On the fate of my former front panniers

About ten years ago, I upgraded my front panniers from MEC Cordura bags to Ortleib waterproof bags. Since then, the old panniers have been hanging from a hook in my storage space. However, they have now gone to a better place. It emerged a month or two ago that Désirée wanted some small panniers, having borrowed some last summer for the trip to Quebec City. After some discrete negotiations, I was given the green light to give them to Désirée as birthday presents which I described as "pre-tested" along with some books she wanted.

That was at the start of the month. Strangely enough, last night I had a dream in which was arguing with Désirée's father (my brother Philip) about how that type of MEC bag hooked on. He had been insisting in his uninformed way that it wasn't a good system. (One piece of context here is that Philip does not own a bicycle. He's the black sheep of family in that respect.) I demonstrated how it was supposed to go on and pointed out that I have been using MEC bags which hooked on like that for years. There was an "oh" from my brother.

While I love my brother, I find he sometimes isn't as informed as he thinks he is. I remember one real discussion where he was insisting that "schmaltzy" had a meaning of "overly sweet". I had to point out to him that a better definition was "cloying", as "schmaltz" referred to chicken fat. It had to be pointed out to him that I had been working in a library serving a Jewish community for at least a decade at that point, so I was likely better informed than he was on the subject.

On finally configuring Justin Thyme to my satisfaction using a new bike tool

 I am often rather annoyed with Facebook ads. However, nothing comes for free and all that. Nonethless, a few weeks ago, I saw an ad on Facebook for a bike tool that promised to make it easier to put tires on rims without damaging the inner tube. 

More than a year ago, I was frustrated in my attempts to put my favourite tires on Justin Thyme. I tried several times, but I always ended up piercing the inner tube. Consequently, I had put the serviceable but not notably puncture resistant tires Justin came with back on.

While the tool did seem a shade expensive, it looked like a good idea, so I ordered one. I have bought more expensive and less useful things during the Pandemic. When I went out for a walk around the block this afternoon, it was in my mailbox. 

As the day was sunny and lousy weather is expected over the next three days, I decided to try the device after work.  Armed with tool bag, pump and tires, I made my way down the front stairs to the sidewalk. 

As luck would have it, a neighbour just setting off on a "whee" bike asked me if he might borrow my pump as he wanted to put an extra 15 PSI in his rear tire. As it was easy for me to do so while social distancing, I said: "Sure." While I was working, three of my fellow condo owners and the girlfriend of one of them came out and we chatted at appropriate distances in the warm afternoon sunshine.

Even with the tool, it was not easy to put the tires on the rim. It took a worrisome amount of force each time. However, after the last snap, the tire was on and the inner tube inflated. So, alls well. Justin Thyme now has the narrower, tougher tire that I like. *Touch wood.*

On just how apt the naming of Justin Thyme was

This article on the CBC makes it very clear to me that my decision to buy Justin Thyme was extremely well timed. This in turn means that his name is also extremely apt.

On being immortalised in verse

In honour of my 50th birthday, Margo immortalised me with the following poem during a Zoom cocktail party. I reproduce it here with her permission.

A Moose of Many Bikes

For the wind in his hair his heartstrings they yearned.
At the age of fifteen, when he’d saved what he’d earned,
he went to the bike shop and spied in her glory
his very first steed - his dear Castafiore.

She took him quite far and he loved her no doubt,
but more distant horizons began to call out,
so he bought Leonardo when out in The West.
On some challenging rides he was put to the test.

Leonardo was game for the San Juans and Spain
and England and Scotland and more.
Then honed to his best he was put to the test
From western to eastern seashore.

Back at home Castafiore - left out at some length -
and ridden quite hard about town,
had a frame that no longer had structural strength.
Now she hangs on his wall with a frown.

Floria F. was his next urban steed,
and he kitted her out with a crate.
To hear of her treatment makes my heart bleed.
She in time met the same sorry fate.

Her components removed to a light Kona frame,
the new rig sans luggage went wheee.
Victor’s new purpose would not be the same
He’s out in front of a Défi.

But what would now serve for the workday commute?
And what about all of those books?
With Justin from MEC - and a trailer to boot -
the rig garners curious looks.

So raise up your glasses and toast our dear Moose!
He rides everywhere! He rides free and loose!
For roads yet to ride, may ideas never lack!
May the wind always be at his back! 

