A Winter Ride turns into Fire

I rode in to work yesterday along the River Bottoms.  The commute in was about 14 miles and 1:45, definitely a slow go on the snow covered trail.  It was a good ride in other than the messenger bag constantly shifting on the bumpy trail.

I have commuted to work numerous times but have never ran into the burning messenger bag until today.  Of all the numerous times I have thrown my light in my messenger bag for the commute home, I have never had my light turn itself on.  This is not a good situation, things get hot in a hurry and items get wrecked.  Thankfully my fire was caught and put out quickly. The only thing that really got damaged was my shoes that have a hole going right through them. 

Headshok Suspension Fork

SOLDThis fork is currently on ebay and is in excellent shape.  Here is the link Ebay Sale

Ebay

I hate to sell my stuff, but money is tight for the unemployed.  I have tried locally to sell my stuff as much as possible through various classified resources and by word of mouth, but it's just not happening.  I would much rather deal with someone personally, so they can get a first hand view of the item and evaluate it themselves.  It's also nice to know someone locally is getting to enjoy a product.

The ebay thing is kind of a pain, lots of questions from anonymous people.  While questions are fine, a majority of the questions can simply be answered by just reading the ad. 

I am a mechanic by trade and by genetics.  My idea of describing a product is pretty straight forward without all the fluffy marketing crap.  Also when I describe something as excellent, my description may fall short of someones expectations since excellent can mean so many things.  To me these items are products to be used and the mechanical nature of the thing is of the utmost importance and the aethestics or cosmetics is secondary.  I have had no problems nor do I predict having any I just hate selling things because of that inherent flaw with anonymous commerce. And that Ebay collects approximately 10-12% of everything.

In the news today.

I need a pair of these glasses.

Man arrested for stealing Christmas Tree  Grinch who Stole Christmas .  The new Radio Shack jersey is released  Radio Shack Jersey.

In the name of god remove those bike lanes.  The Holy have the bike lanes removed

Craigslist Sale Items

Cannondale Headshok Blue http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/bik/1438580119.html SOLD

Rock Shox Sid http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/bik/1438577618.html SOLD

Raleigh Cyclocross 58 http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/bik/1438564328.html

Burley D'Lite 2 Child Folding Trailer http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/bik/1438592751.html SOLD

Cannondale Leffty http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/bik/1438582463.html SOLD

Rock Shox Sid

Coming to ebay soon.

Bleeping Computer's

Over the course of time, my computer has gotten bogged down with various apps and such that conflict with each other etc.  Each app fighting for it's own prominence amongst the computer and creating a tangled web of complexity.  So I decided to fix that by returning my computer to it's former self.  The Gateway Laptop came with a partitioned hard drive that contained a backup, so that it could be restored to original condition.  So far it all sounds great and simple.  The plan to restore my computer and gain back some of my resources that have certainly been altered by the competing applications.  Restore went good.  Takes a lot of time to get back all the security patches from Microsoft.  Reinstalled the essential apps not supplied with the computer.  But here is the problem my hard drive has been cut in half in terms of remaining storage capacity.  The operating system can not possibly take up 50 GB. So upon further examination it looks like the backup is present with the new install and takes up half of the used space.  Should be simple to delete that folder called backup, but its not.  It will not let me delete it.  I have searched for solutions and found links to two similiar methods for removing this folder, but neither one is accomplishing the job.  Any suggestions?

http://support.gateway.com/s/software/MICROSOF/vista/7515425/7515425faq3.shtml

Problem fixed. http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic85514.html

Another Sucessful Ghetto Tubeless Tire Setup

Being that I am relatively unemployed and trying to live frugally (on the cheap) I have tried to experience the benefits of tubular tires with some hand me down stuff.  The used wheelset had some Vittorias that had seen lots of mud and water.  These conditions eat away at the cotton base tape adhesion and create a flap that rubs on the brakes annoyingly.  Since I like to buy locally and was not sucessful in finding the Aqua Seal product locally.  I thought I would try something maybe similiar.  (Stuff pictured below).  Its not the same but did basically what I was hoping for adhere the base tape to the sidewalls.

This stuff looked and smelled the same as Stan's only thicker like paste.  My frugal self thought what if I cut it with water and made Stan's myself.  I did a little internet research and came up with some discussion boards speaking of Special Home Brews and they were based on the same product with additional goo mixed in for longevity and wider range of flat protection.  

Tubular tires rule for traction and flat protection.  I have used the Stans system with the MTB and thought why not use it with the CX.  I couldn't really afford to really get into any more debt over bikes so I made my own set of tubeless clinchers.  

The Special Brew
So I mixed a one to one ratio of water, windex, anti-freeze, and latex mold builder and came up with a solution that works great.  Sealing up the rim was done with 26 inch mountain bike tubes that have removable valve cores.  I wanted to be able to remove the core so it would be easy to add more when needed.  So for about $14.00 I was able to make at least 64 oz. of Stans and have a pair of functioning tubeless cyclocross wheels.  A link a discussion on Home Brew Sealant can be found here Special Sauce

Available at Michaels and probably other arts and craft stores.

Kenmore Ice Maker

Here's the culprit.  A google search on the part number has given  some links to replacement parts and some  dialog that may help with troubleshooting.  Service 106 2198597

Raleigh Cyclocross

Cannondale Leffty

Leffty spare

Albany Road Race

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/mn/avon/354125065927723069