I Need a Mountain Bike, No Really!

Our youngest son led a fun outdoor adventure in nearby wooded trails that culminated in this jaw-dropping view.
I also tried out his fancy schmancy mountain bike.

Let me rephrase that: I need a modern 1X hard tail mountain bike. 

I happily ride old style mountain bikes for commuting because, really, they make the best stable machines to haul just about anything you'd ever want within a certain radius from home (insert your preferred mileage here). But when it comes to riding rooty, rocky, steep trails, well... a mountain bike would make these older bones much more comfortable.

It's no surprise that I'm gravitating towards the modern mountain bike direction. I had a blast last summer on a rented mountain bike at Kingdom Trails. The kicker? We now live within a 15 minute ride from access to a town trail network, which means after work getaways winding through the woods! 

But, with uptick in bike sales, it may be a while before I locate the right bicycle. In the meantime, I won't let the lack of a preferred bicycle prevent me from exploring!

Burlington Parks Challenge

Potvin Park

On the heels of completing Burlington's Little Free Libraries quest, I vowed to visit all 31 designated Burlington city parks. Nothing like a prepared list to follow! The adventure sparked interest in our family: my son and his girlfriend are nearing completion. My husband also wanted to join so we began our own quest together, took a breather in June-July while we moved, and finished in late August.

Our first day, I took the opportunity to also test recently installed albatross handle bars on my Clementine (keepers!). We visited 10 parks. Highlights included tiny Potvin Park with it's local art and colorful Adirondack chair, Quarry Natural Area with very vocal frogs, and Crescent Woods, a ravine type park - never knew this park existed!

Crescent Woods

Quarry Natural Area.

Quarry Natural Area frogs.

For a while, because I had the inclination to keep moving, I visited a few parks on my own. Thankfully, my husband found renewed interest in early August, as we rode together, revisiting places I had soloed. I was delighted to be pedaling together again, carrying on meaningful conversation that only cycling or outdoor exercise lends itself to.

Recently renovated Roundhouse Park.

,

Ledge Road Overlook, an odd underused space tucked between neighborhoods. I can't locate any historical info online.

Our last day was comprised of strategic planning to finish visiting the last 7 of 31 total city parks. From lake shore to hillside visits, to river bottom land, I was pretty tired later when we arrived home at dusk. Of special note, Ledge Road Overlook Park appeared to be an old homestead with remaining standing fireplace. A tucked away plot - maybe donated to the city once upon a time - but I cannot locate any information online. 

Now that this challenge is behind me, my husband asked me what my next goal is. Would I now ride to all Cochester's parks? Truth is, it seems I'm content with this limbo we've found ourselves in for the foreseeable future. Stasis in any other time could be a recipe for unhappiness -  I used to scheme vacations a year ahead. Now it feels okay to live in the present: I'm looking forward to a upcoming in-state adventure with my husband, to creating another bicycle bag, to refurbishing some furniture for our new home, all the while slowly looking for a new work position. And, before we know it, coffeeneuring will be upon us, so there's that outdoor adventure to look forward to.

It never ends...

And why oh why am I searching Craigslist, drawn to find a pink/purple Specialized Hardrock Ultra or a GT frame of the same era? I've certainly gravitated to step through bicycles, but on some level I miss the utility and lightness of my Trek Antelope, or is it because I want another bike to fix up to keep my unemployed self busier?

Getting a Grip on Life Challenges - Establishing a Fluid Routine

This time is weird for everyone and I feel especially lucky.

After a major family move that had been in the works since last autumn, we transitioned a month ago - indeed our new house construction was only 6 weeks behind schedule due to Vermont's entire industry shutting down for a period. A strong seller's real estate market bounced back after a minor hiccup so our other home worries will soon be a memory.

Like many others, I've been out of work for months without any indication I will be returning anytime soon. My husband, whose goal was to retire this past June, has continued working, so I'm thankful and sad because it may be sometime before I'm employed again and carry our family benefits. Fortunately, I'm also preoccupied with new and old house tasks, have sewn numerous pillow and cushion covers, altered shower curtains, and continually help my mother's household. Our governor has handled this pandemic with aplomb, conducting 3 per week press conferences to keep the public informed - all with a calm presence. I'm very thankful we live in a small state with wonderful leadership.

Our adult children continue to live with us: a recent high school graduate and a senior at a local college. The eldest son has found online part-time work while assured he will have a mix of online/in-person classes next semester. The other son is recovering from a broken wrist,  wasn't planning on higher education, so he's trying to figure out what comes next. We had to postpone a trip to Colorado where he planned on attending bike mechanic school. At least he's able to connect with friends and get outside.

Living one day at a time has not come easy. I've learned to also care for my mental health - an important topic in the news recently - by going on almost daily bike rides. Some rides encompass errands; some include bringing a picnic lunch. I ride with my husband occasionally, and have also taken up swimming in the lake again. 

Cycling for me, like for many of my readers, is an emotional outlet. Time to reflect and sort through difficult decisions. I believe the simple yet powerful motion of turning one pedal at a time will pull me through this difficult time.

An Unforeseen Advantage of Different Shift Systems?

I wish I could say I purposely set up each of my four bicycles with unique shifting mechanisms, but it's simply not true. I, like many others, have multiple bikes because of their various advantages for preferred riding styles. It just so happens, for example, that older mountain bikes had thumbshifters; my Rivendell came stock with thumbshifters setup inwardly; a Peugeot UO 14 has downtube levers; and my Dahon folder came with Grip Shift. Whatever the setup, it surprised me, with a recent thumb injury, that only the Dahon allowed me to continue riding with minimal stress to my thumb. I simply allow the questionable thumb to hang while the rest of my digits control steering and braking - easily done on a folder's shortened grips. When I shift, my index finger controls the shifting while my thumb is barely used. 

Once again, the versatile Dahon Boardwalk saves the day.

In Praise of the The Joe Blow Floor Pump

A floor pump is one of those understated items that a bike lover must have, yet it's neither sexy nor as exciting as new bar tape or tires. Yet without a trustworthy pump, fixing a flat tire with only a mini-pump is awkward and time consuming. After purchasing too many inexpensive floor pumps that have malfunctioned within two years, we've settled on the Joe Blow Max HP floor pump. Retailing between 30-40.00 it's not the most expensive pump, but has been a reliable companion, even after 10 years of normal use, This model has both Presta and Schraeder connections, a large, easy to read pressure gauge with sliding marker for highlighting a favorite pressure, ability to pump high pressure in a reasonable time frame, and sturdy, comfortable handles. I'd highly recommend this version if you're a home mechanic looking for a reasonably priced floor pump.

What's your advice for a decent floor pump?