[cat in the UTPA covered walkway]
I pumped up the front tire, and it held 80 psi. Miracle for those cracked, crumbling, barely-there tires. Cross fingers. The rear was a mess, but I patched it twice, then removed the (not working) patches and did it again. It held air, too. I adjusted the brakes, put a little lube here and there, and went for a ride. Also I put some lubricant on the bike.
A 3 mile ride went off without a hitch, as they say. Enjoyable. The rear tire went flat a few minutes after the ride, though. Screw it. New tube. The old one was flaking away in hunks anyway, when I was roughening the patch area.
The bike fit is not bad (I raised the seat an inch or so), but the drop stem may have to go, and the drop bars will definitely be finding their way into the spare parts collection soon. Also these 6-inch-wide handlebars. It’s weird to feel my chest actually constricted while riding, from keeping my arms in far enough to rest on the hoods or the drops. Ugh.
Turns out the seatpost diameter is 27.2mm, so I think the old seatpost from Mr. Bikey will work. The one on there kind of suxxorz, even though it’s pretty light.
I’m doing this to take my mind off Alex. She left a few hours ago, and must be in the air even while I write. I had a rude shock a moment ago, when I realized that she will not be blogging in the other room when she reads this.
I live in three different worlds, it seems. There’s Canada world (which includes Alex), Texas-with-Alex world, and Texas-without-Alex world. More than Alex leaving, it seems like I just slid from one world into the other.
4 comments ↓
Hey,
I’ve been in similar simutaneous worlds and had to navigate the metamorphasis between the two. Hang tough brother. Know the time apart is temporary and the time together is eternal. Know it’s good you miss her presence as much as you miss her. Know blue and red bikes make great transitional objects and keep the beat going on .
Scott
Thanks, my man. It’s rough, but we can do it. And yes, the bike makes a good distraction :) I’m glad you and your lady are at the end of your separation.
Me too. But I honestly feel God wanted us to have that time apart for a reason. Maybe it was for our relationship to grow in another way. Maybe it was just for us to miss each other.
“My tears have been tests of love. There is no deep disappointment without deep love”
Martin Luther King Jr.
I have to say I feel the same way about our separation. On the other hand, I also think God wants me to fight tooth and nail to be with my wife, and I sometimes worry I’m not doing enough.
Sigh.
Anyway, you should get a blog or something. Maybe we interns can all keep up with each other that way. LiveJournal is one of the easier (and free) ways to do this. Hint hint. Wink wink. Go make a blog, then you and I can lean on the others. Even if it only gets updated once a month, that would be a nice way to keep up with each other, no?
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