Sunday, February 27, 2011

This Commuting Week in Pics - 2/21 - 2/25/2011

My commuting steeds hang ready willing and able...
I'm not the only one longing for Spring...
One too many beers...
Being chased by my shadow...
The James River Bridge through the trees...
Gale force winds on the James River

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Road Find #3 - A Purple Bra

It looked to be clean and in pristine shape as it lay there in the ditch beside the road but I rode on and let it be.

Why, you may ask, would I do such a thing?

Well it could be that I was unable to come up with a practical reason for keeping it. Or it may that purple really isn't my color. But I think the most likely reason of all was that I relished not the awkwardness of trying to justify it's presence to my wife, in the event she were to rummage through my pannier.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

This Commuting Week in Pics - 2/14 - 2/18/11

Work before play...
A sunrise shines on the James River Bridge...
Blogging central...
A steeple over the moon...

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Road Find #2 - Needle Nose Pliers

On a recent ride to work I happened upon...

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Why I Ride #1 - It's Keeps My World Small

It was cold and dark as I rode home this evening. Wrapped in my cocoon of clothes and surrounded by an envelop of darkness, my world is small. It is no larger than the expanse of my headlight...
Beyond that is nothingness. I like that. It's a small world, but it's plenty big enough to suit me.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

This Commuting Week in Pics - 2/7 - 2/11/11

A winter wonderland morning...
A bike snow breaker...
A sunset over the James River Bridge...

A Derailleur Mystery

It was a dark and stormy night...

Well, actually it was the crystal, clear dawn of a new day. My bike was loaded, it's lights were flashing, it was poised for the start of another routine commute to work.

I pushed the bike from the garage, straddled it and placed a foot on the pedal to push off. Much to my surprise, it would not budge. Try as I may, the pedals would not go round. No turning of pedals = no turning of wheels = no forward momentum = no riding this bike to work.

I looked down to ascertain the cause of said pedalessness. The chain hung loose between the chain ring and rear derailleur. The chain was knotted and jammed. The light was too poor and the time too short to properly diagnose the problem. Not willing to fore go commuting on such a beautiful day, I swapped lights, bags, pedals and butt to a different bike in my harem.

Upon returning home that evening, I mounted the ailing bike in the repair stand, opened a cold beer, sat upon a nearby stool and studied the offending derailleur...


...notice that the chain was position such that it sat atop the small metal tab that spanned across the two rails of the derailleur cage. This tab is specifically designed to keep the chain from coming out of the cage and doing what it was doing. There is physically no way for the chain to get outside of this tab. I shuddered to think of the evil forces at work to conceive such a sinister act.

The only way to get the chain back in place was to either disassemble the derailleur or open a link in the chain. I chose the latter path and while I was at it decided to disassemble and clean the entire drive train.

As I was cleaning the derailleur on my work bench I noticed two small grooves on top of the aforementioned tab...

Those grooves were the exact width of the chain and bespoke of the chain riding upon this surface for some period of time. Owing solely to my superior powers of observation and deduction, the pieces of this troubling puzzle fell into place and this perplexing mystery was solved. The chain didn't happen to pop outside the derailleur. It didn't make it's way past the small metal tab. The chain traversed this improper position because I mounted it that way. A couple weeks earlier, I had taken the chain off to clean it and when I put it back on, I obviously threaded it incorrectly. So that was why I'd been hearing a clicking sound from the direction of my derailleur.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Cargo Bikes Carry More Firewood

2 bundles - 1-1/2 cubic feet - 32 lbs. of firewood

Oh, and what's dat nestled in dat dar saddle bag?
Why shiver me timbers, I do believe dem be stowaways.

A damp and frigid winter night - a warm, crackling fire - cold beer - now that's living. To think this was all made possible cause I ride a cargo bike.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Road Find #1 - An Intro

Many of the blogs I follow have a running series of posts along a certain theme. I have been blogging for over 2 years and have yet to start an ongoing series of my on.

At one point I thought about doing one on "Road Kill", in which I keep a photo journal of the assortment of squashed animals I happen upon during my rides. After further consideration, I thought such a series was a bit macabre and might upset the sensitivities of my faithful readers.

After much soul searching, I think I've happened upon one I can call my own. Over the years of riding, I've found a plethora of useful items laying on the side of the road. I don't ride along intentionally scanning the roadside for treasures. I simply focus my 5 senses on the business of riding. It's more like a sixth sense that has been honed over years of riding to notice these jewels in the rough. When I do, I invariably slow down, circle back and scoop it up. Case in point, on a recent ride I noticed a glint of yellow. I turned around and this is what I beheld...
I wrestled it free from it's snowy grave and stashed it on my rear rack...
I am now the proud new owner of a recyclable grocery bag...
In this series, I will chronicle for you the assortment of things that people drop, lose or throw away and I happen upon and claim as my own.

Bike Riding - the gift that keeps on giving.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

A Respite

On my ride home yesterday...

The sky was gray and gloomy, BUT it was 65 degrees!

The trees were barren and forlorn, BUT IT was 65 degrees!!

The sun hung precariously close to the horizon and was sinking fast, BUT IT WAS 65 degrees!!!

The calendar said that Spring was still 46 Days away, BUT IT WAS 65 DEGREES!!!!

For 2 months of commuting, I've been enduring darkness and freezing temperatures and quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of it.

I know it's a bit premature to begin rejoicing over a changing of the seasons. However, in my simple way of thinking, when the temperature outside is warmer than the temperature of my beer well that's plenty cause to celebrate.
Bottoms Up!!!!!!!!