Southern Tier Bike Project

Does Technology Matter?

2011-03-30T10:21:00.003-04:00

YES! YES!! YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

All winter I've been working on various donated bikes, mostly either low end Walmart bikes or very old (30 years) higher end bikes. I've gotten used to muscling them in and out of storage and onto the repair stand, as well as pedaling them up and down the road on check rides.

Today, I decided to get my carbon-fiber frame Trek Madone down for it's first ride of the year. What a refreshing difference. It felt like it took zero effort to lift it down from the ceiling storage hooks. I put it on the floor and wheeled it over to the work bench to air up the tires and the rolling resistance felt like ZERO.

It is even so much better than my Cannondale R300..... If you're still riding that steel framed Peugot, you might want to think of an upgrade. Can't wait to get out and ride.

Test Rides

2011-03-28T10:53:00.002-04:00

I managed to get a few miles in the saddle and road test some project bikes yesterday. 3 bikes, 5 miles each. All bikes are in great shape, but I'm not. Where is the warm weather??????

Another Art Project

2011-03-28T10:47:00.002-04:00

This is where I hope to hang the Humber someday. Just had to try it out with the Falcon though.

Turning into a SLUG!!

2011-03-27T09:27:00.003-04:00

Is anyone else having this problem? As March approached, I stepped up my indoor exercise routine to make sure I was ready for some serious biking when warm weather appeared. It all worked out when we had a few warm days and I was able to get some fairly serious road miles under my belt.

Unfortunately, since we were plunged back into winter a week ago, I've done absolutely nothing. It's so hard to get back on that exercise bike once you've had a renewed taste of the road.

Sunshine and 32 today. Not normally warm enough for me to ride.... but I may just make an exception today. Gotta get out of this rut!!

One more Falcon Attempt

2011-03-27T07:37:00.002-04:00

Steve kindly found two sets of crank arms and chain rings to help try to get this bike fixed for good. Unfortunately, it seems there was no standard for cottered cranks back in the day, so neither of the ones he gave me would fit. I've attempted to bend the original chain rings back into shape. While there is much less wobble, shifting is still inconsistent.

I think I'll declare this bike as done as it's going to get. If someone wants it with all it's issues, it's theirs. It looks pretty!! Unfortunately, that doesn't count for much if you're looking for transportation.

Unexpected Issues

2011-03-25T08:20:00.003-04:00

I got a request for bike CS015, a nice 12 speed road bike, that I thought was done and ready to go. I put it up on the repair stand to check it out and didn't like what I saw. The front wheel had the original black painted rim, while the back wheel was a quite rusty chrome rim with a flat tire and a 5 gear cassette (meaning it's really only a 10 speed bike).

I looked around the shop and found a pair of matching chrome rims, which I cleaned and polished to a "like new" shine. When I went to put the tires back on, I discovered that the old tires had some significant dry-rot issues, so I got some new ones. I thought that with new tires and new rims, this one was ready to go, but, unfortunately, the front derailleur wouldn't shift. Fortunately, I had another set of cables on hand and after cleaning up the shift levers and replacing the cables, it shifts perfectly.

It wasn't ready to go in the beginning, but it certainly is now. Hopefully Emily will have it soon.

Zebra ready to Gallop

2011-03-25T08:13:00.003-04:00

This beauty cleaned up much better than we thought it would. After a good clean and lube and new cables, it looks great! There are many, many more miles left in this one.

Falcon on hold

2011-03-25T08:09:00.002-04:00

While the Falcon Black Diamond cleaned up nicely and looks great, I discovered that the chain rings are bent when I tried to adjust the derailleurs. They are bent enough that shifting is inconsistent, to the point where the chain frequently jumps off the chain ring. In addition, one of the bolts holding the chain rings together is missing. I thought of finding a replacement, but discovered that it's missing because the threads are stripped in the small chain ring. We have to figure out some way to deal with the chain ring issues before this one is ready to go.

Try Something New

2011-03-17T12:55:00.002-04:00

I didn't have much time for a ride today, but couldn't pass up the sunshine. Not being able to make up my mind what route to take, I just picked a direction and decided to ride until I found a road I hadn't been on before to see where it would take me.

