Author: Bob Harrison

I just came to the realization that the headset on my Bike Friday NWT was loose. A quick search of the YAK archives showed that, sadkly, this is a pretty common problem. It seems that the stock headset just simply works its way loose quickly and regularly.
Everyone seem to want to replace it with a Chris King headset, but they cost $140 or so mail order and about $160 in my LBS. Add to that they $25 installation fee and it’s going to be expensive. Is it worth it? I really don’t know. I’m going to do a bit more research first.

Here’s a start for a Google search:
site:http://store.bikefriday.com/pipermail/yak/ headset
In any case I’m tight for now – both the headset and my wallet. Sigh.
Aloha!

I’ve got a better route to Kailua (and back) because I got advice (moi?) from anther Bike Friday owner.

This coming weekend I’m finally going to try to take a longer ride. I’ve got a friend who is having a big shindig out at Kailua Beach Park and I plan on riding my bike from Honolulu to Kailua. The ride is really only about 30+ miles so it’s a 60+ mile round trip. Since I’ve got a party in the middle, it shouldn’t be a big problem. We’ll see.
This isn’t quite the route I’ll be riding, but it’s close:

Aloha!

I've fallen in love with bicycling all over again. After 20 years away I've discovered that bicycles are my favorite way of going from A to B and back again. It's healthy, great for the environment, and in Honolulu about as fast as a car at certain times of the day and sometime even faster.

Well, well, well…I’m back. Lately I seem to have been too busy to really do anything about this blog at all. Today, sadly, isn’t much different. But…
I was on the Big Island for the weekend and had a nice relaxing time. I really didn’t have an agenda, just visiting the folks. It was a great visit. I also drove through Waimea and saw this lovely view:

The only drawback was not having a bicycle to ride while there. I’m thinking of getting a clunker and leaving it in Hilo for my travels. Yes I could bring my Bike Friday with me, but the biggest problem with that is getting to and from the airport quickly. Yes it can be done. I love taking my New World Tourist on longer trips and will continue to do. But for stays of less than three days I haven’t yet gotten into the swing of things.
Speaking of bikes, I would really love a new bike for getting around town. My Giant is fine as far as it goes, but I think I’m outgrowing the whole comfort bike thing. I’d definitely recommend one to someone getting started again, as I did, but once you’ve gotten to point where you’d rather be riding a bike than doing anything else it may be time for a change. Maybe one of these…

All it takes is money and…well it’s not a good time for that. 🙁
Aloha!

I’ve sort of been trackng the 2009 first year player draft to see if anybody I’ve seen goes in early rounds, or if anybody from UH goes at all. As it turns out, a couple of guys I’ve seen have gone pretty high. First, however, Vinnie Catricala, the UH junior third baseman went to the Mariners in round 10.

For the rest, Tim Wheeler from Sacramento went in the first round, the last player chosen, but still round one. Way to go Tim.
Then in round two, Tom Mendonca, the Fresno third baseman went to Texas. He was a pleasure to watch in the recent WAC tourney and I wish him the best.
I’ll miss watching those guys beat us. 🙂
Aloha!

I went there a few years ago in summer and hadn't expected it to be as cosmopolitan as it turned out to be. It really was a lovely gem of a ciy with much to do and super restaurant. Besides, I saw racoons on Young St.

I’m listening to a “Bike to Work” podcast featuring an interview with Gary Fisher, one of the fathers of mountain biking and now a transport bike evangelist. The interview is actually from March, but I just found it today. Good stuff.
So what is Gary actually selling these days? Sure he’s got mountain bikes, but he’s also got this really sweet city bike…

Hmmm…it’s pretty much what I need these days. That and a touring bike, an Xtracycle, a folder (got that) and…what else? 🙂
Aloha!

Here’s a NASA shot of vog over the Big Island…yum…

Since it’s Bike Week I thought I should check to see how many miles a week I ride my bike. My guess was surprisingly close. I’d guess I bike ten to fifteen miles a day and my average total turned out to be 125 for the week. Given this should be about the twentieth week of the year I figure I’ve probably biked 20*125 or 2500 miles so far in 2009.
To be honest it’s probably a bit less, so I’ll go with a total of 2000. Almost all of that is riding for the purpose of getting someplace (and getting back). True there were plenty of “let’s go ride” moments, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Iron Horse Trail, heading out to Sand Island for fun, but for the most part I’m headed somewhere when I ride.
Of course that doesn’t mean I have to straight there and back and I generally don’t.
I’m going to try to double this mileage by the end of the year. That does not mean I want to ride 5000+ miles between July and December. Rather I mean by December I’d like to be riding 200-250 miles a week. If I can keep that up for a year I should be ready to do my Mississippi trip the following year.
Aloha!