Got my bike trainer!
My new (to me) bike trainer arrived a couple days ago and my roommake was kind enough to set it up for me while I slept, which is what I’ve been doing for the past couple of days. I’m comfortably shed of all the turkey and pumpkin bread I ate over Thanksgiving break and ready to get back on the way to progressing again, so I tackled it today. I was a little nervy about it, because people online have been talking about how their trainers wore their tires or damaged their paint jobs… and then my roommate and I discovered we don’t have the proper adaptor to accomodate (or replace) the quick release latches on our beautiful modern bikes… But! I happen to have a 16 year old Bici who’s been sitting all lonely and unused in my yard.
Her cassette and crank are all worn down so she can’t be trusted under lots of strain and the replacements really are more than she’s worth… In fact, her tires are worth more than she is at this point. I’ve known that, really, and known that the sensible thing to do would be to strip her for parts and then retire her honourably (what’s the ceremony for ending the useable life of a bike? Cremation?) or atleast donate her to the co-op where someone in great need will find more use for her… But the truth is I love her. I love her with a sentimental passion that is irrational and unflinching. She brought me freedom from the depressing pain in my ankle, an escape from running, and a new hobby that is rapidly taking over my life. In the none too far off distance future, I will be quick and solid and strong and proud and that will all have started with Bici.
So it gave me an inordinate amount of pleasure to set her up on the trainer and rebirth her as a stationary bike. While I checked her chain for reliability and reinstalled a saddle on her, my cat perched nearby, one eyebrow cocked in curious disapproval and helpfully stole my bits, nuts, screws, and little round, wiggly bits (the technical term, of course) to enhance my anticipation. I was a lot more pleased to realized that if I put the basket on the bike, put the tiny larp shield I made for Mama Elf’s child on the basket, and then put the laptop on the shield… well damned if I’m not surfing the internet while I pedal. My life improves by leaps and bounds!
My cat’s life does not. You see, Theo is a loving, dignified gentleman who enjoys being near me while I conduct my business. So me being in an unusual part of the house and doing Unusual, Arcane Things with That Machine… well, he wasn’t leaving me to the deprevations of my activities. Who knows what kind of trouble I could get into?! But the trainer makes a uniquely annoying grrrrr-eeeeee noise and simply would not stop, no matter how fiercely Theo attempted to stare it into submission. Poor Theo.
He’d better get used to it.