Road Fan

With what's been happening, I think I've caught her sense of foreboding!

Louis

Whew! Yeah, I know. I think that was going through my subconscious when I typed the question.

solveg

I still have foreboding, but now it's better because I know why.

Edit. Well, actually it's not "foreboding" in the same sense as it was. Now it's more like worry.

Jet Travis

Is that a mileage chart or a stockmarket chart?

BengeBoy 

Solveg, so funny that you would bump this thread. I was just thinking of this the other day; your sense of foreboding was spot on.

These are about the craziest times I can remember...

solveg

Those gas rationing days of the 70's were pretty bizarre, too. I can't imagine doing that today...

TruF 

I was thinking of this thread the other day, too. I'm sorry that those of us with a feeling of impending doom were actually sensing something looming. Scary times, but we'll get through it. I'm not feeling a whole lot of confidence in our current or prospective leaders, however.

TruF 

Rick@OCRR

It's a milage and elevation chart, actually. However, it is also a "foreboding" chart when I see that the first 80 miles have only one "bump," and then the real climbing starts.

Such that . . . most of the worst climbing will be on very tired legs, in the dark! On the other hand, I do have 18 hours to finish, so it could be worse. Depending upon at what milage point this happens, I think my forboding will vanish if I still have a cushion on the time checks by nightfall.

Rick / OCRR

cranky old dude

Right now the economic powers are working together to stop the financial blood bath.

I wonder how long after that is accomplished before nations turn on each other demanding
punishment and/or retribution of the greedy clowns that caused this mess and the lax governance
that allowed it, both in this country and others. I fully expect to see some flag changes before
this is over. I fear the economics are the beginning of a major upheaval. That will be the "Bump".

To keep this bike related....time for a loooooong ride. Glad to be a city dweller/commuter.

Sorry, I know this is not the forum for politics and shall spew no more of it.

stapfam

I know its not political -BUT---- Iceland Banks are in trouble and several Local authorities over here are in trouble with big investments now worthless- and we are talking $100,000,000 worth of Local taxpayers money now gone. Our illustrious Leader (We have one too) has started talking about legal action against the Iceland Government to recover these lost funds.


And on the Bike front- Last time I called into my LBS- they were inundated with orders for new bikes and repairs now being booked 2 weeks in advance. Seems that those of us still in jobs over here are trying to cut commuting expenses by cycling to work.

And my Cycling purchases will be cut from now on- Wife made redundant last Friday and out out job hunting. How's she going to buy me my next bike for christmas now?

Not quite as serious as it sounds as good redundancy pay to see her into the spring when her trade will start taking regular staff again.

TruF 

Best of luck, stapfam! Sending good thoughts your way.

solveg

Yes, TruF...I was reading this thread from the beginning and you and some others were very specific about what you thought your dread was about, and you were totally right.

Tom Bombadil

I've read that bikes sales of commuter bikes are up in many locations.

Boy, while I was kicking myself a year ago for having dumped all of my stocks 2 years ago, I'm not quite as unhappy with that decision now.

I was speculating with a small energy company starting about 3 years ago. I bought 35,000 shares at 60 cents a share. I watched it tumble to 40 cents a share. OMG! Then up it crept, slowly, slowly. I bailed out when it hit $1.08/share. This spring it went to $1.30, perhaps a bit higher, and I was cursing myself for jumping too soon. Today it is back to 68 cents. So while I didn't maximize, I feel okay about it all.

justa

When I went to the local bike store, thye sold 3 bikes at a very tidy sum in the space of one hour. The kid in the store said they had never had so much business. I was so glad I already had a bike!

zonatandem

Nice thing about being older . . . the worst is already over!

Terrierman

I hope you are right but lack confidence that you are.

maddmaxx 

Will fix bicycles for food!

cranky old dude

There, fixed for you.

maddmaxx 

--

I resemble that!

djnzlab1

HI,
I know this seems unreal the last few months, we have to realize that most of its spin from our newspeople and televsion which leads to panic in the stock market. Gas prices were driven by speculation and short term investing trying to make a buck.
The banks are in trouble from over investing practices that have been very competative but unrealistic, endorsements of risky people.
Most Americans are way off their budgets with credit card debts, so the broke banks are trying to freeze or drop credit limits.
So the engine of economics is completly stopped.
And then theres Jobs how much stuff is now made and bought and imported from China when I was a kid we used to buy made in USA.
I think this may be the worst Christmas ever for most Dept Stores.
We are going to have to re-think America do we need to stop sticking our nose in Other Countries and maybe fix healthcare for everyone.
Greed needs to stop, the brakes need to be put on, we need to fix the Engine of economics in this Country ASAP.
My thoughts, and yes I ams very nervous at age 58 Looking at retirement, with a huge loss in the Stockmarket 401K
Doug

conifir

i have spent most of my career being self employed .........many a time i wished when i was young i could have had the guidence to have helped me see what i would have really wanted as a career.......
but that is a lot of water under the bridge ..............
lost all of my money during the 11/sept/2001 market crash.............at least i will have social security......
still have about 8 maybe 10 years of work left in me........
have no medical .....i do have my health @58....and i am between jobs.............
but on the bright side.........i have a great mountain bike............a trek fuel
so i have started to get this bike equiped with ultralight packs......picked up a hennesey hammock for my sleeping quarters.........a trak phone(no monthly bills) and still r&r on a solar charger
i figured they can and they being big brother .....can take away your drivers license .......and your vehicle.............but nobody can take away your bicycle............
so i have started to get my self equiped so that i can survive ............out in the open..........
it is like a consuming energy to get this accomplished before the first snow flies..............
now i have to deal with selling all of professional equipment...........
so all of you ....you are not alone............we are all in this together..........keep your stick on the ice

TruF 

I had this thought a couple months ago: Wouldn't it be a booger if after all these years of being the perverbial ant (investing in our 401Ks and buying a house) that we would end up being no better off than all the grasshoppers I know?

On another "note" I had my first guitar lesson last night. I'm falling in love.

cranky old dude

Yep, life is change and living life is adapting to the changes.

It takes a lot of pluck to learn guitar. I used to play as a teen. I've
still got my old Martin and hope to start messing around with it again someday.

TruF 

My music instructor says the key is to have the guitar, music, music stand, good lighting, whatever, arranged so all you have to do to "get ready" is pick up the guitar. I've got mine on a stand near the kitchen so I can sit down and practice a few minutes when I'm waiting for water to boil, etc. This also has the benefit of keeping the guitar visible to remind me it's there. And to admire it! Much better looking out on its stand than in that functional, but ugly, black cordura case.

I'm so happy that all of my hobbies are rather inexpensive now that the initial investment is over. Knitting, cycling, and guitar.