As long as I've been riding the hills around this part of the country, there are still places I haven't been and I discovered Dougherty Road today. As with most back-country roads around here, it was a bit hilly, but the views from the top made it worth it.

Next time you go out for a ride, try it. In all likelihood, you'll discover a gem.

Weekend Falcon Progress

2011-03-14T08:29:00.004-04:00

The frame has been cleaned and polished as have the wheels. Got some new tires and tubes at Babcocks and they are on. Also got the handlebars cleaned up and wrapped with new handlebar tape. Brake calipers have been cleaned and lubed and re-installed. About the only thing left is to clean up and re-install the cranks and chain rings and put on some new cables. This baby is looking pretty nice!

Productive Day

2011-03-12T09:20:00.002-05:00

Well, I didn't get around to doing anything on the Falcon yesterday, but I did manage to get out for a bike ride. Just had to take advantage of a reasonably dry, above freezing day to put in a few training miles for the Aug 20 Tour de Cure.

The other thing that kept me away from the Falcon was a call from a grandfather looking for a bike for his granddaughter . Fortunately I had something suitable and Brin now owns a sweet 20" Jamis BMX bike. Hopefully you'll see the two of them tooling up and down the rail trail this summer!

Well, there was a 3rd thing that kept me from the Falcon. I did stop at the bike shop to pick up some parts, but they were closed for some reason. Might run by there this afternoon.

Am I Crazy?

2011-03-10T14:14:00.004-05:00

The beautiful St. Eitenne that was restored last year has found a home suspended over my front door. My son, who helped me get it up there, was respectfully silent about how it looks hanging there. My wife, not so much. We'll see what other visitors think.

Started Working On The Falcon

2011-03-10T09:58:00.003-05:00

Started working on the Falcon Black Diamond for Jordan. It's been stripped to the frame and I've started cleaning and polishing the parts. There was a fair amount of rust and this one looked pretty ugly to start with, but most of the rust is on the surface and once removed, the parts look pretty good. A coat of wax will make it all sparkle, at least till it gets wet again. Here's a before/after pic of the wheels.

Another Magna Glacier Point Done (Almost)

2011-03-07T20:02:00.002-05:00

I finished cleaning, polishing, lubricating and assembling this Glacier Point today. It looks great and works great, except..........

When I was doing the final tuneup, I realized it just wasn't shifting right. I thought the cables were OK, but the shift cables have just enough drag that it just doesn't work right. I made a note to replace the cables and moved on to the Falcon. More on that one soon.

Babcock's Saves the Day

2011-03-05T19:43:00.003-05:00

A quick trip to Babcock's Bikes yesterday yielded a new bearing and cone for the pink Magna I've been working on. I got the front wheel back together and am now working on the rear. Fortunately, the bearings and cones back there are in good shape. Hopefully I'll finish this one up in the next couple days so I can start cleaning up the Falcon for an interested BU student.

An Unfortunate Discovery

2011-03-02T15:27:00.005-05:00

I started working on this beauty today and thought I'd knock it off in no time. Unfortunately after pulling the front wheel off, I discovered that the axle had a terribly gritty feel when it was turned. I took it apart assuming I'd just have to clean it and give it some new grease, but there was more to it than that. One of the balls in the bearing had split in two. Obviously this gouged out the cone as well. I'm off to Babcocks tomorrow to see if I can scrounge a bearing and cone that will fit.

Bicycle Registration - New York Assembly Bill A5429

2011-03-02T11:11:00.004-05:00

For any readers who reside in New York state, please check out this proposed legislation and write your assemblyman to let him/her know what you think of it.

This blogger sees it as a thinly veiled means to help close the budget gap by targeting a particular group of people who, in general, serve to improve the quality of life through reducing their carbon footprint and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

What's next, should we license shoes so we can tax people who walk to work or run laps around the park?

The bill can be found at the link in the title or "HERE".

