Out of Sorts and enjoying it.

I am feeling a little out of place. I am not on tour and I currently do not have a plan for one. Don't get me wrong I still have a bucket list and I hope to hit a few in the near future but I usually have a plan or I am planning for the next tour. I suppose that is the difference that it takes to really get out and do it. If I was to say "what is at the top of my bucket list" I would have to say that it is the Katy Trail with my bride of 25 years. There is no better company and we both have the itch to explore the Missouri river territory on bicycle. Today I will just be happy to go fishing with a friend. Oh, the fishing yesterday was fantastically peaceful.

Katy Trail <--------click

Fishing:

Bicycle Touring Gibberish

Bicycle Touring

Bicycle touring is a style of riding that allows you time to see your surroundings. It can be over short and local distances or a complete tour of the world. Your destination can be from Los Angeles to New York or London to South Africa. A long distance tour is essentially a series of short tours. I always try to have a goal in mind at the start of the day. It could be to use every portion of light that the day offers or ride for 3 hours that day and rest your bones at the river crossing. Your days ride could be to get to the outskirts of a city after getting supplies or to get to a harbor and start figuring out how to cross a body of water. Whatever the journey of the day is, it is an adventure with all it's challenges and adversity, it's triumphs and victories, the rewarding can of tuna fish and mango for dinner, and a feeling of fulfillment. At the end of the day no matter where you sleep, roof or canopy, clear or cloudy, there is a blanket of stars above you and worlds without end with endless possibilities before you. May your saddle be soft and your thirst be quenched. Happy riding!

or youtube

Repairs And The Off Tour

After my "Strawberry Loop" tour I have been doing repairs on my bike. I have found mud and grit everywhere even after a good wash in the creek and then a power wash when I got home. I thought that would do the trick, and yet I have replaced the front and back break pads. Also, I disassembled and cleaned front and back derailleurs. I just finished disassembling the rear hub and repacked the bearings (very gritty). I wasn't going to do the front hub but with all the grit I found in the back I think it would be wise to do it sometime this week in between my huge work schedule. Hey It's like getting a new bike. 

A lot of people would just have a bike shop do this but I have the tools (not to pricey on amazon) and I know it will be done right if  I do it myself. If you have never done something like this there are some videos on youtube that can be useful. Sometimes just getting a general idea is enough. 

Rear hub <click here

Front hub<click here

Crank removal<click here

I just got back from San Diego and it was amazing. I am one of those TSA hating Americans. Sometimes I look at those agents and think to myself "this idiot is going to make sure I am safe" as he violates my fourth amendment rights. Well I found that if you are going to be violated than San Diego is the place. It is like the agents there at least knew they were being offensive. These sure are strange times we live in.

The Fourth amendment of the constitution of the united States of America:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

San Diego:

Water fowl and Cheetah slow mo.

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.

T. S. Eliot