seedsbelize 

datlas 

One of my cycling friends is going on vacation, leaving after tomorrow’s ride. Going to Florida.

WhyFi

It's all about timing.

LAJ

As big john states, an exhaust shop is far different than a traditional general repair facility. Those guys are wizards with a torch, and are generally a bit less, simply because they've seen about everything Because of that, they don't usually need to replace about everything.

datlas 

I will consider it if not easily done by myself. That said, the only exhaust shops near me (that I know of) are Midas/Meineke and I suspect they will also want me to buy new parts.

#cheapskate

LAJ

Driving up to the hills on a holiday weekend, is just about the silliest thing one can do. The silliest thing one can do, is drive home on Monday.

LAJ

I think you're mostly correct about the chain shop mentality. I worked at both in my early days, and there were some guys that were magic with pipe and torches. I learned some of it, and built some exhaust for some show cars, but I think it's a lost art, for the most part.

kissTheApex

Harbor Freight is a great place for us cheapskates, where one can buy a for-one-time-use-only grinders for $14.99.

Just sayin’

#cheapskateToo

sbxx1985 

Traction? Whatever. Old divorced dude with a Corvette, a guitar, and an ebike. Addict goes in the shed (if you got the house) with the others and bench never to be ridden again. Sorry to hear about the divorce, by the way.

Cody is your only redeeming quality and should attract the women despite the problems above. Lewis and Cody would be buds. Lewis loves the belly rub.

LAJ

Oh man, sbxx. Lewis is looking great.

sbxx1985 

Folks on I70 now will sit for the next three hours. Same folks will come back on Monday and sit for four hours. Weather is good so the trailers are also out.

Signed my kid up for Copper ski school with his buddies Saturdays in February. Timing is everything. I had two long ski school drives last winter and I'm not doing that again. If we can hit 6 by 6:00 am, we should be good.

sbxx1985 

Lewis is turning into a pretty good camping dog. He does eat socks, my wife's underwear, and generally will take all smelly items into the yard for a chase and a treat.

But we might be rounding the corner on these issues.

LAJ

Nice. I hope he's having a blast. Early is key, but even that's getting tougher, as more people are dragging their ass out of bed for the early start.

Trailers, 4 wheelers, mtb's, all sorts of fun. Getting away from the Texan with a chest freezer and generator hanging off the back of his pop up camper, with the added touch of a house window ac unit installed, was key. All this was on the back of some chipped Powerstroke diseasel, that just plain stunk.

The crit on Monday isn't early enough to miss the traffic.

sbxx1985 

Harbor Freight tomorrow. Light saber/LED tool light, torque lug nut wrench, some paint brushes, extra chocks, and an electronic fly swatter.

sbxx1985 

Nice. How's it looking?

kissTheApex

You know you’re going to end up picking one or two extra items that you didn’t plan on getting

it always happens to me

LAJ

Warm. Big wind and rain just went through. This TT tomorrow is a mother, but that's just the way it is up here. 27 of us, so we'll see. I just need to learn to eat and enjoy that bowl of crap on my bars that it takes to be good at TT's.

BillyD

Very Nice photo.

BillyD

... or has lots of money and wanted to be nice to a cute girl.

I assume she was cute because homely girls never get big tips. Sad.

sbxx1985 

Good luck. What bike are you racing in the crit?

BillyD

Brilliant minds think alike.

rjones28 

How'd that work out for ya.

BillyD

That definitely would liven up the place.

LAJ

Thank you. The Focus. That thing corners better than any of my other bikes. There's something to be said of those twiggy little seatstays. It just seems to dig in the corners, and actually accelerates really well.

rjones28 

I punched out at the bike shop around 2pm, but I hung around most of the afternoon.