Let me out of here!

[Tom Bombadil]

No, not out of BF 50+ ... I need out of my workplace.

Right now it is 67 degrees, under blue skies, low humidity, and incredibly clear/clean air. Today's high is supposed to be 75. It could not be more perfect.

The air is clean as far as I see
The bike trail is calling for me

Oh, I know where I want to be
I need someone to set me free

[maddmaxx]

Go forth my son.....you have my blessing.......cough cough!

[HopedaleHills]

It's a beautiful day here in Boston too. The road is calling.

[oilman_15106]

We have clean air in the USA? I thought we were all going to croak from the filthy air we are breathing. Oops that is China.

[Jet Travis]

"I think that there is nothing, not even crime, more opposed to poetry, to philosophy, ay, to life itself, than this incessant business."
--Henry Thoreau

Tell your boss you're too well to work.

[head_wind]

Tell your boss you're too well to work.

What if he works for himself?? I'd say that it is hopeless.




[[Great line JT. I loved it!!]]

[Terrierman]

I'm pretty sure today is National Wisconsin Mental Health Day, a little known holiday for employees of state operated Universities. I think you need to take advantage of it, before your helmet shorts out.

[Jet Travis]

[QUOTE=head_wind]What if he works for himself?? I'd say that it is hopeless.
QUOTE]

I worked for myself for a year and realized the boss was an idiot.

[bcoppola]

No, not out of BF 50+ ... I need out of my workplace.

Right now it is 67 degrees, under blue skies, low humidity, and incredibly clear/clean air. Today's high is supposed to be 75. It could not be more perfect.

The air is clean as far as I see
The bike trail is calling for me

Oh, I know where I want to be
I need someone to set me free

Mr. "Bombadil";

Please see me in my office. Evidently we need to review our policy re: unauthorized Internet usage during working hours.

You may soon find you have all the time you need to indulge this bike foolishness of yours if you persist.

Sincerely,
Your Boss

[DnvrFox]

65F in Parker today, took a glorious ride early this am - even wore a light jacket the 1st half.

[Terrierman]

Mr. "Bombadil";

Please see me in my office. Evidently we need to review our policy re: unauthorized Internet usage during working hours.

You may soon find you have all the time you need to indulge this bike foolishness of yours if you persist.

Sincerely,
Your Boss

Now that's just plain mean...:D Have you been sharing avatars with the old Tom Bombadil?

[BluesDawg]

Funny. 6 months ago I was glad that the temperature here was 20 degrees higher than there. :(

[Digital Gee]

No, not out of BF 50+ ... I need out of my workplace.

Right now it is 67 degrees, under blue skies, low humidity, and incredibly clear/clean air. Today's high is supposed to be 75. It could not be more perfect.

The air is clean as far as I see
The bike trail is calling for me

Oh, I know where I want to be
I need someone to set me free
Gosh, an ideal day to go bike shopping and test ride a few! :)

[bcoppola]

Now that's just plain mean...:D Have you been sharing avatars with the old Tom Bombadil?

No, but I'd like to know how his boss hijacked my BF account! :D

[Tom Bombadil]

Gosh, an ideal day to go bike shopping and test ride a few! :)

What do you think I'm going to be doing during my lunch hour?

I really feel like getting out now, for during the last 2 hours I have been writing a legal and financial analysis of a pending "breach of contract" situation.

[Bud Bent]

67 degrees? Sheesh...... the overnight low here was 81 degrees this morning.

[leob1]

ESCAPE WHILE YOU CAN!!

I am a captive too! 85 degrees, 65 % humidity, partly cloudy.
And they are putting new mulch around the building, and the smell is going right through the walls, it's bad.

[MichiganMike]

I am struggling with this too. GREAT day, cooled off, the lake is gorgeous. I am going to walk out around town, then out to the end of the pier and back. No bike at the office today. 68 and sunny here.

[Old School]

Here, this ought to do the trick:

"Please excuse Tom's absence from work today. He came down with a terrible virus last night and is not expected to recover for at least two days. Thank you."

signed,

Tom's mom :)

[Tom Bombadil]

Aah, the weather held and I got out for a 25 mile ride after work. It was very nice. First 8 miles I didn't see a single person on the trail, but then over the next 4 miles, as I approached the old train tunnel, I saw 40+ riders and walkers. Had my new Planet Bike light on tonight, so I was able to ride through and then back the 980' curved tunnel. I have to admit that I enjoy riding in the tunnel.

This was my 6th longest ride ever. Temp was 66 when I finished the ride.

[card]

65F in Parker today, took a glorious ride early this am - even wore a light jacket the 1st half.


**&((^%##%^&*((

:( :fight: :fight: :fight: :fight:

Hot and rainey here.

[solveg]

Tom's boss is probably on this board, too!

[Tom Bombadil]

He's 50+, but not into biking.

He also does know me as Tom Bombadil.

We don't have a strict internet usage policy in the workplace. I'm trusted to put my hours in and get my work done. No internet filters or monitors either.

[Wildwood]

I worked for myself for a year and realized the boss was an idiot.

My self employed boss let too many things get in the way of total commitment - like, family. Never again self employed.

