Oh Glorious Day!
 

So, it's been cold as cold, and rainy as ugly can get...

But today was glorious and I had no intention of wasting it.

First up, Eagle needed some attention. New pedals, rearview mirror, gear troubleshooting and adjustment, Cycle computer, adapter for self-loading...

The pedals went on pretty straightforward, it was a female canine breaking them loose, but then it was a breeze. My new pedals are Primo Super Tenderizer wide BMX pedals and I recommend them highly for any Clyde needing more surface to push off of. I was already wearing my new stiff Airwalk skate shoes.

The gears were another matter. First, I had to rearrange my brake levers and twist grip shifters so that I could see the indicators and know what gear the shifters thought they were in.

Then I set the rear of the bike up on my hitch platform so the wheels would spin free. I ran it through the gears and had a little adjusting to do on the barrel adjusters. Always try the barrels first kids, don't touch those screws unless you know your stuff.

I do, so when it was tossing the chain off the large chain-ring, I brought it in just a tad. I was also noisy on the smallest cog in the mid drive so i reigned it in a little.

There was still noise in the front so I looked and saw the front changer needed just a smidge of rotation so it would line up properly with the chain-line.

Silent, smooth, and predictable.

The mirror is a bar end model, very nice.

I moved the seat and decided that the razor sharp adhesive metal that was intended to protect the paint on the seat rail had to go as it gashed me yet again. It was a royal pain removing it but I'll probably put some POR-15 on there. Maybe I'll call the factory and suggest that to Rod once I've done it and have pics.

That's all I did to Eagle for the day, it was time to RIDE!

My last best was one whole mile and it hurt like hell! I was burning in my shins and arches and it sucked. Tom had suggested shoes and pedals, and today those suggestions had been fully implemented.

It was GREAT! I was amazed at how painless it was!

Previously, my legs and feet hurt so bad I couldn't even get any releif from coasting, I had to actually put my feet down to get a break from the agony. but NOT today.

I did two miles!

The mirror worked like a charm and the gears were solid.

Now I'm sore, but it's a 'good sore' rather than the 'omg, I think I hurt myself' pain I had been experiencing.

I proclaim myself ready for the river paths as soon as a means of loading that thing is found.

To tell the truth, my face is the sorest part of me.

My smiling muscles got one HELL of a workout!

RD

good for you and that POR-15 is great stuff

just make sure to coat it with the top coat that protects against UV, otherwise it will start to break down in a year or so (happened on my chevelle frame and was a pain to recoat).

JOE

Good stuff Dave I am pleased to hear the eagle is flying again

Great report Dave! Glad things are going well.

Hey, next thing, I'll be issuing you congrats on a 20 miler. I'll even make you up a well earned certificate :D

Good to hear it, glad you're up and running again:) great to hear about your smiling muscles:)

I was wondering where you and Eagle were hiding. Congratulations on the ride. It appears your muscles are finally getting used to moving in a certain way. So now it's a matter of building on that while increasing the distance.

Keep it up, RD - I'm finding out that the miles build up fairly quickly, once you actually get out there with even semi-regularity. I really didn't get started until March 22 (3.5 mi); in 16 rides since then, I've managed to get the distance up to 26.4 miles last night. Isaac Newton was right - a body at rest will remain at rest, a body in motion tends to remain in motion. It's a lot more fun to be in motion, that way nobody mistakes your for dead! :D
- Bob

Great work Dave!

Keep it rolling RD

I love these posts. I still thing you should blog it (and still post here of course). Keep rollin'!