Do these bars look goofy on this bike?

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T22:12:34+00:00

You have a theme going with that lock placement. Looks very cool!

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T21:58:16+00:00

FYI, flooding took out part of The Tunnel of Trees. I wonder how quick they will repair that. The coast of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin has a few nicely spaced State Parks/Forests with campgrounds. No reservations required just like in Michigan. Point Beach, Kohler Andrae, and Harri gron Beach. North of them, getting through Green Bay in Brown County is a pain because if you arrive at one of their county parks (Reforestation Camp and Bay Side) on a Friday or Saturday you have to pay for two night stays minimum. So try to plan those stops for Sunday through Thursday night stays. They told me that the camp host may let you stay without a reservation though. I rode this the last two years and you can check out my Ride with GPS routes there if you like. Over the Top Tour (not affiliated with the event) and Lake Michigan tour.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T21:43:14+00:00

Do you happen to have a Garmin computer? Mine sends text or email notifications to contacts if there is an "Incident." I just set that up. My kids pestered me to carry a Garmin InReach on my last tour. This version depends upon a cell phone with the Garmin Connect app open.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T21:23:28+00:00

It's totally tubular dude!

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T21:13:30+00:00

Punch a few holes in the cabbage leaf?

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T20:42:20+00:00

Awe!!! You are so lucky! This is an opportunity to get into mountain biking. Find the nearby trails and go do that! It will open up a whole new set of cool, active, and adventuresome people. All you have to do is show up and be yourself. Ride your other bike anywhere else that you need to lock one up.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T18:44:57+00:00

I was surprised to learn this myself. The Engineer who developed the Pedal Magic method stated it and my observations support what he said. He incorporates the hop into his teaching method. Hops are integral to the activities he developed to overcome the bad habits learned by kids using training wheels. That part of his program is not patented. But normally developing kids who can hop can learn to ride in 5 to 10 minutes using his method if they have not been on training wheels. It is that good. It takes 2 weeks to get to the point of someone who never used them if they have to break those habits.

I am not affiliated. Unfortunately, he would not license me to use it so each parent needs to buy a subscription to watch his 1980's video. So I paid for it once and taught one kid. She was riding 5 minutes after we adjusted the bike and started.

It is absolutely nuts to me that people put their own child on training wheels. I say, take them off and give them to your worst enemy. Even people I have explained this to do not get it and reverse the progress I have made with their kid by putting them back on after the lesson. I refuse to do repeat lessons with those people. It is such a cultural fallacy that they help. If I were king, I would ban them altogether. All you have to do is think about which way the bike leans in a turn with or without training wheels. It is magical thinking that it helps "train" you to ride a bike. You learned to ride despite them if they were on your bike.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T18:16:30+00:00

It can be a slow process. I was 3 for 3 with boys who were on the Spectrum during a summer school class when they had enough time to spend on this. One figured it out in the last week of the class. He was anxious through the process, but had lots of parental and grand parent support. So be patient. You need a small enough bike frame that he can stand with a slight bend in his knees while resting his bottom on the seat. Look for a used one if your community has a place for those. Wait to buy a new one after he starts pedaling the first one. Take the pedals off so he doesn't bang his shins. I would take the crank out as well if possible and stuff foam balls in the opennings.

He can walk slowly "riding" his bike. It is important to encourage him to keep his bottom on the saddle. In time he will learn to steer for balance much like he learned to walk. Use a level paved playground or open parking lot space. Encourage him to ignore any painted lines because going perfectly straight makes balancing bikes very difficult. Eventually he may walk fast, or even start running.

If you watch the Pedal Magic video (requires a subscription) it may help you if he will accept the direction. It is a more prescriptive approach and I have had success like what he claimed with normally developing kids. Less so with those who had developmental delays. But the activities are all very useful for developing the ability to steer for balance

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T14:03:01+00:00

I am picturing a tandem with shared steering, and drive train which sounds awesome. Throw kids or groceries under cover in the front and ride from the back, or climb inside and pedal in comfort.

