It's cooling off finally, so I took a muggle bike into work this morning. I will likely go home for lunch today, so I'll get 8 miles of Zone 2 riding in today on a rest day. That'll be it for my commuting week, but I may get a utility ride in here and there.
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Originally Posted by
noglider
My chain fell off on the way home Wednesday afternoon and again yesterday (Thursday) on the way to work. On a fixed gear bike, this is a problem. I've misplaced the wrench I use on the axle nuts so I can't move or remove the wheel. I managed to get the chain back on both times.
I have one bike that needs me to carry a wrench for axle nuts. Luckily, this bike came with the right size combo wrench. I cut off the open end and cleaned up the edges and now it just fits in my seat pack. Being an NYC commuter, you probably have some other bag you'd carry it in, but that's my hack for carrying an axle nut wrench.
Originally Posted by
noglider
In recent years, I've become a weaker rider. I used to pass most people. Now most people pass me. I had to learn to accept this and not be so competitive in my mind. Yesterday I got an ego boost. A very fit looking rider wearing cycling clothes was on a high end road bike. I followed him to learn a clever path onto the Manhattan Bridge, and that was useful since I don't know that neighborhood well yet. At the beginning of the climb of the bridge, I passed him. I saw in my rear view mirror that I was continuously increasing the distance between us. He's young, and I'm old. Now this does not necessarily mean I'm a stronger climber. He could have been at the end of a very vigorous ride and needed to rest. On the other hand, on a fixed gear bike, I can't rest going up hills. I have to ride at a minimum speed or I'll stall. Still, it's nice to know that I have at least some strengths.
Yeah, that does feel good. :-) I think you'll find you get a bot stronger again, since your commute just doubled.
Originally Posted by
noglider
My spouse is out of town. After work, I rode up to visit her mother who is in an old folks' facility. That added several miles for me. Mother in law was in a bad state. She kept asking where she was. I kept telling her this is home. "This is home? I live here?" I have to keep a cheerful voice while explaining things to her. And she asks the same questions repeatedly. I had to spoon feed her soup to her, but then I told her to eat the rest of her dinner using her own fork. For me, this is progress because when my mother had dementia (before her death), I was emotionally unable to spoon feed her.
I'm about to get into this too. My mom has Alzheimer's and is less functional day by day. My brother (bipolar) lives with her and takes care of her, but also depends on her income. She's ready to move into a senior community, but my brother is obstructing that and trying to get PoA/guardianship. I'm gonna have to spend a bunch of money I don't have to lawyer up and fight him for it. :-(