Last weekend was my birthday. So since I've turned 45 I've beaten the family curse. of expiring with a heart attack. Though I occasionally seem to throw myself to the ground or have some other malady to remind me of my mortality. I just keep on truckin'.
So country mouse really wanted to ride the big Zook to Pixburg. The rear tire looked like it had just enough meat on it for the job. Wrong. I get there and the wear bars are all showing through.
Now lots of people would run it even longer. I had a "half a tire" at home I thought I'd put on when I got back. Wrong again. So a trip to various shops and Cycle sport had one on sale and a 20% discount. Back we went got it mounted up and return home. I start to mount the rear wheel lift the rear caliper and noticed the piston has moved inboard. Great. I hadn't touched the brake lever. Push it back in, which would usually solve the problem. Wrong again. Now the lever bottomed out like it had a huge air bubble. So a quick check of the master cylinder shows it's down a little on fluid through the sight window. True to an engineers heart you can't access it easily. Half the bike has to come apart. A trip to the hardware and auto supple nets the parts to bleed the brakes. Hmmm, one tiny air bubble. Still bottoms out when pushed back,but pumps up right. A call top Pops nets other solutions. Follow through with these and I'm back to square one. So I call the local shop and they say they'll take a peek at it. Zip down and the sign in for service. The wrench comes out and we pop it up on the center stand. I show him what I think is happening. He checks things and says " These brakes are right on". HUH? Sweet. Thanks, Gattos Cycles. So that drama is over.
City mouse made my birthday special with a nice dinner out at the Red Room. Oddly we both thought the potato gratin was the best. Three kinds of potatoes saved thin and baked with Parmesan. Yummy. We capped off the night at the 6 and Save with the "Ten Patrons".
We'd been there earlier in the week and Sean a Sam Adams rep had brought in a Koozie with a handle for a pint glass. Everyone thought it was a good idea. BUT, The new African American bartender thought it was the "Gayest thing he'd ever seen" and kept going on how gay and queer it was. Well that raised the hackles. He had his sun glasses on top of his head. So I said " Hey all the gays wear their sunglasses like that inside". What? Yea it's true. He took them right off and asked where should I put them. I said "Where ever you want". I had a suggestion. HA!
Did sneak in a ride among the rain storms and city mouse and I rode the butler trail.
We also went to see Inglorious Bastards. OK a bot slow but fun. The Hurt Locker was on the schedule but we got behind. We'll get to it.
As usual we cooked up a storm and enjoyed some new beers.
Thanks City Mouse for a fun Bday trip. My new sqaure plates will compliment the new kitchen.
Thank whoever your higher power is for what you have. Tell your friends how great they are.
Ride your bike,drink good beer and eat good food.
Oh and LGV watch out for raccoons.
OGQ