Category: Eric

I  never rode 33 miles in two days as an adult.  Am I tired? I’m not, but my legs are – that is the reason I didn’t make it a 20 mile day today. I’ll take a couple of days off  and then Wednesday- I’m planning on doing a 20 mile organized evening ride in Roswell, GA.

The surprise? I’m working on a video with shocking pictures…. of a weight scale…

My last major bycicle ride was probably fall of 1976. Today thanks to the OptiBike patented MBB I was able to ride 19 miles the last 6 of them in a downpour. And that rainwater tasted like sweet nectar. I never done something towards losing weight that brought such a smile to my face. Yes – I almost ran out of juice but I went for over an hour with slight burst of uphill power.  The route – Duluth – Suwanee – Lawrenceville  – Duluth with a few monster hills. Kept my pulse rate at the “zone” for over an hour (85% of max heart rate). I’m now trying to download the video from the camera. Stay tuned…

After yesterday’s “baby” ride – I slept like one. Today –  day 2 – I checked the shocks pressure  -after finally glancing at the instructions- since yesterday I hit the ground a few times with the pedals (wart #1) while pedaling up hill and when pedaling into turns (yes, I did pedal).  My friend showed me yesterday how to tighten both shock’s piston travel distance (or something like that)- which did improve the amount of twisting the bike did with my fat ass on the bike but it didn’t solve the problem completely.

So before I took off on my 2nd day ride I had a couple of senior moments Today I couldn’t figure out how to pump air into the front shock. I was able to figure out the rear shock which came at 90 psi. I then tried to check the air pressure of  both tires – but first I must read how to connect the special pump. After a few frustrating tries and  since there was no pressure gauge on the pump – I decided there was no point to figure out how to connect the special connector to pump air into the tires.  Tires were very full and hard – thus the air check can wait till my first check at the local bike store.  Can anyone tell me what is the advantage of these new air valve connectors and why would you have an air pump without a pressure gauge?

The other wart was that the Sigma sport bike computer never turned on. I changed the battery with no avail. I even went online to see if there was a special handshake to turn it on. I guess it was DOA maybe while in transit. I noticed a hairline crack on the back of it. Oh well – Craig – please send me a replacement….

Anyway – I was able to get out of the house before sunset and went to my 2.5 mile ride around the neighborhood. Whooooaaaaaa!
Was it fun!!!!! Yeah! Did I learned to turn on my helmet cam while riding the bike … no.  One thing I learned today -must learn to smile while biking with my mouth shut….. I inhaled a few bugs!!!!

‘nough said for day 2. Looking forward to a long ride this weekend – even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. I’ll stock up with Ben-Gay, I think I will surely need it this coming weekend.

Good night!

Update- Got a replacement bike computer and also learned how to inflate the shocks so the pedals never hit the ground. All is good!

I finally put together the Optibike with the help of a friend and ran out of my basement. I noticed how smooth the electric motor was getting climbing the hill out of my basement and then noticed I didn’t even had the motor on! I then went around the neighborhood twice and climbed the monster- a 14.4% grade hill from the pool to my house (.2 mile). Even with the motor I had a very good workout. Looking forward to long commutes….

I’ve been on pins and needles since I ordered my optibike.  I didn’t discuss it with my wife and today I had to scramble to retrieve the bike at FEDEX while she went to the MD. I was able to unpack it and put it in the basement where it is safely charging.  I then had to wait for her to arrive….

Then I lucked out. Her collectible baby doll arrived today. When she got back she spent all the time opening her doll and setting her up. I finally told her I bought the bike and she didn’t believe me – so I dropped the issue. Then Shannon, my son in law, arrived and then I blurted if he wanted to see my new bike and that is when she realized that I told her the truth. But she hasn’t gone to the basement and look at it. I’ll told her I’ll put it together with a friend tomorrow night after it charges overnight and then she’ll see it.

Here is the deal – I promised I will use my Optibike in addition to making some nutritional adjustments such as  no sodas, no donuts, no cakes and lots of fish and vegetables.  That’s it. I’ll drop from the donut of the week group at work. I’ll bring healthy lunches and will skip on the chocolates. I’m not too sure if she knew from day 1 and she just played me so I’ll really work my butt off and lose some weight.
Anyway – countdown started. 90 days for my 5oth birthday.
Craig – can I attach  floaties to my Optibike so I can take it around in the new canals created by the 20 inch downpour around ATLANTA? or is it Atlantis?

Got my tracking number today. So far this has been a little nerve racking and it is not entirely Craig’s fault. The issue is that I’ve not been too open with my wife Nancy about this quite significant purchase. Yes- she was with me when I test rode the bike in Reno, but she considers the purchase to be totally outrageous. Obviously she considers a Garden upgrade and a Bathroom Remodel more important than just an “electric bike” since many years ago I purchased one of them and barely used it (that is a rather long story for another day).

So what I decided to do was to avoid any conflicts before the bike got home. What good would it do to me for allow her to complain about the purchase since the decision was made in late June? I would have had a miserable summer. Thus so far – everything is co-pacetic until that is, the bike arrives this coming Friday (now Monday). Someone has to be home to sign for the package so I have two choices: come clean Thursday (now Sunday) night or stay home on Friday(now Monday) to receive it while she still sleeps  (Oops – she needs to go to the MD on Monday morning)…

Here is where you guys can help me….. I need your best ideas on how to convince a spouse on why buying an Optibike is such a great idea…. Come on – I need help! I’ll share with the group so far what I came up with…. later this week.

Update: Bike arrives on Monday.  keep checking FEDEX. Bike left Memphis Friday 1 a.m. and that is less than 10 hours away from Atlanta. I think it might be delivered early. Last  night I asked her to check how much is a week at a fat farm….

Comments from friends:

1) Nice to have known you (ET)

2) Wait for the bike in your car (GT)

3) Rent a storage unit by the house (MC)

4) Get a flak jacket (KH)

5) Use Photoshop to alter my “before” image and give her the “future” image (MH)

6) Tell her you want to get in shape for your girlfriend. (VR)

7) You won it in a contest. (KD)

8) Ask her what color granite for the bathroom (CW)

9) Tell her and go live in your man cave. (FA)

10) Get a whiteboard and do a presentation with actual blood. (LK)

11) Have friends she doesn’t know bring the bike home with balloons and a certificate from a raffle (LR)

12) Call FEDEX – stop home delivery – bring bike to friends home – go back home  – have friend ride your bike home and have him loan it to you for a while  (Guess Who ?)

Oh Lord – seems that #12 was not understood by FEDEX:

Sep 19, 2009 7:03 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery NORCROSS, GA Scheduled for delivery next business day

UPDATE Sunday a.m. I tried to bring the issue to my wife’s attention over the weekend but decided against it because it would definitely sour the atmosphere for 3 days.  On Saturday – decided to earn extra brownie points by organizing and filing all paperwork that have accumulated around the house and started to  clean my office and future man cave. I guess based on this information from FEDEX – I should stay home and wait for delivery.  I know I will have to do a reveal tomorrow evening…..

It’s been a long time since I ‘ve experienced this delivery date anxiety. … I think I was 7 when I counted the hours for Christmas day and to check if  Santa brought me all the toys I had put on my wish list…. 42 years later… I’ve written a new wish list that is actually the beginning of a journey within my internal self and my beliefs.

Yes I can, Yes I will, Yes I am.

One  more week, Craig?  Craig?