Bicycling

Doing The Bike Shuffle

I’ve been considering a new bicycle ever since Santa Fe Sally bought a new one back last November. My old road bike has been gathering dust in the outside shed since moving here. It is missing pedals and a seat, which I had moved to the indoor exercycle. The only bike I’ve using is the Trek Marlin 5 that was purchased when we moved to Klamath Falls.

Today I headed over to Gresham Bicycle Center to see what I could see. I asked what they had in a gravel bike with drop bars for around $1500, plus or minus a couple hundred. They didn’t have a big selection, but there was one hanging all by itself that looked nice and hit my price criteria (by a buck), so I asked to take a spin. She pulled the bike down for me, It wasn’t set up perfectly; the seat was too low, but I wasn’t going far. I circled the block and even ducked into a parking garage to climb up a “hill.” Very nice and a definite contender. On my way out I said, if you don’t see me before the end of the week, I found something else some place else.

My next stop was a place I’ve driven by several dozen times on my way to either the Mazda or VW dealer getting service, bike works by p:ear. As it turns out, it doesn’t sell new bikes, just used ones. But I did find out that they take donations of bikes and fix them up for resale, with a sliding scale to help those less fortunate get mobile. Ahh, here is where the old unused road Bianchi can go.

I returned home and swapped out the celeste green pedals and seat off the exercise bike with the extra black stuff that I had in the shed. I then got to use my new bike rack for real by putting the road bike on it and headed back to Bike Works. They wanted to know if I wanted a donation receipt, and I declined because I’ve never gotten anywhere close to qualifying for anything larger than the standard deduction.

I headed back to Gresham to go buy the bike I test rode. When we were working out the details, I asked if they would take my Trek as a trade-in. They said sure, but they obviously wanted to see it first. Back home I went. Loaded up the Trek on that new rack, and drove back to Gresham. The The only thing wrong with the Trek was it had some loose things because it hadn’t been serviced in forever. In the end, they gave me $150 off the new bike even though its “blue book” value was $80 and cemented me as a future repeat customer.

Behold the Fairdale Weekender Nomad in matte army green:

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 93.0%

 

(about every fourth)
Friday Night Is All Right
(for dancing)

This is the third time I’ve been out dancing at the bar that is practically across the street. The Northwest Transit Band has a definite yacht rock vibe and is fun for those of us of a certain age that recognize the songs and that are perfectly suited for shaking around in a haphazard way. It seems like they play at Celebrities about once a month, which is just the right gap for a night on the town and a bit of what some people might call dancing.

This time it was back to just Tere and me; last month’s extra two didn’t join us. Apparently, she and I connected to the music, and the other two did not. Tere’s beau, Jason, asked if it was alright if he didn’t go (of course it was OK), and Donna didn’t go because once was enough for her.

Tere and I have adopted the stance of, “We’ll never see these people ever again,” so we just cut loose. This isn’t exactly correct, as I think I’m starting to recognize a few of the people, but I still don’t care (this comes with the wisdom of age.) The band will back on the 29th of August and we’ll be there.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 81.9%

 

Third Exhaust Pipe

I already have a bike rack, a Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack, but it is not recommended for use on vinyl wrap like on the GTI, so I bought a rack that goes into a trailer hitch, a Kuat Sherpa 2.0.

Today was my appointment at U-Haul to have a trailer hitch installed. I had an appointment for the first of the day, 9:00am, walked up to the counter, gave them the key, and I was told that it would be about 45 minutes. So I took my morning walk around the giant shopping center that was right next door. Even ducking into a couple of the stores and doing a bit of window shopping.

I was working my way back to U-Haul, and the phone rang; the car was ready. I looked at the time, and it was 9:45. When I did get to U-Haul, there was a line almost out the door. From the door until I made it to a register to pay for the install, that took the same 45 minutes it took them to install it.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 80.5%

 

Hump Day

Photo from July 2016; it was our “Epic Sunrise” for that year’s Moss Motoring Challenge.

It finally came to an end. The Red Sox lost the afternoon game of a double header today. They did win the early game for a club tying 15 in a row. They are off tomorrow, and now we’ll see how many they lose in a row starting Friday.

I made an appointment at U-Haul to get a trailer hitch put on the GTI. Because of the wrap I can’t use a roof rack or the foldable trunk rack that works on the Miata. The appointment is next Thursday, I think. When I left, they texted me a link to the reservation, but when I clicked on the link, it took me to the U-Haul website. There were no details on the page I landed on, just the words, “This feature is only available in the U-Haul App.” So I downloaded the app and clicked on the text link again. It didn’t open the app; it just dumped me on the same web page. There wasn’t any way I could see in the app to type in a reservation number, so I uninstalled the app.

I ordered a Kuat Sherpa 2 rack from Amazon yesterday, and this afternoon I put it together. I’m going to have to be careful and check my clearance going in and out of the driveway because of the steep drop at the end. I may have to pull the car out and then put the rack on.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 71.9%

 

Faux Sunday Part 2

Seeing as I did my usual Sunday ride to Stomping Grounds to get a muffin and latte yesterday, I should have gone for a walk. I didn’t though, I rode the bicycle back there this morning. Latte, but no muffin.

Last Thursday I didn’t leave the house. I didn’t have anything I needed to go out for and it was lightly raining, so I made my own coffee at home and settled in. Friday I went to Fred Meyer for the weekly grocery shopping trip, and later in the day I ran to the post office to mail a postcard. Both in the GTI. Saturday I spent the rest of the day inside after the morning’s bike ride. Today, Sunday, was almost the same as yesterday, bike ride then inside. Three out of four car-less days.

And the Red Sox won their 13th in a row and are creeping up the standings.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 61.1%

 

Faux Sunday

Because today was the day I was supposed to ride the exercycle, I opted to do the Sunday ride today. I had my usual latte and muffin at Stomping Grounds, and I was home at 8:30, and, since I had some time this morning, I watched the first episode of Season 2 of Andor.

I finished off Season 1 last night. And while I am enjoying it, if I stopped right now, I’m pretty sure I would carry on with my life just fine. This afternoon after the Red Sox game I watched the second episode, so I guess I’m in it now.

On a side note, the Sox won the game; it was their twelfth in a row. But as a true fan of the team, I know it is only a matter of time before they revert to the “loveable losers” I know them to be.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 54.6%

 

Two Days In The Life

Monday was pretty much a washout as well, but at least I got out of the house for a coffee. I also swapped vehicle order, putting the GTI up front; it is its week to be driven. Also yesterday, I pulled the trigger on dedicated summer tires on new wheels for said GTI. They’ll be here tomorrow.

Today I got out. First was a trip to the ATM to take out some cash, then I went to Fred Meyer for a couple items I should have bought on my regular Friday trip. I know I could have gotten cash out at the grocery store, but I like to take it out in a big chunk, which exceeds what Freddy will let me take out. Plus I needed to take the GTI out for a spin. I needed the practice too; I actually stalled the car taking off from the first light I came to. On the way home I grabbed my usual latte, and even though I had ridden the exercycle for 45 minutes this morning, I walked a mile and a half while sipping on it.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 17.3%