Bike 025 Done

2011-03-02T11:05:00.004-05:00

I put a new set of cables on this sweet Magna this morning and tuned her up. It works like it's fresh out of the box. Hopefully this bike will make someone very happy in the near future. The next one to tackle will be the twin sister to this one, Bike 026; another Magna Glacier Point.

Dried Grease

2011-02-28T18:49:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure how old this Magna is, but it's amazing how something that is supposed to be slippery and smooth can turn into something sticky and gooey. The headset bearings were just as bad as the wheel bearings. The grease has dried out to the consistency of over cooked brown sugar. The crank seems to be ok, which is fortunate since I don't have the tool necessary to take it apart.

A coat of wax on the wheels has them sparkling like new. This one will be done SOON!

It's Not Always Like It Seems

2011-02-27T15:16:00.006-05:00

I started working on this nice Magna Glacier Point today. Thought it would be a nice easy Sunday job. A little cleanup, replace come cables and give it a shot of lube. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out quite so easy. Both wheels needed to be trued up and when I had them off, spinning the axles in the hubs revealed that the bearings were totally dried out. I've cleaned and repacked the bearings for both the front and rear and that's enough for the day. Fortunately, they spin like new now.

Has Anyone Seen One of These?

2011-01-13T16:21:00.005-05:00

Has anyone seen one of these 1950's Humber bicycles? I've had lots of bikes since about that time but I've never seen anything like this before.

Over the next several weeks/months I'll be restoring this bike to as nearly new condition as possible. If you're interested, keep an eye on the Bike Art page of the Southern Tier Bike Project.

Some People Really Take Care of Their Stuff!

2011-01-07T17:00:00.005-05:00

I've just completed restoring a 20 year old Lotus Excelle road bike. While I use the word "restore", there really wasn't much to do to this beauty. It has obviously been well cared for over the years and other than a few wear out items like handle bar tape and cables, the bike is as close to new as any I've seen.

Being in the business of restoring used bikes, it's refreshing to see one come by that has been treated with such obvious respect. My hat is off to all of you out there who take the time to keep your bikes cleaned and lubed like this one has been.

I Didn't Miss My Rides for Long

2011-01-01T12:46:00.002-05:00

Gotta love this New York weather. I managed to get in the last ride of 2010 and the first ride of 2011 on consecutive days. I told you when it got up to 40ish and the roads dried out (well mostly) I'd be out there.

With a little nudge from the Southern Tier Bike Club I joined a group of about a dozen riders on New Years Eve. We rode from Vestal to Owego for lunch and then returned. The round trip was about 28 miles.

Since my bike was already pretty dirty from the New Years Eve ride, I decided to head out again on New Years day for a solitary 25 miles. Now I won't feel so bad about being a college football couch potato for the rest of the day.

Every time I go out in weather like this I remind myself that it really isn't uncomfortable to ride if you dress appropriately. The effort expended gets you warmed up in a hurry. Hopefully I'll remember that the next time we get a warm spell like this. Try it.... you might like it.

Somehow, the bikes keep coming

2011-01-01T12:39:00.004-05:00

It seems like every time I start to run low on bikes for the Project, more just show up. I had just posted that I needed bikes on the FreeCycle Yahoo group and I got a phone call from a neighbor who had 2 mountain bikes and a road bike to contribute. It's amazing how things work out sometimes. Now to get off my butt and update the Southern Tier Bike Project website with pics. But, that will have to wait till after a full day of New Years football.

I Miss My Rides

2010-12-15T08:36:00.002-05:00

It's only been about a month since my last ride. For a while it was going ok. Unfortunately, withdrawl hit me yesterday as I drove down several roads I normally cover on my bike. Even though it was only about 15 degrees and very windy, I still felt a longing to be out there on 2 wheels.

I know how my brain works. As soon as these snow flurries stop and the roads dry up a bit, I'll be bundled up and pedaling. Even if only for 5 miles, I've got to get out on my bike again.

Fall Rides

2010-09-12T09:35:00.002-04:00

Inevitably, when the kids go back to school, mornings get cool and crisp and the leaves start to flutter to the ground, many people put away their bikes for the winter. Unfortunately, those that do miss out on some of the finest days for cycling. The cool crisp mornings usually signal low humidity, which means you will be able to see for miles and miles and miles when you climb to the top of your favorite hill.

