Thursday, March 30, 2006

Progress - Slow as Usual

Okay, so I tried on Wednesday to go visit Hiawatha Cyclery. Trouble is they were closed on Wednesday. Not that I complain that they were closed. The drag with working in a shop, is everyone wants you to be open when you want to be cycling. Bummer. I knew they were closed on Wednesday, but just forgot. Rats.

The saddle bag did arrive. Its awesome. Its really heavy waxed cotton and I like the color. I got it mounted and even made a piece of cardboard to fit the bottom. I made it from the QuickBeam box and used the part where it said "Quick". I then shellacked it to make it water repellent. Both sides, it will maybe hold up better that way too.

While I was shellacking, I applied it to the chainstay guard. I then put cotton tape and twine on the saddle post that was exposed. Its an ugly black post I got cheap, because it is a double bolt. I really like to be able to get a Brooks saddle level or slightly tilted up at the front or nose.

I did pick up a mount for the rear fender from Freewheel. It was intended for a Planet Bike fender, but it won't fit. It looked appropriate in width and it was plastic so it would have some give, but it was far too wide. I think I could screw or rivet it on, or maybe put it under heavy tension, I think it would break or have a short life.

Oh yeah, got the performance appraisal. It went okay. The new boss is okay, I could do so much worse. Yeah, there is stuff I need to work on, but there always is. I'm glad to have my job, I like many of the people I work with, and it has lots of challenge.

I plan on riding the QB quite a bit before I put the tape on the handlebars. Really want to make sure that I like how the brake levers feel before I make their location permanent. Once the QB is road worthy, then it will be time to go to work on the Atlantis. I want to replace the break levers on that, plus service the headset. Finally put padding under the bar tape and put new tape and shellac on it.

1 comment:

Nathan said...

You shellacked cardboard? You shellacked cardboard! Holy crap! I gotta go...