To this:
With only a leetle help from our friends and a couple of weblinks. The hardest part was the first step. After much cursing and swearing and waving about of the pedal wrench, I sweet talked John into using his manly brute force to bully my pedals off. (We removed Donna's without a hitch so we knew we were doing it right, but mine were STUCK.) This site was VERY helpful - especially the advice to shift gears so that the chain was covering the largest ring. That little bit of wisdom kept me from gouging myself on the chain ring. Twice. Kevin sent this video link which would have helped a lot if I had seen it in time. (Thanks Kev!) Of course Donna was done with her bike in like 30 minutes, while I took almost two hours. She is much more willing to jump in and do. I have to waffle, re-check the instructions, stare at all the oily thingies, and THEN accomplish the step. (Lather, rinse, repeat.)
I am a tiny bit concerned about the re-assembly. Sure, sure, sure - all I have to do is follow the same directions in reverse. Do you want to know how not great I am at doing that with driving directions?! I think RBR said it well when she said, "I honestly do not think I would be willing to ride anything I had any part in assembling." That is how I have always felt about myself. Six weeks ago I would have more than happily forked over the $$ to have someone else (preferably someone who knew about bikes) do all this mechanical breaking apart/putting back together stuff. Now? I am embracing my 2008 Motto "Behold, I am doing a new thing." I am stronger (and hopefully more mechanically ept) than before. (Besides I have no more $$. My attorney has it all!)
If, on Saturday, you see a headline on the internet about some freaky race accident where not the rider, but the BIKE collapsed - you'll know who to blame and where to send flowers. (I like lilies, by the way.)
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13 comments:
Awesome post! Freaking hilarious!
I think that you are become stronger everyday!
I am a little afraid. The next time I see you, you'll be a new person! That is great!
BTW: Thanks for the links and expect my call when I have bike troubles!
So when I finally get around to buying a bike, and i have questions, I can count on you, right? :)
WOW. Impressive!!! I have assembled a tricycle and thought that was challenging.
This would have taken me hours too. Plus, I would have searched the internet for hours trying to find information.
I think all will be ok. You are strong!
LOL. If your handle bars are a little crooked, so what! I've got the same motto. It's time to start doing and stop paying!!!
You are funny! I bet the assembly is fine :)
Once, Jeff asked me to do some change out the tube in his back tire for him so I did. After he rode it the next time, he said he was going down a hill and couldn't break. He looked back and noticed I'd forgotten to close the break thingy back. He decided I was trying to kill him.
...I can't talk today...I don't know why I typed "Jeff asked me to do some change out the tube"
hehe
Haha, I felt similarly until I got my travel bike, which has to be taken apart and put together every time I go on a trip with it. I still always go for a short test ride after putting it together to make sure I haven't forgotten something important, like the brake thingy Cindy mentioned.
Good job and with continued practice, it'll get easier. Good excuse to keep traveling with the bike :-)
You'll be awesome re-assembling your bike!!! It will just be one part of your wonderful Pacific grove Tri experience!!
When do you guys leave? Where do you fly into? Is your race saturday or sunday?? DO let me know!
As for mothering from a distance-it's not the best thing! But I've had to deal with things that have been thrust my way and I've had no other option! You can do it! I know it's not what you want but you have great kids! It's amazing how smart and together your kids can be!!! I cry sometimes thinking I'm the worlds worst mother because my son lives in tennessee and I live in california, but I have a stable normal son-some peoples kids aren't that and they live with their parents! So I have to put everything in perspective. It sucks don't get me wrong! Did I say i cry? But if you are strong enough and have enough love you and your kids can do amazing things!!!! I'm here for you!!!
Penny
GOOD ON YOU!!! Good luck with the travel, the putting back together of the bike, and the race of course!!!
Look forward to the pics and report.
I cracked up when you said it took Donna 30 minutes and you two hours to get the bikes packed.
Glenn and I are different in a similar way. Even if he is not too familiar with something he will dive in and start "doing" while I sit there "thinking" and "worrying" and thinking I should "read" more about it first.
As long as you do a test ride you should be fine. If in doubt there will probably be bike folks at the event that would be happy to help.
SO EXCITING!
Have fun.. and yeah you have every right to feel accomplished. Take that from someone who takes an hour to dismantle his pedals!
Yikes that is a tough job! I don't think I could be that patient to get it apart without ripping the pieces apart!
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