me this morning .... Looks like it will take a couple more weeks to get my Trucker back on the road. The wheel has to be specially built and will cost another $43.34. So, I had to call the person who rear-ended me and ask them to go back to the bike shop and pay the additional cost for building the wheel. They agreed to that. Thank God ...!
The wheels for my LHT were specially designed for my bicycle. I'll have to settle for a black rim, instead of silver.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Off to the Hardware Store ...
Yesterday, I rode the Townie to Home Depot. Picked a variety of hardware so I can put together some kind of brackets to install lights and reflectors on our bikes. Short ride of only three miles. Still feels good to get out and ride ....
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Morning Ride on the Townie ...
Took the Townie for a morning ride to Big 5. Bought a pair of cycling gloves, then picked up more groceries at Cost Less. I'll be riding Dara's Townie until my Trucker is fixed.
For larger images of my LHT, see my new pages:
My Surly Long Haul Trucker
For larger images of my LHT, see my new pages:
My Surly Long Haul Trucker
Friday, April 10, 2009
Back On The Road ...
I've calmed down a bit from the accident yesterday. Took my son's Townie out today. Went to K-Mart first, then Home Depot. Dropped off the stuff I bought, then rode into town to check the PO. Got a money order from Save-Mart, and sent in my order for the DiNotte 140.
Total ride for today = 8 miles. Only one small incident. While riding through downtown, driver in big pick-up behind me was angry because I stopped to allow someone to back out of a parking space.
Just as I was leaving Save-Mart, a guy asked me if he could use my air pump. I pumped up his tire with my Topeak Road Morph. Guess that's my second good deed for the day ....
Total ride for today = 8 miles. Only one small incident. While riding through downtown, driver in big pick-up behind me was angry because I stopped to allow someone to back out of a parking space.
Just as I was leaving Save-Mart, a guy asked me if he could use my air pump. I pumped up his tire with my Topeak Road Morph. Guess that's my second good deed for the day ....
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Bad News - My New LHT Rear-ended!!!
Really bad news ... I had just left the bike shop, on my way to the sporting goods to see if they had some cycling gloves that would fit me. Had rode my LHT about two miles, and a car rear-ended me! I almost crashed ... don't know how I managed to stay up!
I noticed instantly that the rear wheel wouldn't turn, and thought the bike was trashed. The young lady (19 years old) was totally freaking out ....
After we exchanged information, the lady wanted to pay for the damage, rather than go through the insurance. One of the witnesses was nice enough to help me out. He put my bike in the back of his pick-up, tied it up real good.
Took me to the bike shop. We waited for the lady. The mechanic said that the only damage is the rear wheel. So they ordered a new wheel, and the lady paid for everything.
I'm really bummed out, and afraid to ride anymore .... I had my Real Lite on, pedaling about 15mph, in the center of the right lane. It had just started to rain, and the young girl was following me too close, then slammed on her brakes, and went sliding out of control.
I just hope I don't have any more close calls! That was too close!
I noticed instantly that the rear wheel wouldn't turn, and thought the bike was trashed. The young lady (19 years old) was totally freaking out ....
After we exchanged information, the lady wanted to pay for the damage, rather than go through the insurance. One of the witnesses was nice enough to help me out. He put my bike in the back of his pick-up, tied it up real good.
Took me to the bike shop. We waited for the lady. The mechanic said that the only damage is the rear wheel. So they ordered a new wheel, and the lady paid for everything.
I'm really bummed out, and afraid to ride anymore .... I had my Real Lite on, pedaling about 15mph, in the center of the right lane. It had just started to rain, and the young girl was following me too close, then slammed on her brakes, and went sliding out of control.
I just hope I don't have any more close calls! That was too close!
Lights on my Trucker ...
So many people have asked me about the lights on my Surly Long Haul Trucker. These are the lights that I presently have on my Trucker. I will add more later ...
* Real Lite, 18 super bright LEDs (!!!), two settings (flashing or steady), four AA batteries, 60 hours. Visible for 1/4 mile in bright sunlight, and over a mile at night
* CatEye TL-LD1000 OptiCube, with 10 super bright LEDs, four settings for the upper level (5 LEDs), and four settings for the lower level (5 LEDs), two AA batteries, 100 hours.
* SuperFlashStealth, 2 extreme LEDs, two settings (flashing or steady), three AA batteries, 100 hours.
* CatEye EL-520 LED Opticube Headlight
* Coleman 60 lumens helmet light, three AAA batteries.
* Two blinkies on the back of my helmet, AG13 batteries.