Seattle was 101 degrees. Skipped the ride after work.

[Tom Bombadil]

Gosh, an ideal day to go bike shopping and test ride a few! :)

Curse you DG!

I did go out today, another beautiful 75 degree day, for a walk. My path led me directly past a bike shop (when there are 7 bike shops within 3/4ths of a mile of your office, it is hard to avoid all of them). I was enticed to go in and peruse the bikes (again) and found an intriguing 2006 bike. I took it out for a spin and liked it. Liked it more than I thought I would.

It's a 2006 Fuji Absolute 1.0 flat-bar road bike. Has carbon fork & seat stays. 10-speed rear with 105 r.d., triple crank with 170mm crank arms. Weighs 20 pounds in my size.

As it had 700x28 tires, I thought it would ride very similar to the Specialized Sirrus Comp and Jamis Coda Elite, which are also flat bar road bikes with carbon forks, with the Sirrus also having a carbon seat stay. Except it was definitely smoother than either of those bikes. Why it had less road vibration is unknown to me, as there is no apparent reason why it would. I purposely took it over drainage grates, potholes, broken pavement, and gravel, and the shock & vibration through my hands was well below either of the two above bikes.

Fuji discontinued the bike with the 2006 model. List $1210, selling for $999. LBS is willing to swap out the 12-27 rear cassette for an 11-32 at no charge if I want it.

Very tempting. Would probably change out the 700x28 tires for 700x35 or something in that range. The bike can easily handle this size.

[Terrierman]

I assume it is a triple chainring bike? How are they set up? If it's a road geared triple, I'm a wimp and would definitely go for the 11-32. We rode a darned hilly route last night and there were a couple of times I was grateful for 30-32. Lets me keep spinnning at a reasonable cadence on even very long (as in three mile) and gradually getting steeper hills. If you get it, don't be in a rush to change out the 28's, they're a pretty nice compromise size, but on the other hand, a bit narrow for limestone trails. So go ahead and change them out.

[Tom Bombadil]

Gearing is 30/39/52 and 12-27. Not super aggressive, which might be a compact double 39/53 with a 12-25 rear, but pretty aggressive from my vantage point. At least instead of a low gear of 39:25, it's 30:27.

OTOH, riding rail trails is pretty easy on the gearing. Looking back over the past couple of weeks and about 200 miles of rail trail riding, the lowest gear I've used across the entire period was 36:24. I haven't used the small front ring at all.

And thinking about it now, is the upper limit on a 105 derailleur something like 27 or 28? I don't think they can handle a 32t cog. Perhaps Maddmaxx can set me straight on this one.

[tlc20010]

Curse you DG!

I did go out today, another beautiful 75 degree day, for a walk. My path led me directly past a bike shop (when there are 7 bike shops within 3/4ths of a mile of your office, it is hard to avoid all of them). I was enticed to go in and peruse the bikes (again) and found an intriguing 2006 bike. I took it out for a spin and liked it. Liked it more than I thought I would.

It's a 2006 Fuji Absolute 1.0 flat-bar road bike. Has carbon fork & seat stays. 10-speed rear with 105 r.d., triple crank with 170mm crank arms. Weighs 20 pounds in my size.

As it had 700x28 tires, I thought it would ride very similar to the Specialized Sirrus Comp and Jamis Coda Elite, which are also flat bar road bikes with carbon forks, with the Sirrus also having a carbon seat stay. Except it was definitely smoother than either of those bikes. Why it had less road vibration is unknown to me, as there is no apparent reason why it would. I purposely took it over drainage grates, potholes, broken pavement, and gravel, and the shock & vibration through my hands was well below either of the two above bikes.

Fuji discontinued the bike with the 2006 model. List $1210, selling for $999. LBS is willing to swap out the 12-27 rear cassette for an 11-32 at no charge if I want it.

Very tempting. Would probably change out the 700x28 tires for 700x35 or something in that range. The bike can easily handle this size.

Uh huh, one more step down the path to the Dark Side. I, too, once swore I would never venture off the bike paths onto the terrible dangers of the <shudder> roads.....but then I discovered speed. At first it was only 12 mph average, then 13 and then the holy grail of averaging 15 for an entire ride (now the goal is 20)......Next is was narrower tires changing out the 35's for 28's and then 25's -- with each change a little more speed. Then clipless pedals.....then <gulp> came the LeMond. Now we prowl the roads, using the bike paths only to get to a better set of roads or to a group ride (more speed)......yes, deny it, swear that you will never yield to the siren's song of the open road...I was there once also....write me in a year..oh yes, buy the damned bike, you will love it. Why the heck would you need an 11-32 if you have a triple; planning to ride up the side of buildings????;)

[Terrierman]

Why the heck would you need an 11-32 if you have a triple; planning to ride up the side of buildings????;)

I already said I'm a wimp. This for me is a fairly hilly ride. 30 - 32 lets me spin along in relative comfort.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ozark-Mountian-Highroad

[Tom Bombadil]

T-man, the Grampster is taunting us. What should we do about it? I'm too afraid of him to kick sand in his face.

