Statrix Redux

It’s just impossible to buy anything these days without ending buying more. I have the bike, now I need all those little things to make it more pleasant. This time it starts with a water bottle and a back rack suitable for panniers.

Next, of course, I’ll want the damn panniers. That may even have to happen today because I still need to go the grocery store. It’s just never ending. 🙂
So here I am drinking coffee while I wait for the shop to put the rack on my bike. They said they’d do it for free, but that probably means I should tip them something. It’s not what I expected – young guys doing it to get parts for their own hobby. Nope, it’s a bunch of guys a bit older than I am, certainly more grizzled (I only work with my hands in the sense that I type).
Still I’m going to need some tools. I’m thinking I can get a few of these things at Walmart, but frankly keeping the money here sounds better so I’ll probably just go back to McCully once I’ve gotten this part finished.
So they’ll probably do it right where I wouldn’t and for that I’m grateful. It’s that kind of day.
Aloha!

Turns out it was the height of my seat that was giving me all the problems. It was just a wee bit too high and that wee bit made all the difference and now I don’t have a Giant problem. Groan.
Yesterday, as you may recall, I spent some time on the web trying to figure out whether this frame was too big for me. I finally decided, based on a few measurements and much reading, that the frame is fine but that my seat was about an inch too high. I couldn’t get on and off the bike easily and my leg was a bit too straight when a pedal was at its closest approach to the ground.
Now I just have to figure out how to shift. I’m not quite getting something there. My ride to work is mostly downhill, not a steep hill, but still grading down a bit. That’s great because I can get to work without breaking a sweat meaning I don’t need to shower once I’m here. It also means, however, that I need to figure out how to gear properly as right now I don’t seem to be generating any oomph (a technical term I’m sure).
I’m sure it’ll all come together with practice but I’d prefer instant perfection. 🙂
Aloha!

I made it home from work on the bike. I’m still having trouble getting on and off, mostly on. It may be that the frame is too big. I’m exactly on the company line for this bike, 6′ 1″. The smaller bike goes up to 6′ 1″, the one I have starts at 6′ 1″. Sigh.
Now I realize that judging just by the size the manufacturer puts down in print is pretty meaningless, I mean what does X or XL really mean anyway? I buy shirts that are XL, XLL, XLLL, 2X, 3X and when laid out they are all really the same size. It really depends on the actual measured size of things, not the label.
So…
I spent a good hour reading articles on fitting bikes and then measuring my inseam and the bike and have come to the conclusion that my bike isn’t too big. I’m just not used to it yet. Sigh.
The only thing I’ve figured out is that my seat might be a wee bit too high, but I’m going to have to get my knee to accept a lower height. We’ll see about that. It would also make it just a bit easier to mount the damn bike. As I said, right now it’s a bit of a pain.

I made it to work on my bike this morning. It was a lot easier than getting the bike home and I’m not quite sure why. Clearly my cycling did not improve magically overnight. Now all I have to do is make it home and I’ll consider my day a success.
In the meantime I found a neat link mentioned in a post on the Hawaii Bicycling League website called MapMyRide. It allows you to plot out maps and get distances, and a lot more. An example is my route to and from work…though I suspect the route home will change very soon…like as soon as I’m done with this post.

But no…I got interested in just how far it would be from my home to Kapiolani Park and back (with a once around the park ride). As it turns out it’s not too bad from an exercise standpoint, about 9.3 miles which for an old, fat guy seems about right.

Well I didn’t buy a Dutch City Bike or even the KHS Green. Indeed the KHS dealer didn’t have one. I decided on a comfort bike, lots of padding and shock absorbers for my old butt. I also chose to buy my bike from McCully Bicycle, partly because they are very close and in the event of trouble I can walk my bike there easily. I made the mistake of buying an earlier bike from somewhere much further off and until I got the hang of upkeep on it, I was a very unhappy camper^H^H^H^H^H^Hbiker.

