bicycle wizardry

Today I not only repaired my bicycle, but I made it magical. That’s right, magic was involved. My old tires were completely dry-rotted and parts were flaking off. I have been riding my bike like this for over three years, but I had no idea what kind of effect it was having. After changing the tires today and taking it for a ride I gained over a mile per every five minutes in speed without any additional effort. The ride felt smoother and so much better; magic I tell you! 

Now I have changed a bicycle tire before, but never without assistance.  This time I was completely on my own, and while it is a relatively simple task, the act of removing the rear tire and reconfiguring the brakes and gear shifts is not. I had to tweak, and re-tweak several times. At one point the tire even came loose as I tried to ride the bike. I also fixed my three gears.  For years they have been randomly shifting at will.  I have never been able to get the bike to shift properly; but today I was able to take the whole thing apart, and put it back together in working fashion. I now have THREE gears on my bicycle that work! In the end I was able to get it all worked out and had an amazing 10 mile ride around the city.  

I also acquired a new bike rack and pannier to carry all of my work documents and a change of clothes. It was so nice to be able to have my body free of the heavy bag so I could enjoy the breeze as I rode. I will also be picking up a new wooden front rack tomorrow for additional carrying space. Tomorrow is ride your bike to work day as well, and I am feeling pretty damn prepared to ride my bicycle to work.   

easy rider

Today I rode my bicycle to and from work, and I loved it! It is exactly 4.89 miles from my door to my office.  I am going to make this a regular thing, weather permitting. I love seeing the city from a different perspective in the morning. Instead of sitting in my car and watching the road ahead I am able to look around at the people and places I pass.  I am also saving myself the frustration of getting stuck in slow rush hour traffic.  I found myself in a much better mood all day and looked forward to the ride home.

My only complaint is the heavy messenger bag I carried on my back.  It was awkward and the weight was unevenly distributed.  I think it is time to invest in some proper equipment for my bike. I would like to find a rack for the back of my bike and some bins or saddle bags very soon. I figure the money I will be saving on gas will pay for it in a short amount of time. 

a library lunch hour

I love libraries.  I especially love the Central Library in Downtown Indianapolis.  I am lucky enough to work only two blocks away from that very library; I also get an hour for lunch.  Today I took the entire hour to wander the library and browse the local fiction section.  

 

When I left the library I returned to my office with a large stack of 9 books.  I selected five books about nutrition and fitness, as well as four of Kurt Vonnegut’s classic novels. I couldn’t resist grabbing a copy of Satan, I’m Taking Back my Health by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu. Yes, it is as ridiculous as it sounds.  After perusing a few pages I couldn’t contain my laughter at the accusation that ‘Satan is the reason people get fat’.  I cannot wait to continue reading this one. 

 I have already read most of the Vonnegut books, but after walking past the giant mural of Kurt Vonnegut on Massachusetts Avenue daily, I felt it was only appropriate I reacquaint myself with some of his work.  

I am especially excited to begin reading all of the fitness books.  For the last several months my health and weight have become a priority; this should have been the case long ago.  Over the course of the last three months I have lost close to thirty pounds and have been running six days a week.  It feels amazing.  I have so much more energy and I feel happier. I have not lost any weight for a few weeks and am ready to begin a regular workout routine; hopefully I will be able to use these books to develop a thorough and efficient plan for myself.  

I have a feeling that I will be done with all of these books in a very short amount of time, which is good because I am already itching to go back and explore again, and I don’t think I can leave a library without a pile of books in my arms.

buy a motorcycle

A few weeks ago I was finally able to purchase the motorcycle I have been dreaming about since I was a teenager.  As far as aesthetics I knew I wanted an older bike with a round headlight; I really wanted a brown bike, but those are nearly impossible to find.  It also had to be affordable. After a few months of considering my options I decided on a Honda Rebel.  After that decision it took me another month to find the right one. 

In mid April I brought home my 1986 Honda CMX 450 Rebel. This is a pretty rare bike, as Honda only made the Rebel with 450 cc’s in 1986 and 1987. All other Rebels are 250 cc’s (except for a UK version which came in a 125 cc engine size).  The bike has barely over 4,000 miles and runs beautifully.  It does need a little cleaning and a good waxing, but is really in close to perfect condition. 

I have been diligently studying my Motorcycle Operator Manual on a daily basis and will be taking my permit test tomorrow. I am also taking an ABATE class later this summer, and should have my Motorcycle Endorsement by the end of the summer.  This means I will be getting out on the road as often as possible and exploring to my heart’s content.