well, not really…I just couldn’t think up a good title
Celestial Axioms
During waning phase, moonset is after sunrise. This means that on an early morning commute you have a nice companion. Still big and fat since we’re early in the phase. The only other thing I’m going to say about the ride weather is this: not a freaking cloud in the sky.
Flashbacks
iTunes offers up some nostalgia:
He’s got this dream about buyin’ some land
He’s gonna give up the booze and the one night stands
And then he’ll settle down there’s a quiet little town
And forget about everything
Memory flashes of another bicycle commute, a long time ago (about the time this song came out), in a city far, far away. Late September, early October. Early morning, still in shadow but tops of buildings are catching the early rays. Brisk fall air. Route included edges of a university campus.
Who are you and what did you do with the Timmy that used to terrorize Missoula on his steel Nishiki?
Comical Commuting
Oh yeah, that’s where the manic part comes in. The hustle and bustle of the motorists. The usual everyday commuting automobiles intermixed with knuckleheads. Good thing I still have my fighter pilot reflexes.
Usual route, with a routine stop at one of my favorite local eateries for a couple of migas tacos (on flour). The motor needs fuel — especially tasty breakfast tacos.
The ride home wasn’t quite as hectic with no close calls. Just passive-aggressive revving of engines in childish displays of frustration that I was somehow in the way. Saw the usual number of fellow two-wheelers. Also saw a mother hauling her daughter on a long-tail bike; both grinning at the fabulous cycling weather.
Let’s Get Greasy
Relatively busy shop this morning at Yellow Bike. I started out trying to do QA checks on two bikes but it got too busy. All three coordinators and our new apprentice were hopping. I helped a guy replace the freewheel component on a free hub (he had been sold a new cassette by a LBS which was not his problem).
I assisted another gent with a spoke replacement and then walked him through tensioning and truing process. I wish I could have spent more time supervising because he managed to make the wheel worse. He was on a tight time schedule and rode in. Some issues with the wheel that I couldn’t fix (or instruct) in the time remaining so I hooked him up with a replacement wheel and told him I would rebuild his for free. I need to build this kind of experience base if I decide to go ahead with my wheel building business — another win-win.
Guided a couple of other users through wheel truing and assisted a guy doing earn-a-bike with a bottom bracket repack. I told him told what the basic steps were and then cautioned that some older bikes had loose bearings in the bottom bracket. I stepped away to help somebody else and when I came back to check, sure enough loose bearings. Haven’t seen one of those in a long time.
A mix of other stuff. It was busy. The time flew by. I had fun.
