My Poor Cross Check

In the midst of a computer install-fest this afternoon I pulled out the Cross Check with the intention of cleaning the thing up a bit and getting it road ready again. The Cross Check had been my main bike up until I wiped out and broke my thumb in October. I spent a good 6 weeks unable to do much work on bikes and then spent the next 2 weeks wrapping up the winter bike which I’m riding now. So, this is the first time I’ve given it a good looking over since the accident.

I remember thinking as I was above my front wheel hanging onto the bars facing downward flying through the air that I had bent my rims - I was somewhat correct - the wheel is out of true a bit - but not much surprisingly. I was surprised walking it back with my thumb throbbing - because it appeared as if the threadless stem had been knocked out of position. I say appeared because today, after taking a good look at things I realized the fork was nice and bent. It’s apparently going to cost me more out of pocket to fix my bike than it did to fix my thumb - I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not…

So now the decision - do I try to rebend it? Have a mech do it? Buy a new fork? …and then there’s the wheel truing… and I wonder if my frame’s bent now as well… time to get to work I suppose.

In an attempt to simplify my life, I am getting rid of old computer parts - tonights project: going through 21 100MB Iomega Zip Disks. I sometimes wish I could go back in time just to tell myself to not save all this crap. Anyone want 5 lbs of parallel and serial cables?

Blue Sparks and Ozone

I appear to have just blown the PSU in my home server. Sigh… I miss the days when PSUs had on/off switches. So now the question is - buy a replacement and stick with the silly cramped case I have OR start down the road of building a near silent server. Decisions, decisions.

Winter Bike - Complete!

I finally have the winter bike together. I put the studded tires on this morning and rode about 3 miles into work. I was averaging close to 10 MPH - but really working for it. Switching from nice smooth road tires to knobby studded tires is going to take some getting used to. Hopefully I’ll be able to post some photos of the beast soon.

Kalamazoo KG-31: You are Mine!

I finished paying for the KG-31 last night. I should have it by December 31st. Right now it’s being worked on - new bridge, fret leveling, setup, etc… It was a little hard to make the last payment and take it directly to the shop, but good things come to those who wait. Even without the work, it plays like a dream. First time in a long time I’ve looked forward to New Year’s Eve.

First day of the Intermediate Java training at LCC West… so far just been reading Pro Git and trying to be productive… first days are lame.

Surgery Tomorrow - Again

I’ve having follow-up surgery tomorrow for my broken thumb tomorrow. They’ll be removing the temporary pins they put in and hopefully everything has set properly. With luck everything will be fine and I won’t break another bone for a long, long time.

Just picked up two copies of the Origin of the Species with Kirk Cameron’s introduction. Let the mockery begin!

I hit a deer today on my way to work (in broad daylight, no less). Car might be totaled, but is drivable. Happy Monday! :/