Thank you Margo!!!! 

Also, thank you Margaret for the screenshot.

On some minor events

Old rails

I was walking on the still active railway spur line along the Lachine canal a few weeks ago when I noticed that the plates holding the rails to the ties had dates on them along with the railway's initials. 

Some had the current CN initials in a manner close to the famous CN logo and relatively recent date, 1972 in this case.

Others had the older initials, viz CNR, complete with periods, as well as much older dates! I later observed that it wasn't just the plates but also the rails themselves that had dates on them. This was the oldest I noticed.

Unless I am wildly out to lunch, the dates are those of the manufacture of the hardware, so these bits of the line are nearly a hundred years old! Before any of you start calling Canada's first astronaut or the Minister of Transport demanding an inquiry, I submit the observation that this is and probably always was a low speed spur line serving industry. As such, the rails would have been under relatively little stress and wear. Furthermore, it is likely that some of the rails and plates may have been first used on main or branch lines before being re-used on this spur line.

Old bike frames

Last Wednesday, I set off on Justin with the trailer to deliver two boxes of books to the Library. It was a crisp and clear day. I didn't get very far. My right hand (rear) brake-shifter lever would only go backwards after the application of disconcertingly large amount of force, followed by a disturbing click then slackness which did not produce much braking force. I returned home, then used Communauto to deliver and pick up the books. I then brought Justin into the closest bike shop to see if they could figure out what the issue was. Thankfully, it was a matter of about 10 minutes of adjustment. While I waited, I noticed the bike shop had farmes of expired bikes as part of the decor. For instance, this gate barring access to the workshop area uses the frame of what I assume is a Cervélo.

This lamp is supported by another Cervélo frame.

Work these days

Yesterday, my parents held a virtual "April birthday party in November." If I may digress, an unusually large number of members of my family (including both my parents) have their birthdays in April. Late last century, the tradition emerged of having a collective birthday party slash family reunion for them, usually at my parents' house. For obvious reasons, this did not happen this year. A few weeks ago, my Mother decided to host a virtual "April birthday party" on Zoom. We ended up being about a dozen Zoom screens, spread out over 4 time zones, 3 countries and 2 continents.

One of my cousins asked me if I was still working at the Library. I said: "No, but I still working for the Library!" I then grabbed a book at my left to show the camera saying that I was at the very spot I work these days. I then produced a Cutter-Sanborn three figure author table to further illustrate my point.

On rain gear

 I think I got my money's worth out of my Activa rainpants. I bought them nearly 14 years ago at Capp's bike shop in New Westminister on the same trip as when I bought Leonardo. They spent most of their time in mesh bag of rain gear at the bottom of a backpack just in case it would rain. They came in handy in 6 countries on 3 continents, not to mention countless comutes. However, they were getting long in the tooth and the lining was ripped in a few places, including the posterior making them less watertight than one would wish.

I had settled on the Showers Pass Transit pants, which although nominally stocked by MEC, aren't available in my size from said commerce. So I decided to order them directly on-line. Earlier this week, I got an email from FedEx saying they would be delivered today. However, today is a Wednesday, so I would be out for some time delivering and bringing back books from the Library. Consequently, I used a link to FedEx to delay delivery for 24 hours.

As luck would have it, it was raining today, so I donned my rain gear and set off to the Library with two boxes of books in garbage bags on the covered bike trailer. Afterwards, I went to a shoe repair store in search of shoe laces. The guy behind the counter notice my waterproof shoe coverings (also made Showers Pass) and wanted to know where I had got them. I replied at MEC and tried to explain that they had the flaw that they aren't compatible with cleats. This proved a bit of a challenge as the conversation was in French, my French vocabulary vis-à-vis bike bits isn't as strong as it might be, and the fact that the guy's biking experience evidently didn't run to cleated shoes.

I worked at home until 8 PM and then ordered in a pizza. When it arrived, the delivery guy commented that there was a parcel at my door. Lo and behold, it proved to be the Showers Pass bike pants, delivered a day ahead of schedule!

On someone trying to ride my bike

 Earlier this week, I walked down my front steps and saw someone trying to ride my bike.

Or maybe just wanted a ride.

 

Or perhaps it was just a nice perch. ;-)