Of course those ideal days don't always cooperate by showing up on a weekend. For those of you who have to work, save a few hours of vacation to take advantage of those days when they show up during the week. It will do wonders for your mental health and productivity!!

Dressing appropriately can be a challenge, since it might be 50 degrees when you start and 70 by the time you're done. Layers that are easy to take off and carry are the obvious solution. I have some arm warmers and leg warmers that are perfect for that temperature range since they come off easily and fit in my jersey pocket. On colder days, a light jacket to block the wind is in order.

Don't put that bike away just yet. September and October have some of the best weather for riding!!

It Feels GREAT to Give

2010-08-18T19:53:00.003-04:00

A while back, the Southern Tier Bike Project was contacted by the coordinator of the Tioga County Family Fun Event. She asked if we would be willing to donate a bike to be raffled off as part of the event. In the end, we offered 4 bikes to cover a broad range of ages and we set about cleaning, lubricating and polishing.

The Family Fun Event is basically a way to offer some fun activities for families while, at the same time assessing the health needs of county. Families are encouraged to visit different vendor booths collecting stamps which can be redeemed for raffle tickets that they can use to enter drawings for a wide variety of donated items.

On the day of the event, I borrowed a pickup (thanks Jim) and took the 4 bikes down to Marvin Park in Owego. I was somewhat dismayed when I discovered that several local merchants had donated some very nice products, including a shiny new BMX bike and a Nintendo WII. I began to wonder if anyone would take a chance on our shiny, though slightly used, bicycles, when there were such desirable new items available.

It was with a bit of trepidation that I returned to the park for the drawing at the end of the event. I was somewhat relieved when I approached the Raffle Tent and observed that the 4 ticket jars for the bikes were not empty. That meant that someone wanted those bikes, regardless of what else was on offer.

Words cannot describe the feeling of watching 4 different families claim their restored bicycle. Each of them beamed as if it was the most precious thing on earth. I could barely contain myself when a mother claimed the little 12" Sea Star with training wheels turned it over to her 3 year old daughter. Her big sister helped her get on and she pedaled away into the fading sunlight.

Some of these bikes take a LOT of work to get restored to near-new condition. Nights like tonight make every bit of work worth while. This is what the Southern Tier Bike Project is all about.

Some Days Just Don't Feel Right

2010-08-08T08:26:00.003-04:00

Sometimes, when I have a horrible round of golf, I comment that my bike never lets me down like my golf clubs do. I never ride down the road and seemingly forget how to ride, falling off into the ditch. To watch me play golf some days, you would certainly think I forgot how.

On the other hand, there are days on the bike when my body just doesn't seem to react when my brain says "take that hill". I had one of those rides the other day. I didn't seem tired, it wasn't very hot, there seemed to be no excuse at all, yet I just felt sluggish. Riding at a moderate pace on level ground seemed like an effort. Riding up hills seemed nearly impossible.

So, I guess in golf or in cycling, it really isn't the equipment that lets me down, it's the body that just isn't quite the same every day. When you have one of those "off" days, not to worry, the old form will be back soon

Too Hot to Ride (NOT)

2010-08-04T15:03:00.002-04:00

Often, when I ask someone if they want to go for a ride on a humid 90+ degree day, the answer is "It's too hot to ride". In my humble opinion, unless you have a chronic condition such as asthma that makes it unsafe to exercise in warm weather, I think it's never too hot. However, you MUST make adjustments in order to avoid heat stroke. Number one is hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Start an hour before you ride. Drink and keep drinking. The second adjustment is to go easier. Take your time, enjoy the scenery, don't push it.

Besides, it's good to sweat!! It flushes all the bad karma out of your system and leaves you feeling refreshed and invigorated (after you cool down and have a cold beer).

I just got back from a 35 mile ride in 91 degrees. This post comes to you with a cold beer in a frosty glass. Enjoy your next ride.

