52telecaster

meant with the best intentions. Wind kills me too. Funny how when it's at your back you just think you're kicking ass.

Archwhorides 

Korina

It's all good; I know what you meant, I was kidding. We can't all be a 130 lb. strap of muscle.

52telecaster

was 130 when i was a freshman in high school.

RubeRad

It's a studied psychological effect, they call it "Headwind/tailwind asymmetry"

noglider 

I am pathologically frugal, and I save used rear derailleur cables for front derailleurs. That proved not to be a winning strategy recently. It took me about two and a half hours to install a front derailleur cable because one cable was slightly crimped, and feeding it through the brifter was so tricky. The second cable's head was too fat, but I discovered it after going through the same tricky process. The third cable was brand new and took a minute or two. Maybe now I have learned and won't be polishing any more slightly corroded brake cables. But I won't be apologizing for patching inner tubes. I still think that makes sense.

RubeRad

lol me too, but I always trim the end before trying to reuse it.

I was in a bike shop the other day because I had a RD problem I couldn't solve, and one of the things they did was put in longer full-length housing to make the bends out of the shifter and into the RD smoother. I was watching and chatting as the mech worked, and he just dropped the old cable in the trash can. When he wasn't looking I inconspicuously sidled over, grabbed my old cable, coiled it around my hand, and stuck it in my pocket.

Korina

Listening now, thanks. Do they have one for crosswinds?

noglider 

Sounds like something I would do. I briefly worked at the LBS in 2011 when I was underemployed, and the mechanics gave me all the stuff headed for the garbage. There was an Ultegra triple crankset whose large and middle chainrings had been destroyed. I kept it for a while, and then there was a sale on RaceFace chainrings at Nashbar. The crankset is on my commuter bike. That was a big savings.

RubeRad

Nice!

While I was in there, another guy came in with his super tricked out mtb and needed his rear tire replaced. Maxxis Ardent 2.4", a tire I already use on one mtb and like a lot. He popped out for a few minutes and I watched the other mechanic on duty rip the old tire off, drop it in the trashcan and get to work setting the replacement up tubeless. I asked "is that a 29?" "yup" "um, can I have it?" "yeah, I guess so". I was grabbing it out, but then the other mechanic said that the guy had mentioned it had a sidewall tear, so I dropped it again. Good thing, because when that other customer came back he asked for his old tire so he could give a try at patching it. Would have been awkward all around if I had to fish it out of my backpack!

PedalingWalrus

I was riding the C&O trail and two women with a baby carriage were walking the path. As I was overtaking them I said : "Hello"
They said : "Hello"
... and as I was now in front of them speeding away I heard another "well heellloo" :-)

another time on my work commute a teenage boy leaned out of the window and yelled at me: "Nice Ass!" ... I did not fall for this one...

robertorolfo

At those levels of frugality (which I'm not disrespecting), how do you ever justify taking the subway rather than walking? And do you ever eat out? The cost of a generic drailleur cable is a minute fraction of pretty much anything I ever have to purchase in the city. Although if it's more about simply not wanting to throw something out that might still be functional, I can see that...

noglider 

You made me laugh. I do eat out, and I do take the subway sometimes. You're right, it's having something tangible that I believe might be useful that drives it more than the avoidance of spending money.

George Carlin said, when I put food in the fridge, I save twice. When I put it in, I'm SAVING MONEY. When I take it out and throw it away three months later because it looks like a science project, I'M SAVING MY LIFE! Well, that's a paraphrase, but close enough.

RubeRad

I don't think I could ever live in NYC because the continual outflow of high expenses would probably kill me psychologically (even if I could afford it).

But "simply not wanting to throw something out that might still be functional" is very important to me. It's a tendency I need to keep a lid on actually, or I'll end up on one of those hoarder TV shows.

noglider 

@RubeRad, we moved back to NYC in 2013 after our kids fledged. We lived in a Victorian house in New Jersey. I got into flipping bikes there, and it got out of hand. I had bikes filling the basement and garage and strewn around the property. I nearly qualified for the Hoarders TV show. Thank goodness I got out of it. I'm still reducing the amount of stuff I own years later.

52telecaster

my new garage is starting to fill up. hope i dont have to move.

noglider 

If you do move, move to a place with less space, not more. The old adage "The work expands to fit the time allotted" can be extrapolated to "The junk expands to fit the space allotted." And definitely do not rent storage space.

52telecaster

i wont be moving, 415.00 for morgatge, taxes and insurance will keep me there indefinitly. i am really enjoying the house and life in general. actually i may store bikeshare bikes for a profit this winter.

noglider 

$415 sounds too cheap for rural Mississippi. But you don't have to tell us how you swung such a great deal. I know it's a new and wonderful place for you, and I'm happy for you. My two places are also too good to be true. We are incredibly lucky.

RubeRad

Yup, Induced Demand.

RubeRad

?? Profile says Peoria, 52, did you move?

noglider 

I wasn't clear enough. I know he's in Peoria. I tried to choose the place where I expect real estate to be extremely low, as a comparison.

As for induced demand, there is a story that says that the Long Island Expressway was jammed on opening day. It hasn't cleared since then.

RubeRad

Ah, I get it. Yeah, I was fortunate to buy in SoCal at a low point in the housing market (end of 2012), so I got a kind of ridiculous amount of equity. Some day when I retire I hope I'll have the option of moving somewhere with a saner housing market and buy outright.

Leebo

"It just turned red" to me and a host of other crosswalk users with a lit " walk" sign. In Cambridge MA, behind the alewife T station, major hub for trains, bikes and 2 roads. Rindge ave makes a T out to fresh pond ave. Like I said, lots of traffic. 3 walkers on the far side, me, one other biker and a woman with a double stroller on my side. We start to walk. The light has been red for at least 5 seconds, we are all in the crosswalk. I see him flying up, I'm off bike and just push it forward. He screeches to a stop around the corner, like 30 ft. Words ensue. I'm jawing, moma bear with the 2 cubs ( kids) is crazy mad. She had to pull her stroller back to not get clipped. She is now at full yell/ swearing/ starts hitting this punks mustang. He rolls up the window and backs down quickly. I truly thought she was going to drag this guy out of his car for a beat down. She looked like she might. And could. I told her to snap a pic of the plate and make a report, I would witness if needed. Seem to deescalate things ok then.

52telecaster

the midwest has some fairly depressed ares. thing is we are about 12 blocks away from gentrification. might not stay this cheap forever.