I had to leave the island on Tuesday to take my son to the airport. He flew to Paris on Wednesday and by now is on a train to Spain.
Living on an island in the San Juans everything in “America” (the mainland) which is further than 80 miles may need to be planned as a night over. The ferry system sucks to put it mildly and making trips off is a chore. So my son and I left a day early. This was to also allow us to do some last minute shopping for last minute items for his trip; another pair of light weight fast drying pants from REI, a pack towel, backpack cover, and so on. I also got to do a little needed shopping.
Bike Computer – Making my hear healthier:
Off of Craigslist I was able to find a brand new Polar CS200cad for real cheap. In fact I didn’t realize I was buying the bike computer with the cadence sensor. Without the cad sensor the computer would have still been a bargain.
The Polar 200 has everything that a normal bike computer has but also comes with heart rate monitor, cadence monitor, caloric consumption rate, savable exercise files, and a lot more but my main reason to buying it was the hr function.
YOU WILL USE THE COMFY BARS!
Another Craigslist deal and pickup were some WTB road/mountain handlebars. Makes me feel like I’m wheeling and dealing whenever I get off the rock. I was worried that my son though I was dealing drugs. “I have to make a quick stop off the interstate so wait in the car while I run into this nondescript buildings with this cash in my hand.”
Fortunately Gregg’s Greenlake Cycle was a block away and so I was able to pickup a stem with a 31.8 clamp area for the larger bars and also picked up a frame pump while there.
Fenders No. 3 – Third times a charm!:
I finally got the right ones!
Almost everything is ordered online and gets ship to the island as there are very few stores here which cater to taste and frugality. I can’t stand buying stuff which ends up needing to be replaced soon afterwards. Might as well spend a little extra to get a product which is going to last for a while and does what you need it to do.
The problems though with ordering online are the obvious and I get my fare share of mistakes and miss-orders.
My first fender order was a set of fenders from Nashbar which when they finally got here ended up being the wrong size. Nashbar says they were to one’s I ordered but I know my wheels are not 26″ and I would have not knowingly ordered the wrong ones. That said my wheels are 700c and in the end Nashbar took them back minus the shipping which I paid twice. I then ordered a set of the SKS Chromoplast silver fenders from Wallingford Bikes, this time it was my mistake.
Being newish to road biking I figured that since I have 35mm (size) wide tires that I should order a 35mm fender set… WRONG! You should get fender larger than the width of your wheels. Having 35mm wheels I needed a 43 or 45mm set of fenders. So while I was in Seattle for couple of days, I was able to find some Planet Bike Chromoplast silver 700c x 45mm. Finally some fenders which fit. The only thing I’m not sure about is that they come with black mud flaps and I’m not sure I like this feature but oh well, I’m content with them for now. Eventually though I want a set of Woody fenders.
Got back late last night:
Getting back last night one more thing was waiting for me, the brass bell I ordered from Rivendell Bikes. I love the colour and the tone is incredible. My wife says it sounds like a Tibetan singing bowl and I agree. Though the dog and cat I think hate the sound.
One last thing is that my Ortlieb panniers should be here tomorrow and then I will be just about set up. I still want to get a Tubus rear and front rack and a front set of Ortlieb panniers and handlebar bag but if we wanted to go on a tour tomorrow night, I would be able to.
