altoid
I donated for the custom title. Suck it.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2010
- Messages
- 2,335
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Car(s)
- ‘14 Mazderp3, ‘22 Checkpoint SL 5
For some entertainment, my clutch lever/cable story is a bit funny.
Last weekend, the night before a canyon ride, I went to clean the bike and prepare the luggage. For whatever reason, I sat on it and went to start it, and then realized the clutch lever seized and wouldn't return on its own.
Disappointed, I went back upstairs and started researching the issue. Turns out the clutch cable for my bike was redesigned for the year after mine, as its original shape caused clutch cable fraying. This happening mid-ride would be a seriously bad time, so I ordered the replacement part and made peace with not having a working bike for a week or two. The part is supposed to arrive today.
Last night, in anticipation of today's shipment, I went to the bike to clean the clutch lever assembly, to make the install quicker in the evening. And then I found that it mostly works. One quick spritz of WD-40 later, it works like new.
More than a little confused, I realized that whole section is very dirty, and not from riding and neglect. There's a white residue all over the place, but only on that side.
I looked around and then up, and now I have a theory: someone used a leaf blower by that window and sprayed whatever that white stuff is all over the ceiling, plant, and my bike. It's sticky, so the lever seized, but after a few days it mostly let go.
Then I went back inside and wrote an email that got me new parking spots today. At least the clutch cable upgrade is a great idea anyway. ?
Speaking of parking, I got an immense upgrade as a result!
When I moved into this apartment a few weeks ago, I requested tandem spots for easier bike + car life, but also to have a guest spot in a pinch. Well, I got dealt a pretty crappy hand, as the spots I was assigned were:
• not actually two spots, with the garage gate motor taking up enough space between them to make the back one useless for a car;
• right next to a window where leaf blowers go nuts, resulting in the aforementioned fun; and
• not actually underneath my building, but the one next to it.
No car sold in the US is narrow enough to get through:
Look at this inconvenient shit:
The bike is dirtier being parked than ridden:
After last night's discovery, I walked around the parking areas and picked out my favorite alternatives, based on which ones had no cars in them, and emailed the leasing office. Today, 14 hours later, I got my top choice:
• two fully and easily accessible spots;
• nowhere near an opening to the outside; and
• underneath my building, right next to the stairs, elevator, and my mailbox.
Four parking spots from the nearest opening:
Proper width and full access:
Bonus space behind them, making bike + two cars even easier:
Today's p. alright so far…
Last weekend, the night before a canyon ride, I went to clean the bike and prepare the luggage. For whatever reason, I sat on it and went to start it, and then realized the clutch lever seized and wouldn't return on its own.
Disappointed, I went back upstairs and started researching the issue. Turns out the clutch cable for my bike was redesigned for the year after mine, as its original shape caused clutch cable fraying. This happening mid-ride would be a seriously bad time, so I ordered the replacement part and made peace with not having a working bike for a week or two. The part is supposed to arrive today.
Last night, in anticipation of today's shipment, I went to the bike to clean the clutch lever assembly, to make the install quicker in the evening. And then I found that it mostly works. One quick spritz of WD-40 later, it works like new.
More than a little confused, I realized that whole section is very dirty, and not from riding and neglect. There's a white residue all over the place, but only on that side.
I looked around and then up, and now I have a theory: someone used a leaf blower by that window and sprayed whatever that white stuff is all over the ceiling, plant, and my bike. It's sticky, so the lever seized, but after a few days it mostly let go.
Then I went back inside and wrote an email that got me new parking spots today. At least the clutch cable upgrade is a great idea anyway. ?
Speaking of parking, I got an immense upgrade as a result!
When I moved into this apartment a few weeks ago, I requested tandem spots for easier bike + car life, but also to have a guest spot in a pinch. Well, I got dealt a pretty crappy hand, as the spots I was assigned were:
• not actually two spots, with the garage gate motor taking up enough space between them to make the back one useless for a car;
• right next to a window where leaf blowers go nuts, resulting in the aforementioned fun; and
• not actually underneath my building, but the one next to it.
No car sold in the US is narrow enough to get through:
Look at this inconvenient shit:
The bike is dirtier being parked than ridden:
After last night's discovery, I walked around the parking areas and picked out my favorite alternatives, based on which ones had no cars in them, and emailed the leasing office. Today, 14 hours later, I got my top choice:
• two fully and easily accessible spots;
• nowhere near an opening to the outside; and
• underneath my building, right next to the stairs, elevator, and my mailbox.
Four parking spots from the nearest opening:
Proper width and full access:
Bonus space behind them, making bike + two cars even easier:
Today's p. alright so far…