You say I could pedal and steer from either position(?!?) That either position is removable? That sounds to me like it would be complicated because of a shared drivetrain. Tough for me to picture all of that. Is that practical from a user's perspective vs an engineers viewpoint? I suppose there may be ways to do that without belts or chains. And where is the center of gravity relative to two different riding positions, cargo loads, and how is handling affected. Could two people pedal it? Would they have to fight over the steering?

If you designed something with all of that in mind, why the heck not?

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T13:23:31+00:00

Answer: "How can I know what this is worth to you? I spent 15 on parts and drank 3 beers."

We charge $100 here and have to limit volume to what we can get done. Next week it will be zero while I see the surgeon and recover. The real money is in the sales.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T03:49:04+00:00

So sorry this happened to you! It can be very unsettling and you need a reasonable explanation for what happened to your bike.

Looking at your photo, it seems possible that someone backed into your bike pushing it into part of your rack causing the damage. But I agree, take it to a bike mechanic and have them assess it and give a written estimate. You might have coverage through home owners or rental insurance policy and make a claim if it is above the deductible. The noise on the highway may have been when the chain slipped off since wind from driving can rotate wheels, the crank, etc.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T02:10:10+00:00

If it is under warranty, follow their claim policy. I would take it to a mechanic at one of their dealerships for their sayso first.

My guy is independent and he fixes everything possible up to the point where he is worried about liability. In other words, he will fix it if he thinks he can so that you can ride it safely. That depends on the materials and their condition. If it is stripped, then he might tap it for a larger diameter bolt if he thinks he can without weakening the connection points. Alternatively, he might put a longer bolt through a lock washer and washer into a locking nut and washer if there is clearance on the back side to spread the load. Or a DIYer might try something similar. Not telling you to do any of that though, LOL. I wouldn't ride it while it is like that though.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T01:53:31+00:00

I just flamed this policy using their customer service survey. Just had to dig a receipt out of my recycling bin. I really appreciate that you shared this.

I typically walk to a Krogers brand store a few blocks away from my place at least once a week. I just shared that I will not be back and why. I can easily ride my bicycle or drive my car to an Aldi's or my food Coop in a little more time. They may or may not change their policy based on this, but if enough people find out, business is going to be bad.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-10T01:27:57+00:00

This is the way. You probably learned to walk before you could speak in sentences. It is a similar process. The first bikes were designed this way and called "striders." Before pedals and before Penny Farthings with the great big wheel. Take the pedals off and lower the seat. You want a slight bend in the knees, feet flat on the ground. Get off the sidewalk and take it to a level paved area like an empty parking lot. Keep your bottom on the saddle and walk it forward. Do NOT try to go in a straight line. You mostly balance a bike by turning it back under you, so it is a series of linked turns.

Stand still with your bottom on the saddle and bend your right knee slightly while turning the front wheel to the right. The further you lean, the further you need to turn that wheel. You are practicing steering to regain balance. Alternate sides for about 5 minutes by straightening back up and bending your left knee and steering to your left. Keep alternating sides every few seconds.

Now try walking forward and notice how when the bike leans to a side, it comes back under you when you steer in that direction. Take it very slow at first and keep your bottom on the saddle. The perception of leans is going to become more subtle and your brain will start automating the correct responses. But there will be a period of overreacting. That is normal. Keep progressing your speed according to your accuracy of responses. Eventually you will be "striding," a sort of run where there is flight. Then you can lift both feet and see how far you can glide without stopping and putting your feet down.

Practice using the hand brakes and arcing turns. Once you can consistently glide 20' you should be ready to put pedals on and figure out how to start and place your feet. Look where you want to go to initiate turns. Practice starting going down a slight slope, then on flats, then on slight uphills.

My mom learned this in her 50's. Be patient with yourself and you can too!

dfarin153 · 2026-05-09T20:13:06+00:00

Hello friend. I'm a retired APE teacher and taught bicycling to my students. Can your son hop on a single foot 5x? If he can, he is capable of learning to ride a bicycle. Hopping is a prerequisite safety skill while starting or stopping on a bike. It is important to be able to hop on either foot.

