Riding in the hood.

**Ilikeabikea** · #61 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 04:51 PM

I think I'd have done like deacon just buzz on by. Of course if they made me stop, well we do have concealed carry laws in Texas.......................

**Norman** · #62 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 06:52 PM

Thats why I like to have Bob along, While doing the shoot out at the OK corral, I'm going for reinforcements. Yea right! I'm haulin my mule out of there. Hit you target Bob! feel the force! Squeeze don't yank the trigger. OOhee! A mellon shot, man thats gotta hurt!
I got to stop smellin all that polyester resins its gettin to me.( heavy breathing, wheezing and coughing)
Vader

deacon · #63 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 07:03 PM

God I am such a wimp.

I am too old to scare off, and too stupid to carry a weapon. There were way too many of them to fight. If I had to do it, I probably would have used the bike like a bowling ball. They were all in a nice tight group. Oh now I can see a scene for a story there. Maybe the one I'm doing now. A good ending there.

Thanks guys I'll keep this in mind.

deacon · #64 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 02:35 PM

Well I went back out into the hood today. This time there was a group playing basketball in the street. They moved out of my way, and I was very respectful of them. It was a pleasant ride until, the clutch cable seem to stop clutching. I moved and tightened the screw with the back of my knife blade. Yes I left my tool kit at home since I had been working on the basket.

I Got the bike home and into my shop. I was moving the bike to attach a new mirror when the clutch stopped working again. Not only that the cable broke. I had used two small bits of sheath with two ends right in the middle. It broke at that joint so obviously the metal ends and the vibrations just were not a good mix. I think it is time I bought some cable sheath and ends. or at the very least a long preassembed cable.

I got it working with a new cable in the old sheath. I took off the metal ends and taped it together. Probably won't hold so a new cable and sheath just because I want to be ready next time.

I still love the bike, it gives me something to do every time I ride it.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #65 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deacon

I still love the bike, it gives me something to do every time I ride it.

That's kinda the whole thing, ya' know?

deacon · #66 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 06:58 PM

Maybe thats why so many of us in love with the bikes are older. We appreciate the challenge as much as the ride. By older I don't mean as old as me, but past teenagers who would just be embarrassed by the pedals lol

deacon · #67 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 07:18 AM

Today I have a new plan for the big coaster. I try to always keep a couple of plans in mind. I need exercise and I love the bike path. Even though it is a nice downhill ride to the path of about five blocks, then it is a ride up and down hills all of them doable with the pedals. The part I begin on is the hardest one to navigate but it can be done. I need to just ride till I build up my stamina anyway.

My options, which are pretty rotten in general are:

1. Put the bike on the back of my car and drive to the path, then ride it put the bike back on the car and drive home. I am trying to wean myself from automobiles so that one is my least favorite.

2. What I did last ride was to the park with the assist motor on and the batteries on the bike. Not nearly as easy as it sounds to drive around with thirty or so extra pounds of dead weight on the bike. But I could kick the motor in and ride home.

3. Go with the motor period and just push the bike up the one truly nasty hill on the way home. That is just embarrassing for me. Not to mention after the challenging bike path I am just plain worn out.

4. The last option I am going to set up today. Put the 'big' batteries on the trailer along with the assist engine. Set it up so the assist engine can be attached easily and the switch for the motor as well. Haul the trailer (down hill remember) to the park with the motor on the trailer in a bag. Leave the trailer locked to a bench on the path. Yes someone can steal the batteries and the motor, but so what. They won't get the trailer that deacon built (maybe). I can do the path or it can do me, but then i can attach the motor in two minutes and use it to pedal home.

So for the next couple of days, I rebuild the trailer and make the assist motor completely self contained and ready to go on at a moments notice. Onto any bike, I might add.

deacon · #68 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 02:35 PM

It was cold and I worked with stiff cold fingers to redo the trailer which is acceptable but not much more. It tracks fine and pulls fine, just is a trailer. It's a little top heavy because the wheels are so tall. Next i'm going to look for 12" wheels for a trailer. I have two twenty inch wheels but I'm not sure what I will do with them now.

The easy off and on electric motor does the job just as I thought it would. The bike should work out just fine till someone steals my trailer and batteries.

I still have the big red huffy set up with two electric motors. I guess I'll just keep it for a spare, of course I now have one gas and two count em two electro spares. Hmmmm

When my hands warm up I need to adjust the hand brake cable. The last coaster now has a hand brake. That's probably a good thing wish I could do one on the front of the sissy without losing my fender. With all the jammed fender talk might be a good thing to lose it.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #69 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 02:59 PM

Deacon- your links are "in the mail".

deacon · #70 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 04:05 PM

Beautiful I got my new tensioner with the bearings. When your links arrive, I can reconfigure the chain for the most secure rear wheel assembly. Man I really do appreciate it.