Tioga County Council on the Arts Raffle

2010-08-01T20:01:00.005-04:00

The Southern Tier Bike Project recently donated a Cannondale M300 mountain bike to theTCCA to be used in fund raising activities. Today, we received the following e-mail regarding the early progress:

"Yesterday was the first day of selling raffle tickets for TCCA - we busted chops to get pictures and then some sample baskets for the Hickory Smoked Music Festival. In the first day, we sold $500 worth of tickets. You should have seen the people drooling over the bike. It was a real attention grabber and probably half or more of the tickets went to the bike. This week we are focusing on getting the basket contents and pictures on the website and preparing for the TCCA mailing to members. We're also going to plan when we will sell more tickets (3rd Friday Art Walk?, En Plein Air?...)

We're off to a great start thanks to you! (Drawing will be Oct 31)"

We at the Southern Tier Bike Project are thrilled to see the fruits of our labor.

An Interesting Bike (ride)

2010-08-01T19:32:00.006-04:00

I took a test ride on the recently donated Schwinn World Tourist today. This bike is somewhat unique in that the freewheel is in the crank rather than in the rear hub. What this means is that while you're coasting, the chain and chain rings (but not the pedals) are turning. While it does allow the rider to shift gears while coasting, the extra drag of the chain and chain ring turning can't be very efficient. Then, of course, there's that possible circumstance when the chain happens to drop off the small chain ring. If it gets jammed between the frame and the chain ring, with no freewheel in the rear hub, the back wheel comes to a screeching halt. I don't think that would be a fun way to stop.

I'm sure some great thinker at Schwinn (or Giant at the time) thought this was a good idea, however they must have eventually realized that the "convenience" of being able to shift while coasting wasn't worth the complexity, inefficiency and risk.

Regarding "convenience"; it was very difficult for me to even consider shifting while not pedaling. I've been totally conditioned to pedal while shifting. I think it's more a matter of how you learn to shift than one being more convenient than the other. So, as it turns out, there really wasn't much of a market for this design.

I must admit however; even though the chain whirring by while coasting was a bit unnerving, the bike has a very comfortable, plush ride and will be excellent for cruising around town once we get it cleaned up.

You Know When You're a Biker When.......

2010-06-22T20:39:00.001-04:00

A "short, easy" ride is 50 miles.

No Time To Blog

2010-05-02T19:32:00.002-04:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted to this blog! I'm afraid the only excuse I have is the fantastic weather we've been having in the northeast, which has led to lots and lots of miles on the road.

I think, perhaps, I am a bit more obsessive than usual because I'm looking forward to riding in the Tour de Cure at the end of June. The organizers just released the route and even though the 100 mile ride I was signed up for was reduced to 85 miles (safety concerns were sited), it still looks like a challenging ride around Seneca Lake. If you have not taken the opportunity to sponsor me on this ride yet, please visit my page at the American Diabetes Association website and consider doing so.

Another ride I am considering is the Ididaride in the Adirondaks. If any slow riders would like to join me in this event, let me know.

Too much training... not enough blogging.... but; life is good!! Keep riding!!

A Great Time of Year to Ride

2010-03-07T16:05:00.003-05:00

If you live in the north someplace where there's snow, bundle yourself up and take a bike ride on the first sunny day of spring, preferably before the snow melts. If you have a favorite route, you might be surprised at how different it looks.

First of all, with no leaves on the trees, so much more is visible from the road. Second, the contrast of the green pines and hemlocks and the brown deciduous trees against the brilliant sun-drenched white snow makes for some spectacular views. Then, you peer down a steep bank to a creek swollen with clear snow melt sparkling in the sun and you KNOW why you choose to live right where you are. It all looks so much different than it does in the summer.

Dress warm, watch out for the potholes, ignore the dirty snow within 10 feet of the side of the road and go ride. I'm sure you'll love the experience!! Enjoy...

Ahhhhhhhhhh.... It Feels So Good!

2010-02-21T14:45:00.002-05:00

If you've been following this blog, you know I'm not much for getting on the bike outdoors during the winter. In some ways I envy those who bundle up and get out there and ride no matter what the weather.

