While I have really been enjoying my new bike, the rear deraileur wasn't shifting quite as smoothly as I would like. Since we are rained in by Dennis I decided to go ahead and tune the shifting a bit. This bike has a very nice Shimano deraileur of a type I had never had before so I wasn't quite sure of exactly how to tune it properly. I spent a little time looking up the specs and adjustment instructions for this deraileur, which seemed to focus primarily on getting proper cable tension wh...

The effects of hurricane Dennis made themselves known just about sunrise this morning. There had been some rain and thunderstorms during the night, but they were just the precursors of the real thing. I stood outside the guardshack this morning and watched as the front edge of the rain bands moved in. Fast. There is nothing quite like the look of a hurricane's weather. The clouds look different, and move different. Once you've seen a few, you know it when you see it. As the storm approache...

It looks like my biking to work is going to be on hold for a couple of days as hurricane Dennis makes his presence known here in Florida. Between high winds and heavy rain riding a bike is going to be unwise at best. With any luck Dennis will stay well out into the Gulf and won't be doing any real damage here, but past experience has proven a hurricane doesn't watch the weather channel and doesn't always follow projected paths. They pretty much go where they damn well like. If things ge...

I started thinking about this after answering yet another comment on one of the cycling forums proclaiming me some sort of "inspiration" due to my struggle to recover from my injuries. These sorts of comments are flattering and always nice to hear, but is it really so rare that a person does what they have to do in order to achieve a goal? Especially overcoming a devastating injury or illness? I have seen various peoples referred to a "heroes" (myself included) for struggling with some dis...

Ok, I finally shot some pics of my new bike. Sorry for the poor quality but my little cheapo camera just doesn't do much better. I even included one of me on the bike against my better judgement. I can't believe how fat I got sitting around laid up for six months!

Tonight I worked the 4PM to midnight shift, and it was the first time I rode the new bent to work. What a great ride. The bike was extremely comfortable and responsive, it was a real pleasure to ride. No pain or discomfort at all if you don't count the blistering heat and humidty of a typical July afternoon in Florida. On my old bike, the commute took about 15 minutes. With the bent it took 10. The bent is definately faster than my old beater without my actually trying to be faster. Jus...

Firstly, no I haven't had a chance to shoot a pic of it yet, but I will soon. The new bike is fantastic! It rides so much more comfortably and easily than my old beater did. And, while it's classified as a "slow" recumbent, it's still faster than my old bike was. I have already discussed upgrading to a larger chainring with the owner of the bike shop. I plan to do that as finances permit as it will increase the bike's speed considerably. Riding a bent is nothing like riding a regular up...

When I got home with my shiny new bike, I moved the old bike out onto the carport and parked my new bike on the lanai and chained it. As I only have the one bike lock the old bike wasn't chained. An HOUR later I walked out and saw that my old bike was gone. A freakin hour! Broad daylight. I really really hate thieves! The bike was old and worn out so I don't really care that much about it, but I did kinda plan on rebuilding the drivetrain at some point and getting a little use out of it. I...

I've been having a lot of trouble with the worn gears on my old mountain bike I ride to work. I called the bike shop, Power On Cycling, where I am buying my new bent. I explained the situation to Mark, the owner, and told him I really need to get on my new bike right away so I can get to work. I offered to leave my laptop with him as collateral until I get paid on the 15th. He said he really couldn't do anything with my laptop but that I should just come on down and get fitted on the bik...

I made the small fifty dollar down payment for my new recumbent bike today. I am really looking forward to getting that bike out on the road and being able to ride with far more comfort and far less pain than my current bike provides. I know it's just my imagination, but after test riding that bent, my junky old beater felt all that much more uncomfortable on the ride to and from work. I feel like a little kid that knows he's getting a really great toy for Christmas and is on pins and need...

I just got back from meeting Mark and the other nice folks at Power On Cycling. I have to say I was really impressed with them. Mark is a truly nice guy and I am looking forward to his shop being "my shop" from now on. He has gained a customer for life. He discussed some of my options with me, some advantages and disadvantages, and I never once got the feeling he was being anything but honest with me. We selected an EZ-1 that he had upgraded with rocket shifters, a high pressure rear tire,...

Last night I was feeling pretty down. I couldn't help but think about my current situation, and past ones. There was a time when I had held pretty important positions and made a decent living. I have always tried to do the "right things". I've never abused or manipulated people to my advantage, never taken unfair advantage of other people. I have always stood on my own two feet, working for a living and trying to make good decisions about things. I have never asked anyone for a hand-out. E...

I have been posting on cycling forums for a while now, and recently joined one specifically for recumbent bikes as I am planning to buy a bent sometime soon. I had posted regarding my current physical limitations and requested advice and recommendations on what brands/models might be best to check out that are in my price range. The folks at the site were very helpful and I received a lot of good advice in a very short period of time as well as several private messages regarding used bikes...

After much research and discussion with more experienced cyclists and cyclists who have also had hip surgery, I have decided that a recumbent bicycle (bent) is what I need to be riding. The design of these odd looking bikes makes for a much more relaxed and comfortable riding position and produce less stress on the hip joints than a traditional diamon frame bike. There are a wide variety of styles of bents, so I'll have to do some checking around. These bikes are pretty expensive so I gues...

Here's an interesting little piece that was run in our local Sunday paper. Pretty well sums up the recent media reports on Gitmo. Here's What You Need to Know About Gitmo BY JAMES LILEKS c.2005 Newhouse News Service Gitmo is the gulag equivalent of a Ben Affleck movie: no one's seen it, but everyone has an opinion about it. Given all the rhetoric that's been spilled about this sorta-kinda-not-really Death Camp, it's time we re-examine the facts, and remind ourselves what's really at...