I worked on my bike!

[tjf9]

I've enjoyed cycling so much these past few weeks that I decided to buy a bike trailer so I can haul the kiddos around on the weekends. It arrived today, and I managed to put it together with a minimum of assistance from DH (it helps that it was mostly pre-assembled, no tools required). More importantly, I managed to install the connector on my bike with no assistance at all! I even had to adjust my fenders because the way they were mounted before interfered with the coupler.

It's a little thing, but it's a start! Soon I'll even be fixing flats and lubing my own chain! Actually, I have a bike maintenance class coming up next month - then I'll really be a pro.

Now I just have to coax my kids to ride in the darn thing...

[KnottedYet]

Congratulations!

I pulled my kid around in a bike trailer, it was great. He would bring toys and books and snacks in the trailer with him.

[Jiffer]

Okay, I'm just stoked that I can actually put air in my own tires! I felt like such a moron before. No matter what I did, all I did was leak more air. DH finally gave me a "proper lesson" and I finally did it ALL BY MYSELF!

On my very first solo ride on my new single, I passed a woman who was pulling a cycling trailer. She caught up to me and was excited to see another female cyclist. She was going to pick up her kids from school. I looked in the trailer and realized it was empty. I told her, "What a great way to pick up your kids from school!" Maybe you'll be able to do that!

[Kano]

Okay, I'm just stoked that I can actually put air in my own tires! I felt like such a moron before. No matter what I did, all I did was leak more air. DH finally gave me a "proper lesson" and I finally did it ALL BY MYSELF!

Isn't that a cool feeling? I was pretty good with schraeder valves -- after some nasty trial and error, mostly learning to compensate for having slime in the tire (be sure to fill with the valve at the top of the wheel!). Then I got the presta valves on my road bike. Who knew you had to unscrew the widget after taking the cover off! I went back to the bike shop, and bike dude showed me how. DH still doesn't know how to put air in my tires -- but I'm pretty sure he likes it that way!

His new skill today? Replacing spokes. He got to buy tools to do that job, and he's pretty pleased with himself! (he also cleaned the gears while it was all apart, and put it all back together with the rest of his dirty drive train, which he did NOT clean!)

Karen in Boise, who practiced tire changing again today!