[Terrierman]

T-man, the Grampster is taunting us. What should we do about it? I'm too afraid of him to kick sand in his face.

Lets take him on the little short ride I posted and disable his FD in the big ring. Did you look at the elevation profile? Oh and by the way a Deore XT RD is not exactly suffering if you should decide you want the bike with an 11-32 and the stock RD won't handle it.

[Tom Bombadil]

He would still run us into the ground.

Perhaps we could use the "pumpless pump" to give us more of an advantage.

[Terrierman]

He would still run us into the ground.

Perhaps we could use the "pumpless pump" to give us more of an advantage.

I like it. I think we need a secret meeting of Club Fred to do a little more plotting. GEE, get on in here, you're slow too, and devious to boot. We need your input.

[Tom Bombadil]

I'd suggest drafting off of him, but I don't think that works all that well when he's like 5 miles ahead of me.

[sknhgy]

Ah. There are some advantages to being a teacher. Like taking a 20 miler along the deserted river levee on a July afternoon.

[Digital Gee]

I like it. I think we need a secret meeting of Club Fred to do a little more plotting. GEE, get on in here, you're slow too, and devious to boot. We need your input.
You must have missed the picture of me zipping up that hill in another post.

[chinotex]

Did you know that Saab was Born from Jets!?!?!?!?? FRICKIN' JETS!

[Tom Bombadil]

I think DG has joined in with the Grampster and is taunting us with his speed too.

[Terrierman]

No way. He does not even know what hills look like. He rides around in circles on Coronado. He focuses on beach babes, not dried up hardened old hillbilly wimmenfolk. He may be attempting to taunt us, but he's not getting it done. Don't be fooled just because there is a picture somewhere of some guy with a fake goatee on a white bike whizzing up a hill. I'm sure if it rained the whitewash would just run right off that bike and it would be blue, or sage and cream or some GOOD color.

[maddmaxx]

Have you no shame? Picking on an old man like grampster!...



Oh. Oh... Maddmaxx what have you done?

[Tom Bombadil]

Lets take him on the little short ride I posted and disable his FD in the big ring. Did you look at the elevation profile? Oh and by the way a Deore XT RD is not exactly suffering if you should decide you want the bike with an 11-32 and the stock RD won't handle it.

Yeah, but the 105 RD is equivalent to the XT RD. Nashbar sells the 105 Triple RD for $74 and the XT RD for $70. Changing out the cassette and RD and spending $100 for parts and getting it all set up - I'd have to be pretty sure I needed a 32t. Plus it would add weight to the bike. And lose a gear.

All worthwhile if I have to have that gear.

Of course, I'd have to BUY THE BIKE before any of this is relevant.

[Tom Bombadil]

Yeah, you are right maddmaxx! Surely we can best that OLD Grampster. Especially if we play tag team against him.

Since Terrierman has proven he can do a century, we'll set up a 100 mile course. T-man can ride for 30 miles to meet me at a checkpoint, then load his bike onto a car and meet me after I ride 5 miles of flats. Then T-man can do another 30 miles.

Meanwhile I will follow the Grampster in my car, looking to use the pumpless pump should he stop to use a restroom.

Then I'll meet T-man at the 65 mile mark to ride another 5 miles before handing off to T-man to finish it up.

[tlc20010]

Yeah, you are right maddmaxx! Surely we can best that OLD Grampster. Especially if we play tag team against him.

Since Terrierman has proven he can do a century, we'll set up a 100 mile course. T-man can ride for 30 miles to meet me at a checkpoint, then load his bike onto a car and meet me after I ride 5 miles of flats. Then T-man can do another 30 miles.

Meanwhile I will follow the Grampster in my car, looking to use the pumpless pump should he stop to use a restroom.

Then I'll meet T-man at the 65 mile mark to ride another 5 miles before handing off to T-man to finish it up.

I think I should warn you that I have broken your code and have been reading your diabolical plans. I may have report your anti-old fart schemes to AARP (There must be laws against calling old people "old"). Next thing I know, you will be trying to get me to ride on a flat handlebar bike with a triple on flat pedals in Florsheims without riding shorts.....oh, the ignominy of your underhanded plot.

It's a nice day, TB, go buy the bike.

[Terrierman]

Yeah, but the 105 RD is equivalent to the XT RD. Nashbar sells the 105 Triple RD for $74 and the XT RD for $70. Changing out the cassette and RD and spending $100 for parts and getting it all set up - I'd have to be pretty sure I needed a 32t. Plus it would add weight to the bike. And lose a gear.

All worthwhile if I have to have that gear.

Of course, I'd have to BUY THE BIKE before any of this is relevant.

Would they trade that stuff out for you to sell the bike? Many shops would, I think. And weight? bah, whats a couple of grams to guys like us anyway.

[tlc20010]

Would they trade that stuff out for you to sell the bike? Many shops would, I think. And weight? bah, whats a couple of grams to guys like us anyway.
Actually, what's a couple of pounds to guys like us??

[Tom Bombadil]

Actually, what's a couple of pounds to guys like us??

That would be lunch.

[Terrierman]

Actually, what's a couple of pounds to guys like us??

A nice sized steak?