This morning, the sun was shining brightly and the roads were dry. Even though the temperature was only about 30 I felt an uncontrollable urge to get on my bike. I bundled up and set out for Endicott, cruising through the residential streets and enjoying the bright sunshine reflecting off the snow. Crossing the river into Vestal I turned onto 434 into a biting west wind. While the wind slowed my progress, my bright yellow plastic rain jacket deflected the cold and I stayed warm and cozy, except for my feet, which were starting to lose some feeling. Crossing the river again in Apalachin, I continued to fight the wind all the way to Owego, after which I turned back east for home with, thankfully, a tail-wind.

At home, 30 miles later, I realize maybe I don't envy the all-weather riders as much as I thought. Just as "absence makes the heart grow fonder", taking some time away from the bike makes it so much sweeter when you return. Being a winter biking wimp gives me a rush that the braver souls cannot experience.

If you're a winter wimp like me, watch for that first day that's above your threshold and get out there and ride. I know you'll love the feeling as much as I did today!

Sobriety Test: Rollers

2010-01-23T19:00:00.007-05:00

Have any of you tried to ride a bike on rollers? I've been riding on rollers during the winter for the last couple of years, mostly because it requires a considerable amount of concentration as well as just turning the pedals. If you're stuck in a rut on an exercise bike or your trainer, I highly recommend trying this, though it does take some amount of practice. You better start out in a doorway! And.....you probably want to get some platform pedals if your bike has clipless pedals. It's way to easy to ride off the side. Which brings me to the point of this post.....

Like I said, I've been doing this for a couple years, but I've never gotten to the point where I can actually get out of the saddle and stand on the pedals or anything complicated like that. I can shift gears and get a pretty good workout, with about 30 minutes being all my butt can stand.

A few days ago, I decided to get a workout after dinner and a couple glasses of wine. If you ever want a real life example of how your coordination is affected by alcohol, get your bike on some rollers after a couple drinks. You may feel perfectly fine, but the balance and concentration it takes for the average person to stay on the rollers is easily overcome by a couple drinks! I know because I rode off the side of the rollers twice in 10 minutes, then gave up for the night!

First, get some rollers, they really aren't that expensive, and they are FUN!! I've got a set of these from Nashbar and they work great. Second, get in the saddle and see if you can stay on for 30 minutes. And last, try it after a couple drinks.... with your helmet on!! Be very careful though, you will be amazed at how much difference it makes. Oh, I should also mention, I take no responsibility for the result!! You're on your own!! Good luck!!

BBBBBBbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2009-12-15T13:38:00.000-05:00

Even at this time of year, almost every time I go out, I see someone on a bike. I’m sure most of the ones I see simply need that bike to get wherever they are going. But still, in a way I envy them.

I’m really not much of a winter cyclist. I’m not that much of a winter outdoorsman at all. There is something about stepping out into that cold air and feeling the chill immediately sink deep into my bones that sends me back indoors as quickly as possible. The strange thing is though; I’ve learned through the years that if I dress properly, that deep chill only lasts as long as it takes to generate some body heat by becoming active. Most of the experience has come from cutting and splitting firewood. It really doesn’t take long to get warmed up doing that! Cycling is a little more difficult because you have to combat the air movement that wants to strip any generated body heat away from you. Something that stops the wind (I actually use a plastic rain jacket when I go out in the cold) is a must.

Back to the envy part. Since I don’t have to go out and ride my bike, I most often don’t in the winter. The thought of that initial cold blast of air sends me back inside to the stationary bike or rollers. Maybe a good dose of “need” would get me out there more often in the winter.

Milestones

2009-11-07T15:47:00.001-05:00

Much as physical milestones represent the passage of miles on the road, in the more abstract form, milestones also represent the passage of events in life.

Graduation from high school, the birth of a child, marriage, a much anticipated promotion. All milestones that measure some kind of transition from one part of life to another. Then, for many people at work, there are the dreaded milestones on a schedule that represent the unrelenting workload ahead. And heaven forbid that we should start to fall behind schedule because the usual result is that we implement a set of INCH-stones so that we can be measured closer and more often. More stress; more overtime, but yet again, more opportunity for advancement.