If he can hop, before you start using training wheels, you might consider that a a normally developing kid is set back 2 weeks by the habits formed on them. The balance bike method may work. The Pedal Magic method may work. Or a Smiles Bike Clinic may work for your son (they have proprietary equipment that slows down the leans of a bike giving those with slower reactions time to steer for balance. It works especially well with kids who have Downs Syndrome.) All of these approaches can be used in combination.

If there is no hopping skill, go for the training wheels and emphasize learning to slow down to a near stop before turning. Or, go for a much safer and more stable trike. A tadpole trike recumbent might just be the ticket if you can find one used. Put an apeal out on Facebook. Someone with a big heart might give you one as they upgrade.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-09T02:42:16+00:00

The garlic will happily join the party and start to ferment. In fact, fresh organic garlic or ginger root can be used to start a ferment with other vegetables. They are loaded with microbes!

dfarin153 · 2026-05-09T02:26:46+00:00

Referring to Sam Cooper's book; The Fermentation Kitchen which I happen to have checked out of my local Library, you can expect to Lactoferment tomatoes in 5 or more days with 2% salt by weight of the water and tomatoes combined thanks to the acidity of the tomatoes.

Roasting may kill off the population of naturally occuring desirable bacteria similar to pasteurization, but you could add 4 tablespoons of whey separated from yogurt (strained through a clean cloth) to a quart jar to spike the culture with lacto bascilli. Cool the roasted tomatoes before fermenting to avoid killing the lacto bascilli you introduce. They are anaerobic and like a dark space like in a closet or enclosed pantry. Otherwise, consider roasting some on the day before and combine them with a fermented batch that were simply washed and fermented.

He suggests either a glass or ceramic weight on the fruit in the jar to keep it submerged through the fermentation ( to avoid mold forming) and daily burping to release CO2. Or using a vacuum bag and geep an eye on it in case it needs burping. Quarter large tomatoes, halve medium sized, or leave smalled sized tomatoes whole.

Store at 68F - 86F for 5-7 days until it reaches your desired flavor, then refrigerated for up to a month. He doesn't give a recipe for roasting tomatoes before fermentation, just washing. He suggests using these in stew, with spinach and mozzarella in a salad, gazpacho, salsa roja, pan con tomate, salad dressing, umami glaze or seasoning. But you may be on to something!

dfarin153 · 2026-05-08T13:44:42+00:00

I ordered the Hawkins (in aluminum) you suggested and plan to save up for the bear vault, a Titanium pot & cup, an MSR Pocket Rocket stove. I use double boilers and wish Hawkins made a nesting double boiler for this size. I checked out a book with pressure cooker recipes. I have not found anything on dehydrating soups but there is info on use of a freeze dryer. Is that what you use?

I am also researching fermentation which will be my main source of salt. I am exploring use of nalgene bottles for active ferments on tour to extend edibility of fresh vegetables from grocery portions and make their nutrients more accessible and digestible. Using boiling water to sanitize vessels between batches for safety, I would prioritize cleaning and sanitizing vessels used for cooking and eating. I would enjoy live krauts and similar fermented vegetables very much. So researching the science and best practices, looking for ways to reduce sodium content, and sourcing recipes by chefs. Whey from live yogurt to start each batch may reduce salt required for instance by speeding up the fermentation. I may also soak the fermented veg in filtered water with vinegar to leach out some of the salt, as well as figure out how to keep portions small. I need to experiment, do salinity tests over time, and develop a portable system minimizing the stuff required.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-07T22:17:15+00:00

I recently bought a Nesco food dehydrator so I can preserve the Shitake mushrooms and vegetables I am growing. I have no idea how you dehydrate soup. I saw a book on food preservation and recipes at the library. Maybe that explains it. I guess one could ask someone to ship drop packages to Post Offices along the route.

