When I began kayaking (here), I knew I needed a personal flotation device (PFD). I’m not a great swimmer (I just barely float) and it is required by law. Easy enough. There are many options and lots of information about PFD’s and life jackets so a fair amount of research ensued. Finding one that is… [Read More]
R-028 Impressions
Note: I built up this bike myself. For the details of that build, see this post. I suspect twenty miles is nowhere near enough with a bike to adequately review it. With that said, some initial impressions… I am not being fair. I had a very hard ride this past weekend – I am sore… [Read More]
Carbon Fiber Road Bike
If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time you know that I am relatively new to the world of road cycling. If my memory serves, it was nearly two and a half years ago that I started riding an old mountain bike on the road. Several months later, I purchased a much… [Read More]
Carbon Fiber Handlebar
There aren’t too many bike parts that aren’t available in carbon fiber these days. I’ve generally looked at carbon fiber parts as being for racers and weight-weenies. I’ll probably never race and still have dozens of pounds to lose off my butt before I start nit-picking my bike for ounces. However; I was talking to… [Read More]
Bike Light
I’ve been riding on rural and small town roads for several years now with pretty good success. I haven’t been hit!! That is not to say that there are not some real bone-headed drivers – there most certainly are plenty of those. I bought a cheap red light a long time ago and only used… [Read More]
Trimetric Battery Monitor
While researching solar power on the Internet, one cannot miss the many references to the Trimetric Battery Monitor. Many, many people love this monitor. So, I followed their lead and purchased one too. I got the RV-2030 model. Why?? Well, that is the question I had prior to spending ten days boondocking with solar only. … [Read More]
Review: Nashbar Duro Pro Road Tire
I’ve been running Continental Gatorskin tires on my road bicycle for the last 1000 miles or so. It was time for new – especially after the last goat head season. I had a couple flats due to goat heads puncturing the sidewall. During the last repair, I removed about half a dozen thorns from the… [Read More]
Wilson Amplifier
I really enjoy camping off the beaten path with my motorhome. “Off the beaten path” probably means something different to a New York City resident than it does to me, a kid raised on a ranch in Montana. For me, off the beaten path is where there is nobody else for miles around, typically way… [Read More]
Review: Dog Dazer II Deterrent
Allow me to first say, I like dogs – nearly all dogs. I’ve owned a dog most of life. I am currently without but I think of getting one regularly – I miss the companionship. With that out of the way, I DO NOT like being barked at while riding bike (or walking or any… [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]