Hello From Long Island
09-10-11, 05:07 PM
#1
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Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY
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Hello From Long Island
Hey everyone.
About 10 years ago I bought mountain bikes for me and my then girlfriend (now wife) from wal mart or toys r us. One of those stores. We used them a few times and then they sat in our respective houses.
About 2 months ago I dug the bikes out of our garage to see about riding them again. I went through them and made some slight changes and then we were off. We did a few recreational rides around the neighborhood. We even bought 2 dog trailers so that we could each trailer one of our small dogs. So far, so good.
My goal was to ride to and from work by Labor Day and it's a shade over 5 miles one way. In preparation I was gradually increasing my daily rides from 2 up to 8 miles a day during August. It was great and I felt confident in my goal.
My wife ended up with some minor complications from a procedure she had in mid August and then we got hit with a hurricane so my riding came to a stop. I still plan on riding to work in the coming weeks and have been making some purchases. I currently have front and tail lights for my bike as well as those little computers. I also rigged some tiny speakers to my frame along with an old iPod. Also bought a small air pump and an all in one tool. I also installed a hitch and bike carrier for my van if the need arises. Everything is great so far.
I currently have a helmet, mirror, 3 jerseys, 2 shorts, comfy seat, gloves, tire levers, 3 inner tubes, top tube bag, socks, shoes and glasses in the mail. Should be here this week.
About 2.3 miles of my commute is residential with the final 2.5 miles or so being on a busier roadway with 2 lanes each way. There is a large shoulder area. I'm thinking about driving to work one day a week, probably Monday. I could bring work clothes for the remainder of the week and leave them in a locker. The other days when I bike to work I'll have my cycling gear on and change into my work clothes when I get there. After work I can change back into my cycling gear to go home and leave the dirty clothes at work. Then when I drive to work again on Monday I can bring fresh new clothes with me and then take the dirty clothes back to be washed.
It's still 2-3 weeks away from happening though so I'll get a better idea of things later on. I was just about to jump in my bike for the first time in 3 weeks or so. I checked the tire pressure and was giving it some air when I sprung a leak. It looks like the valve stem got sliced open or something. Oh well. At least I have the inner tubes on the way. Perhaps it's best it sprung a leak now instead of when I plan to commute to work.
About 10 years ago I bought mountain bikes for me and my then girlfriend (now wife) from wal mart or toys r us. One of those stores. We used them a few times and then they sat in our respective houses.
About 2 months ago I dug the bikes out of our garage to see about riding them again. I went through them and made some slight changes and then we were off. We did a few recreational rides around the neighborhood. We even bought 2 dog trailers so that we could each trailer one of our small dogs. So far, so good.
My goal was to ride to and from work by Labor Day and it's a shade over 5 miles one way. In preparation I was gradually increasing my daily rides from 2 up to 8 miles a day during August. It was great and I felt confident in my goal.
My wife ended up with some minor complications from a procedure she had in mid August and then we got hit with a hurricane so my riding came to a stop. I still plan on riding to work in the coming weeks and have been making some purchases. I currently have front and tail lights for my bike as well as those little computers. I also rigged some tiny speakers to my frame along with an old iPod. Also bought a small air pump and an all in one tool. I also installed a hitch and bike carrier for my van if the need arises. Everything is great so far.
I currently have a helmet, mirror, 3 jerseys, 2 shorts, comfy seat, gloves, tire levers, 3 inner tubes, top tube bag, socks, shoes and glasses in the mail. Should be here this week.
About 2.3 miles of my commute is residential with the final 2.5 miles or so being on a busier roadway with 2 lanes each way. There is a large shoulder area. I'm thinking about driving to work one day a week, probably Monday. I could bring work clothes for the remainder of the week and leave them in a locker. The other days when I bike to work I'll have my cycling gear on and change into my work clothes when I get there. After work I can change back into my cycling gear to go home and leave the dirty clothes at work. Then when I drive to work again on Monday I can bring fresh new clothes with me and then take the dirty clothes back to be washed.
It's still 2-3 weeks away from happening though so I'll get a better idea of things later on. I was just about to jump in my bike for the first time in 3 weeks or so. I checked the tire pressure and was giving it some air when I sprung a leak. It looks like the valve stem got sliced open or something. Oh well. At least I have the inner tubes on the way. Perhaps it's best it sprung a leak now instead of when I plan to commute to work.
09-11-11, 10:03 AM
#2
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
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Welcome to Bike Forums.
Flats and winds are part of commuting.
Flats and winds are part of commuting.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
09-13-11, 04:57 AM
#3
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Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY
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I went to the shop yesterday to get a new tube and replaced it. This was the first time I ever did this and it probably took less then 20 minutes. The longest part of it was pumping it up again. lol I was a little timid since it was the rear tire but no problems at all!
I just went out for my first morning ride. I rode for 30 minutes or so and did 2+ miles, just to get the feel for riding in the AM. So far, so good.
I just went out for my first morning ride. I rode for 30 minutes or so and did 2+ miles, just to get the feel for riding in the AM. So far, so good.
09-16-11, 01:05 PM
#5
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY
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Thanks everyone. My wife is pretty much back to normal now but still on some meds. Will be for a while. Other then that everything is cool and I'm about to head on out for a ride! lol
