JdFinley.com

Fulltime RV Living Adventures

Backcountry Flying/Camping Trip 2013 – Part 1

I reported on last year’s trip to the Idaho backcountry here.  We had such a great time that we decided to do it again this year!  We is me and my neighbor with a Vans RV-4 (among eight other airplanes that he has built himself). I’m late posting this report – we actually made the… [Read More]

New Bike: Giant OCR 2

I really enjoy cycling.  I love the time spent on the bike, enjoying the quiet, thinking, feeling my body work, getting away from all of ones concerns, hearing the tires on the road, and lots of conversation with God.  Writers who are cyclists have been attempting to capture this feeling with words for years and… [Read More]

MTB Pedal Update

I’ve been using Shimano M424 pedals for awhile now – about a year. Overall, my review holds true.  Recently, however;  these pedals started “squeaking.”    The noise seemed to be coming from the plastic/phenolic/composite “platform” that circles the actual pedal.  It rotates on the pedal shaft but there are no bearings.  I tried cleaning, lubing, and… [Read More]

Rubber Leveling Block

I’m the first to admit that the primary “problem” with this post is that I have leveling jacks on my motorhome that do not work.  If I did, I would not need leveling blocks and none of this would matter.  With that said, let’s continue… I read recently that a barn “stall pad” makes for… [Read More]

Water Pump Noise

If you’re RV is like mine, the water pump is very noisy.  How does one quiet the thing so the whole campground doesn’t hear you flush the toilet at 4 am?? I performed my typical online research and read some forum postings.  From this research, it seems to me the primary problem is the sound… [Read More]

MTB Ride: Hilso Trails in Gallup, NM – Part 2

Note: This is the second part of the adventure.  See part one here. Due to the rain last evening, I decided to stick to the more heavily used trails – at least compared to what I was on yesterday.  Mud isn’t the end of the world, even for a guy from the desert southwest, but… [Read More]

MTB Ride: Hilso Trails in Gallup, NM – Part 1

Over the last few months, I have read some very positive things about the mountain bike trails around Gallup, NM.  I found a trail guide for sale online (here -I ordered the first edition but the second edition is not available – kool!), ordered it, and upon review; decided I needed to go try these trails… [Read More]

Smoked a Strava Segment

I was notified this week that I am in fifth place on a Strava segment that I did not even know existed!! The segment is the Camino Del Llano Climb which rises up out of the metropolis of Belen, NM onto the mesa west of town where the Belen airport is located. It is 1.3… [Read More]

Motorhome Brake Repair

As most of you probably know, I’ve been complaining about a vibration in the steering column of my Class A Motorhome – a 1994 Pace Arrow.  After the front air bag suspension replacement failed to produce results, it was time for the next step – a brake job. I jacked the front end up, again…. [Read More]

Clipless Pedal Maintenance

I seem to learn something every day.  Today it was that not only does pedal maintenance exist for clipless pedals but it is required. I posted here that I went clipless (almost a year ago).  I really like clipless pedals (I’m using these Shimano pedals) and the improved performance is obvious to me (up stroke… [Read More]