Bicycles at Ten Thousand Villages

I love these little masterpieces. Wire, colored string, recycled aluminum and ingenuity grace these two wheeled wonders.

What Not to Do with Creaky Pedals

Coffee is my preferred drink for morning dabbles in bike mechanics.

Before setting out on a multi-day ride, I needed to give my pedals some love. They've been creaky for sometime and slightly loose - not drastically loose, mind you - but nonetheless I wanted to give the pedals my undivided attention. As I began to clean and remove the bolt from the crank arm (remembering to turn the left pedal clockwise to loosen) it occurred to me that pedals may well be the most abused and overlooked part on my bicycles. They were quite dirty. Filthy is a better word. I cleaned the grime before removing the dust cap.

Inside is a recessed nut, hidden strategically beneath a protective metal arm, which in one sense has saved this pedal from major harm for more than 20 years. Yet this same arm makes it extremely difficult and, as I would later learn, impossible to get at the nut and properly dismantle and free up the ball bearings for a thorough cleaning. I tried my best, wedging a tiny wrench around the nut while gripping the other end for leverage.

What an ugly blemish! 

Unfortunately I never got very far. Ugh. The wrench gouged the metal. Neighbors must have heard my loud cry of dismay, "What?" I was beside myself, figuring I'd ruined a functioning pedal. But after a while I recovered and realized the damage wasn't that bad. But there was no way I'd be able to take apart these pedals.

Oil port hole after removing cap.

I shoved as much grease as I could along the exposed nut and replace the dust cap. The irreparable hole was only noticeable to me and not that grand a faux pas in the scheme of things. Then I poked more grease into the oil port half way along the pedal. I'd been oiling the pedal in this manner for years, but it needed proper grease. My make shift greasing would have to do. When the pedals eventually fail or loosen until they wobble, I'll replace them altogether. The funny thing is, these are very good pedals. Newer pedals lack oil ports unless they are of the clipless variety, according to a local mechanic. 

Morning coffee was tasting pretty good too. With this confidence, and quickly improving the other pedal, I also took apart the Ross's cheapo pedals and shoved grease along the crank arm end, then poked in a rather flimsy rubber gasket. I couldn't even remove the dust cap. I suspect these are disposable pedals, the kind you toss and replace. Yet, this simple fix took care of annoying creaking, at least for the time being.

Women's Ride Menu

I'll be leading Sunday morning social rides for women. Details and links below. Or follow Local Motion's Upcoming Events calendar (right sidebar on home page).

Casual Rides for Women. Not interested in fast paced group rides? Join a friendly bunch of women on Sunday mornings who are all about conversation, laughter, and sharing a good meal on a blanket. We will mainly stick to bike paths with detours for creemees, a beach stroll, support lemonade stands, or whatever whim strikes the group. It’s all about camaraderie and two-wheeled exploration.

Rides take place on Sunday (10 a.m. to approximately noon) and include a stop for brunch within the first half hour. Bring a potluck item to share with the group. Ride length varies according to participants and ability. Rain cancels ride.

Waterfront Tootle and Picnic - Sunday, June 22, 10 a.m.

Our inaugural ride will venture along Burlington’s waterfront path with possible additional miles through neighborhoods. Observe gulls on the sandbars, ferries, and trailside flowers. We’ll have brunch on the beach or in the Forever Young Treehouse at Oakledge Park.

Picnic on the Causeway - Sunday, July 13, 10 a.m.

Ride a few miles of smooth gravel onto the ColchesterCauseway. Enjoy stunning lake views. Picnic at The Cut - if wind is in our favor - or on any of the myriad of marble boulders en route. Observe sailboats, people fishing, stone sculptures, and wildflowers. Ride, smile, repeat.

Garage Sale Ride and Picnic - Sunday, August 24, 10 a.m.

This is a rollicking good time following a mapped route. Be forewarned: we may get sidetracked by unadvertised sales we discover along the way! Itinerary includes riding through the Intervale to reach Burlington’s North End (paved or dirt road/trail route). We’ll picnic at a park to fortify ourselves for the hunt.

Explore Rossetti Park Beach - Sunday, September 14, 10 a.m.

Head north along waterfront path, cross the Winooski River, then follow the Colchester bike path to picnic at sandy Rossetti Park Beach. Feel the sand between your toes. Return loop includes connections through quiet Colchester neighborhoods.

Autumn Colors at Wheeler Park - Sunday, October 5, 10 a.m.

We’ll explore South Burlington’s bike paths, a short hike on trails, and/or picnic at Wheeler Park. Bundle up for fall weather. In lieu of outdoor brunch - if morning is too chilly - convening at a café may be a welcome treat. 

Middle School Students Ride to School - Encouraging!

I observed a nearly full bike rack at my son's middle school. My son confirms it's a common occurrence and not just because May is Bike Month. For whatever reason, a greater percentage of students ride to the nearby elementary school. Attendance at the middle school racks has, fortunately, escalated - a far cry from the embarrassingly low numbers only three years ago.

Either preteens finally discovered riding equals freedom or having a bike is "cool" again. What novel ideas!

Socks and Sandals - Versatile and Stylish Footwear

A girlfriend sent me a collection of mismatched socks. I love the style
 they lend to my biking wardrobe.

I still swear by socks and sandals as the ultimate biking footwear. Socks (lightweight to heavy wool) provide extra warmth on chilly morning rides. For warmer weather, I often ditch the extra layer in the afternoon, preferring to let my feet breathe. These sandals are from Nashbar; they're going strong after 4 years. I've been told that Keens' sandals (with enclosed toe box) work well also.

For a more indepth report on these sandals, check out Bike Sandals review.