Then, of course, there are milestones that represent personal achievements. I can remember the first time I did a half century. When I set out for a ride, my intended route was nowhere near 50 miles. My previous longest ride had been around 35 miles a couple weeks before. While on the ride, I decided to check out a road I hadn’t been on before. The road was flat; and with a slight wind at my back, before I knew it I was all the way to the thriving metropolis of Speedsville, over 25 miles from home. Still feeling strong, I turned for home and encountered the effects Zephyrus, the Greek god of wind, directly in my face. Mind you, there have been plenty of times when I’ve ridden a bike in the wind, but this was my first experience with having to pile up 5, 10, 15, 20 miles with the wind seemingly sapping every ounce of energy I had, just to get home. It seemed to take all my strength just to maintain enough forward speed to stay up. My neck began to ache and my hands began to go numb. I reached for my cell phone, seriously considering giving up and calling my wife to come rescue me but damn; no signal. I pedaled on, realizing that besides the wind, no matter where I ride from where I live, I always have to climb a hill to get back into the valley. I had 3 ways to choose to get back home. The first way was like the North Face; it was the shortest route, but I had never attempted the long steep climb before. The easiest climb was also the farthest away, it would have added at least another 5 miles to my ride and I was already in severe pain and nearing exhaustion. I chose an intermediate route, the climb of which had nearly killed me on an earlier ride. With this memory weighing on my mind, I pushed myself as hard as I could. Finally, I crested the hill just as my odometer clicked through 50 miles. Somehow the pain and discouragement left as I felt the rush of achieving what, to me, was a major milestone.

Most of the above are “significant” milestones of one type or another, but we shouldn’t forget the simpler and sometimes just as rewarding ones. For example; a seemingly insignificant event this week triggered this blog post. For the first time since the Southern Tier Bike Project website has been up, I was made aware that someone that I did not personally lead there had been found the site and was interested enough to sign up for the Newsletter.

Milestones, large or small, are what give our life pace, they measure events large and small. Savor each and every one.

Who Needs a Bike Anyhow?

2009-10-25T22:09:00.001-04:00

When I first started this project, I was thinking of the kids. Kids who had a bike, but it just fell apart. Kids who's friends were tooling around the neighborhood on their bikes leaving them behind. Kids who went to Walmart longing to have a bike on the rack, but their parents couldn't afford the $50-$100 to get even a basic ride.

When my good friend Mary recently donated a beautiful, well maintained (though slightly dated) Trek road bike; I thought "What kid could use this?". That got me thinking about some things I have seen and the goals of the Southern Tier Bike Project.

The first thing I thought about was something I saw on a cold, slushy, miserable winter day last year. While driving down Hooper Rd in Endwell I saw a bearded, unkempt young man in a tattered coat riding down the road on a bike with a plastic Giant grocery bag dangling from the handlebars. I seriously doubt if that young man was on his bike to be "green", to make any kind of social statement or to maintain his level of fitness. That bike was his ONLY means of transportation to get to the grocery store. I want to emphasize that. For some people, a bicycle represents their means of transportation. It doesn't matter what the weather is like, if you have to go, you get on your bike.

Would Mary's sleek road bike with skinny 23c tires with no tread fulfill that kind of need? Probably not. But what about someone who could gain from the obvious health and fitness benefits of cycling, yet can't afford the $300 and up price tag to get into the sport. Should the emotional and physical well-being of a person be limited simply because they can't afford to get even an entry level bike? How many people in the Southern Tier have a need or desire to pound out endless miles across the scenic countryside, but just don't have the opportunty? Is there a budding Lance Armstrong out there who will never reach achieve their calling just because they don't have a way to get switched on? Because of Mary and the Southern Tier Bike Project, at least one person will have the opportunity to show their stuff.

Kids, transportation, fitness, you name it. There are many reasons why people "need" a bicycle. The Southern Tier Bike Project aims to put a serviceable bike into the hands of any man, woman or child who has a need, no matter what that need is. Your donations of bikes of any kind, parts or $$ to refurbish them are deeply appreciated.

A Little More About This Project

2009-10-17T18:50:00.002-04:00

OK... After reading my initial post I can imagine some of you scratching your head and wondering what this is all about, so here's a little background.