* two 6-mode Bell flashers (each has six LEDs)
* On order, the DiNotte 140 Pro Series Ultra Taillight
I use rechargeable batteries, which reduces the cost for batteries tremendously! Except the two blinkies on my helmet, which use the small flat batteries (AG13).
* Real Lite, 18 super bright LEDs (!!!), two settings (flashing or steady), four AA batteries, 60 hours. Visible for 1/4 mile in bright sunlight, and over a mile at night
* CatEye TL-LD1000 OptiCube, with 10 super bright LEDs, four settings for the upper level (5 LEDs), and four settings for the lower level (5 LEDs), two AA batteries, 100 hours.
* SuperFlashStealth, 2 extreme LEDs, two settings (flashing or steady), three AA batteries, 100 hours.
* CatEye EL-520 LED Opticube Headlight
* Coleman 60 lumens helmet light, three AAA batteries.
* Two blinkies on the back of my helmet, AG13 batteries.
* two 6-mode Bell flashers (each has six LEDs)
* On order, the DiNotte 140 Pro Series Ultra Taillight
I use rechargeable batteries, which reduces the cost for batteries tremendously! Except the two blinkies on my helmet, which use the small flat batteries (AG13).
Rain, Birds, Proverbs ... More Birds
Rode into town to take care of business. After picking up a prescription at the clinic, went to get my allergy shot. Then hit the Dry Creek Trail. It had just started to sprinkle. At the first bench, I rested to eat half of my sandwich, and watch the birds. When I got to the beginning of the trail, at the park, rotated my handlebars so the bar-end shifter won't hit my knees. Seemed to work pretty good.
As I rode into town the rain started coming down pretty good, so I stopped under a huge tree on the corner of the library, and read from Proverbs chapter seven. Next, I went to the bus terminal to see if my Trucker will fit on the bus rack. The front tire was raised up about 1/2 inch. As long as the bike is secure, should be ok. I want to have a supervisor check it for me though, just to make sure! I don't want my new bike falling off and getting crushed ... !!!
As I rode across the Lion Bridge, saw two geese, maybe Canada geese? They were standing on the shore of the river, and were big, and tall. I watched them for a few minutes, then they took off flying.
As I rode into town the rain started coming down pretty good, so I stopped under a huge tree on the corner of the library, and read from Proverbs chapter seven. Next, I went to the bus terminal to see if my Trucker will fit on the bus rack. The front tire was raised up about 1/2 inch. As long as the bike is secure, should be ok. I want to have a supervisor check it for me though, just to make sure! I don't want my new bike falling off and getting crushed ... !!!
As I rode across the Lion Bridge, saw two geese, maybe Canada geese? They were standing on the shore of the river, and were big, and tall. I watched them for a few minutes, then they took off flying.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Handlebars Adjusted ...
After adjusting the handlebars, not having the problem with my knees hitting the bar end shifters:
Bar-end Shifters Hitting My Knees ...
Yesterday while at Dry Creek, I adjusted the handlebars. Seems to have fixed the problem with my knees hitting the bar-end shifters. I will need to adjust the brakes now.
First Ride With My Trucker In The Rain
Yesterday was my first ride with the Trucker in the rain. Started raining when I first hit the Dry Creek Trail. I was pretty wet when I got home, but somehow survived the ordeal!
I'm getting close to 100 miles on the LHT. Yesterday the odometer read 83.3 miles, for five days riding. Maybe I'll hit 100 miles today ....
I'm getting close to 100 miles on the LHT. Yesterday the odometer read 83.3 miles, for five days riding. Maybe I'll hit 100 miles today ....
Equiping My LHT .. .
Here are some updated pictures of my LHT, with the equipment that I've been carrying around recently:
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Night Ride ...
Just got back from another night ride around downtown. Rode a total of 23 miles today.
Dry Creek Trail
Rode the Dry Creek Trail today. Stopped to chat with another cyclist. He said he might be able to find somebody to give me a ride to one of the charity rides. I rode up the hill at the end of the trail for practice about six times. Almost got hit by a wreckless driver while on my way to the trail. Somebody passed me really fast, then cut directly in front of me and almost clipped me! They must have been going very fast, because I didn't see or hear them coming.
Friday, April 3, 2009
My New Surly Long Haul Trucker
Picked up my new Surly Long Haul Trucker in Sacramento. Dara went with me. He took his Townie. When we left The Bicycle Business, we rode around Sacramento from the Marina, through downtown, then to Discovery Park. We toured around Old Town Sacramento, checking out the old buildings, and the old trains.
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