It’s a Giant Sedona. It’s a pretty standard bike, certainly nothing special. If I use it, great – I can even consider moving up in a year or two. But if I don’t use it, well I’m not out too much.
I’m having a rear mud guard put on and I’ve gotten a new helmet and lock. In addition I’ve got a cheap light that is legal while I wait for McCully to get a new light in they say is much better. I figured I’d better at least be legal in the meantime.

I think I’ve just about decided to buy another bicycle, this is my story.
I learned to ride here in Hawaii on a red Schwinn my father bought second hand. I guess I was a bit later than some kids, must have been in third grade. In any case then got a Stingray with the banana seat and all. It was cool but later got stolen, even though it was locked. Interestingly the police officer who investigated it brought a fingerprint kit in a paper bag. Someone had broken into his cruiser and stolen his briefcase. 🙂
I graduated to a 10-speed, I think we called them English racers at the time and I rode through high school, giving it all up after college.
It wasn’t till my late 20’s and early 30’s that I road again, this time I really got into it and even rode in a century ride, though to be honest I think I only did 50 miles. I had surgery the next day and that was pretty much the end of riding till…now?
Actually now that I think of it I did buy a bike about 10 years ago. I wanted hybrid road bike but got talked into a mountain bike which I hated and put away never to be ridden again. I keep thinking I should leave it outside to be stolen.
So what do I want now? It’s back to the hybrid. I want a bike for commuting. I’d love a European town bike, but they cost a pretty penny. Here’s one from the the Dutch Bike Co. Seattle.

I have a budget of less than $500 with lock and extras so I’m going to have to conservative and not go for the “best of the best” as I usually want to do (whether or not I can afford it). So I’m probably going to get something more like this KHS Green from Island Bike and Triathlon.

Aloha!

I spent the weekend on the Big Island, mostly on the Hilo side, but with a side trip to lovely Hapuna Beach…

I’m not much of a beach person, but it’s a nice one.
The rest of the time I spent in Hilo, visiting my pops for Father’s Day among other things. It was nice to be there and I look forward to going back again soon. And I’ll have to go pretty soon anyway. One of my intentions was to make images of my folks for their Xmas cards again and time just conspired against that ever happening.
However I can’t really complain, now I have an excuse to go back soon. 🙂
Aloha!

In my ongoing quest to drink coffee just about everywhere possible on the island, I find myself at CoffeeTalk in Kaimuki. They have a decent cup and great ambience. I’ve passed by at night when it’s been packed with youths and when it’s been empty. I’ve only been here during the afternoon as I am today (after a haircut).
Here’s proof:

What I’m really doing is waiting to see what my friend says about a package that was just delivered.

It’s two books on Rome from Amazon….

1. Rome and Environs: An Archaeological Guide by Filippo Coarelli
2. The Roman Triumph by Mary Beard
   

We’ll see how well it goes over. My friend is going to Rome (again) this summer and I expect both books will be devoured, but not until I’m properly chastised for buying gifts. Sigh. 🙂
Aloha!

Planning a trip always seems to involve the art of compromise, at least for me. I never have the money or the time to simply to stay in a place until I’ve exhausted all the possibilities. In reality this would take infinite money and time, but it would be nice to stay somewhere for a full month. Perhaps in a few years this will be possible, but for now just under three weeks seems to be about the best I can do. Not too shabby really.
So now the hard part, what to do and see in Mexico D.F. So far I’ve found that TripAdvisor has been helpful.
I’ll be staying at Casa Gonzalez, a B&B type place near much of what I want to see.
mexico-city

Hot on the heels of Apple giving me a new a computer at no cost (well I did have to buy Applecare), comes the new iPhone 3G. Another excuse for spending money.

I kept up with the live blogging on Gizmodo today and was duly impressed by what I saw. 3G is good, GPS is nifty and the price is better than ever. I’m due for an upgrade on my line 6/20, so perhaps I can get it even bit cheaper through AT&T. But perhaps not. Still I have to wait till 7/11 and who knows what I’ll have spent any disposable income on by then. 🙂
Aloha!