I had been running for several years as a means to stay fit, but as my knees started to wear out about 7 or 8 years ago, I decided to try cycling. I dusted off an old mountain bike that I bought in England many years earlier and took a 2 mile ride, then a 3 mile ride, then 5, then 8. Between the hills on the country roads around Owego, the wide knobby mountain bike tires and my limited endurance, I was pretty much limited to 10 mile loops from my house. After several weeks, that got a bit boring and I wanted to go farther.

With some help and encouragement from a couple friends at work (thanks Dave and Mary), I decided to try a road bike. I captured a Cannondale R300 at a going-out-of-business sale at a shop in Binghamton. Being my first road bike, I really didn't know how to make sure it was the right size, even after taking a ride around the block before buying it. It was just so cool and the price was great; I had to have it! (I didn't even know how to work the quick release to get the front wheel off so it would fit in my trunk).

All was great until I hit my first 50 mile ride and I came back with numb hands and a stiff neck. A quick Google search convinced me that my seat position and stem length were wrong. That, my friends, is what got me started down the path of tinkering with bicycles. I managed to get that bike tweaked up and did a century (that's a 100 mile ride, for those who might not know) with no major pains except for a bit of a sore butt.

Since I got more serious about cycling, I've come to realize that, contrary to what you might think, the more you pay for a bike, the more maintenance (otherwise known as TLC) the bike needs. I've learned a lot about maintaining and repairing bikes by doing my own. As I've gotten more comfortable with it, I've even done some seasonal maintenance and repairs on some friends bikes (I work for beer by the way; just in case anyone is interested).

As my retirement approached, it occurred to me that I could put some of that experience to work and try to help some people less fortunate to me. Thus, the Southern Tier Bike Project was born.

My last day of "official" work is Tuesday October 20, 2009. With some time on my hands and some reasonable level of skill (I won't proclaim to be an "expert" yet), I've decided to try to help some people out in two major areas. First, I'll take on bikes that are just taking up space in someones garage, attic or basement. Second, I'll fix those bikes up and try to get them into the hands of people who may not be fortunate enough to be able to afford to buy one. This seems like a win, win, win situation to me. People with excess bikes get rid of them, people with a need for a bike get that need satisfied, and I have something useful to do to keep myself busy (particularly through the cold NY winter months).

Having said all that, I have no idea where this "PROJECT" will lead in the future. I purposely chose the name Southern Tier Bike Project because it does not imply that the currently stated purpose will be the purpose forever. One of the reasons I have looked forward to retirement is to be free from a pre-determined plan and schedule. I have no idea where this project will lead. It will grow, change or maybe even die. Regardless of where it goes those of us who have been involved in it will be better in some way because of it.

So come along for the ride. If you can contribute in some way, that's GREAT. If you're just interested in what we're up to, come back often and check us out. I'm hoping to cover a wide range of topics in this blog; I hope there will be something here to make your life better in some little way.

We're almost live!!

2009-10-12T14:15:00.008-04:00

With each passing day (well, maybe week or fortnight) the Southern Tier Bike Project's website is more and more complete. Today's addition is this blog.

For those of you who got here from Southern Tier Bike Project, you know what it's all about. For those who may have come by other means, please click on the link above to get up to speed on the background.

I want to start out by saying what a fun experience it has been to get this project started. It is something I have thought about for quite some time, but was never sure if I would have what it takes to get it off the ground. While there is still a long ways to go, the support and constructive feedback I have received have been tremendous; you feed my desire to continue.

So far, the total expenses for the project have been exactly $11 (domain registration) and I have exactly one donation of $11 (from a generous friend in England!) to cover this cost and meet my objective of being cash neutral. I have commitments for the first 5 bikes. As soon as I pick them up and estimate what it will take to fix them, I will get the word out on the website. If you would like to donate in advance of this, please click the following link to go directly to he secure pay pal website.

As the bikes are refurbished and available for distribution, the Inventory page of the website will be updated. Come back frequently to check on our status and let us know if you know anyone in need of a free bike.