Broke Bike Mountain....

 I had a minor repair on the bike recently.

A broken bolt removes my kickstand

The bolt on the left broke-off INSIDE the frame, and bent the right one.

With one broken bolt and the other bent, the stand would not work.

So, I took it to 5 bike shops for the repair!

They all looked at it and said, "We cant fix that. We don't have the tools."  

Well that's not exactly accurate.  The first bike shop looked at it and spent about 12 minutes 'messing' with it.  Then, they said, "If you leave the bike with us we will get to it in the order received and you can have it back in about a week." (pictured at the back, seated looking at it.)  After that estimate I rode it away and visited other resources...

The shop where I bought it put it up on this wrack but also was not able to repair it.  Instead they advised me to get $160 of "one year maintenance." I told them I'ld be back after I had a kickstand.

I finally got a contact via Al Cole and his lovely wife Sheila.  Al has lived here for over 30 years and knows an auto mechanic who 'has the tools' to get the bolt out.  The Mobil station over on the island.

The broken bolt left is drilled out and then a special bit removes it.

So, after 5 bike shops, (all over 3 towns - on the bike) 3 hardware stores (all over 2 towns in the car) and an early morning Mobil station bike ride, it's fixed.  Cost me $80, tip included.  Priceless!

We ALL enjoy our bicycles down here!!!

November 2021

A year ago when my kickstand was brand new.

The rumors are not true!

“The reports of my death 

are greatly exaggerated.”

Last Saturday morning I was up early drinking coffee and watering my little house plants when the phone rang.  "Ring,  ring,  ring, hello?"  (i got a call) "Hello, this is big Tom. Dude, you aren't dead." (duhh) Nope, not yet.  "Well i heard you were found dead yesterday by the cleaning lady."  

George at the Halloween Party.  Age 85.

I found out later that day that Old George had passed. He was tall, funny, and rode a bicycle.  

Someone had mistaken that information for my being dead.

________________________

Next Chapter: fast forward to Wednesday.  Wednesday was my birthday and I was on my balcony about to celebrate with a cocktail and a cigar, when my phone rang.  "Hello?"  Hi, this is Skip.  "Oh Holy Shit!  What are you doing?  Get down here to the bar.  NOW!"

Bartenders: Heidi and Taylor (taken at Halloween)

Turns out my untimely demise was also reported down at the bar.  There was much laughter and merry making when it turned out I was not quite dead yet.  I got numerous hugs and kisses from both the bar maids and some local patrons.  Plus, when word got out somehow (maybe it was ME telling everyone?) that it was my birthday, AND I was not dead, they bought ALL my drinks.  It turned out to be one of my best birthdays ever.

It's good to have a birthday and it's great to not be dead.  Hope you are not dead wherever you are today.  Plus, I hope it's sunny and 79 degrees for you too.

Warmest Holiday Wishes,  Skip

November and still out and about

I'm pretty sure this place is going to want me to help them?

When the hurricane blew through, i stayed indoors.  Most days I'm out riding my bike.