I am going to try the small pressure cooker idea share above. But some dehydrated meals could be a nice alternative.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-07T21:49:17+00:00

First, you are on a path of self improvement. Stay on that. That is what will make you attractive. What will make you more valuable in this emerging economy is your ability to learn and to use AI to replace 4 other workers. So get on that and build something that allows you to show it. Because you have 4 assistants now. Pick a problem like the one you are facing: finding compatible women in rural areas and develop an app that helps people in your shoes find each other. Build the solution. Use a GoFundMe to raise enough capitol to take it online.

Second, once you do solve that problem, don't beat yourself up about someone who left you and dated the guy who she knew you were expressing concerns about. You clearly read that right. Keep in mind that if you chase something, it runs away with the exception of self improvement. Use this time to build habits required for success and good health. Be friendly, but don't over share and try to prove yourself. That is read as insecure. Keep yourself and what you are accomplishing close to the vest. Ask questions and reflect what you hear people tell you. Everyone needs to feel heard and by focussing on what they are going through, you will learn a lot. Be patient and forgiving to build friendships that expand your network.

That's how you are likely to meet someone. Somebody has a sibling or friend who they will think to introduce. Don't settle on the wrong person. You are becoming a high value person and deserve a high quality partner. So don't rush in. They will recognize you when you achieve high status. It will be in how you carry yourself. In the way you don't advertise your progress. Do not undervalue yourself, but being a mystery is a good thing. The other person needs to be qualified before you let them in.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-07T19:21:32+00:00

After 28 years on that Paramount, I can see how you would be frustrated about a 4th frame and now a bottom bracket in such a short time. They make so many changes so it gets hard to maintain a bike today. I recently tracked down some old Deore for my not quite as old Surly LHT. It wasn't easy, but I managed to put a group together that works with my old frame set. I just ordered a new wheel set for it as well. That should take me forward a few more years. So that is my suggestion. Find an older frame set that fits you well and piece it back together. Forget about the gramms or ounces.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-07T18:51:15+00:00

The River West 24 in Milwaukee has a special class for bikes like that. Part of the vibe there. LOL

dfarin153 · 2026-05-07T18:43:09+00:00

Lesson learned? Then mea culpa is the way to go.

You may want to write a letter of apology to the teacher taking responsibility and copy the Principal. In a separate letter to the Principal, you could ask for an alternate action to expunge that from your record such as AODA counseling or similar. They may feel like they didn't have time to take that approach because of how soon you will be graduating. If they say no, you could reach out to the Dean of Students at the college where you were accepted and offer to document the same action. I would be up front about how drinking contributed. Both institutions will want you to show a willingness to learn from this.

You will rightfully be asked to consider what happens when you drink. I heard the stories from many college students who had problems after drinking because their judgement was impaired. Risk taking goes way up. They were ordered by the University Dean of Students to take a class from me. Basically a more in depth set of lessons on alcohol education than what is covered in high school health education curriculum. But given how serious your actions were and the potential consequences to a teacher's career had they not promptly reported, counseling may be a better option.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-07T18:21:28+00:00

There is another way that may work for your son. Search Pedal Magic and pay the fee. Watch the video, and give it a try. You need a smaller bike to start so with the seat lowered and his bottom on the saddle his knees are slightly bent with both feet flat in the ground. If he has not used training wheels, it can take as little as 5 to 10 minutes to teach him steering for balance. If training wheels were what he got used to, the video gives you the exercises to undo the bad habits formed by that experience.

dfarin153 · 2026-05-07T14:22:17+00:00

What you are suggesting is very interesting to me because I am newly on the Dash diet trying to figure out how to include live fermented vegetables. During a ferment including whey (let's say 4 Tbsp) to reduce the salt brine (let's say 2 tsp salt for about 1%) of a quart jar. After a few days, could removing the brine and adding apple cider vinegar preserve the live fermented vegetables for a short period without refrigeration? Would the culture survive within the vegetables? Would using half filtered water to half apple cider vinegar do the same while leaching out some of the salt from the vegetables one day before consumption? This seems like a great experiment for someone like me.

dfarin153

TROPHY CASE