I joined the PSU bike coop today, and worked on my Schwinn Traveller (with help). Changed 4 cables (both brake and gear), a few cable housings, repacked the headset, it was loose, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to open her up, anyway, instead of just tightening it. Replaced a tube. Total cost $16 ($10 coop annual fee, $6 parts).

At about 6PM, I stopped to get my other bike(worn out Schwinn LeTour) from the shop. I had dropped it off Wednesday, for a single brake cable housing that I had intended to duct tape together for my ride to Wednesday night sailing. BF said he'd replace it for me. Then at the bike shop he admitted he'd never done it before Wed, I was told there were two bikes ahead of me. It wasn't done today. The guy was puzzled,"But we didn't promise it till Saturday...." That would have cost $13 by itself. I was willing to pay the $13 in order to get my bike fixed for my Wednesday ride. But hey, now I can get the parts from PSU for $2, and save myself a four day wait. (Although three days of tose four have already passed . Why didn't I buy the parts while I was there .

Actually, it sounds like I am glad to get out of paying the mechanic. That is not exactly, true. I would be happy to pay the mechanic ONCE, if it taught me something. It is the second time that I want to avoid him. It is more a matter of independence. I hope to do foreign travel some day. I am not sure that I would want to trust my transport to the local mechanic in some little rural village in China. I hope to do some long distance cruising (sailboat), with a bike along as land transport. It would be silly to not be familiar with my bike.

Mary