This Week's Update [4/26/15] - Happy Birthday Matthew!

[The Weekly Update is an email that was started in the fall of 2010 to keep family and friends informed of my medical condition and has continued as a review of family activities.  Written by Zelma and edited by Steve. Working on adding past issues to the blog.]

Hi All,

We had a very nice week.  Steve had a Doctor's appointment on Thursday so I took some much overdue comp time off from work.  He had an appointment with his surgeon to get fitted for a trach replacement.  Dr. Coniglio had told us about this last time Steve met with him.  He was able to get one directly from the manufacturer for Steve to try.  It is a replacement for the metal trach Steve had.  The advantage is it doesn't require any additional method to secure it in place - so no more need to have the trach band which is a big plus for Steve.  We included the picture from the last upgrade in 2011 to compare with this one.  :-).

After that, we headed to Victor to check on the house and had a nice visit with Bud and Nancy - Steve's Victor neighbors.  They were smart and spent most of the long winter in Florida.  For other news, our project for the month of May is to get Steve's house ready to sell.

I headed to Oswego to celebrate Matthew's birthday on Saturday.  Not sure how the last 21 years went by so fast - but it has definitely been rewarding!  

We had a very relaxed and enjoyable visit.  I headed home as he headed off to participate in the Relay for Life - thanks to everyone who donated to his walk.

Miles for the week are 78, miles for 2015 are 1,364 (105 rides but only 2 outside), and total miles are 12,618.

Take care,

Zelma

Canal Ponds Ride Video

Have been going through GoPro videos from last year and doing some editing and posting to YouTube.  It's been kind of a slow process because my five year old MacBook takes over two hours to render out a five minute high-definition video, and it completely choked on a 10 minute try.

The ride we took though the Canal Ponds business park had to be broken down into four parts.  We did the ride on a Friday evening in August of 2014 so there was very little vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Here is the MapMyRide GPS track of that part of the ride.

The canal path crosses from the north side of the canal to the south side at Long Pond Road.  If you go under the Long Pond bridge, turn left and go up to the road, you have two choices.  Another left takes you across the bridge and back onto the canal path.  A right turn takes you into the Canal Ponds business park.

Please consider watching the videos full-screen (by clicking the box in lower right corner of each one.)  Also, by clicking on the gear icon you can change the video to HD for a better viewing experience.

Part 1 takes us through the Summit FCU drive-thru and around the loop at the bottom of the map.

The bench we stopped at is almost exactly five miles from home and is a frequent stopping point on rides to the east.  Here is a picture of me making a deposit at Summit in 2012.

Part 2 crosses the pond, goes left and around the loop at the top of the map.

Part 3 goes out on the leg to northeast and starts back.

Part 4 comes back along the southeast side of the pond, across the road and back out toward Long Pond Road.

                             

Hope you enjoyed the videos.  I'll try to get some more edited and posted to YouTube.  You can see other videos on my YouTube channel by clicking on the star at the end of the videos; and by clicking the Subscribe button on the channel page you will get email notices of new videos.  

Thanks for watching and Keep Moving.

This Week's Update [4/19/15] - Lots of Sunshine

[The Weekly Update is an email that was started in the fall of 2010 to keep family and friends informed of my medical condition and has continued as a review of family activities.  Written by Zelma and edited by Steve. Working on adding past issues to the blog.]

Hi All,

We had a good week.  Steve got outside to ride a couple of days when I wasn't able to join him.  He is continuing to add to his blog and did a post about the canal. [See here and here.]  We are surprised that the water in the canal is still very low.  Although it doesn't officially open until May 1st, it seems later than previous years for letting the water in.

Matthew was home again this weekend working on papers for school.  I'm glad he likes to write because he certainly has a lot of it to do - reminds me why I was an engineer.  :-)

Next Saturday, he will be walking in the campus Relay for Life to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.  I've included a link at the bottom in case anyone would like to make a donation.

Miles for the week are 78, miles for 2015 are 1,286 and total miles are 13,540.

Take care,

Zelma

More Low Water Canal Pictures

The weather didn't turn out as well as expected, but I got in an 11 mile ride on the canal path this afternoon.  Went east instead of west today so I got some shots of other areas of the canal.  The water is still low and doesn't appear to be rising.

Spencerport lift bridge on the right.

Spencerport docks, east of the lift bridge.

The Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum is in the center background.

Private boat ramp on far side of canal.

At the Greece junction lock.  More info here.  And looking back to the west, below.

And finally a "Pro Tip":  Don't wipe your nose on your best white gloves.

Thanks to modern synthetic fabrics, it rinsed right out; but I was bummed all the way home.

Keep Moving

First Outdoor Ride of 2015

After 92 trainer sessions in the basement this year, it was great to finally ride outside.  The backyard is finally almost dried out and we were able to get to the canal path without getting too muddy.  Friday it was 55 degrees with 30 MPH winds, so that probably helped to dry things out a bit.

We took the bikes with fenders, but the towpath was in good shape except for the normal spring ruts and divots from foot, cycle and heavy equipment traffic when the trail was wet and soft.

Zelma on "The Bench"

We rode west to "the bench" which is just over six miles from home and is a normal stopping point to rehydrate since neither of us drinks while riding.   I can't swallow, and Zelma is not comfortable drinking on the bike unless using a Camelbak.

Just west of the Bench is the Sweden-Walker Road bridge.

Don't know if the canal is filling yet or not, but it is still very low.  You can see the normal level where the stones change color on the far bank.

Adam's Basin Lift Bridge

Usually there is very little clearance under the lift bridges.

Trimmer Road bridge on the left.

When the canal is full this whole area is flooded, as you can see in the Google Earth view below.




We were standing by the tree which you can see about midway between the two "Erie Canal Heritage Trail" markings in the satellite image from summer.

Though some bulbs have started to sprout, everything else around here is still mostly brown and gray.  Hopefully it will only get better from now on.

Keep Moving

This Week's Update [4/12/15] - Finally a Ride Outside!!!

[The Weekly Update is an email that was started in the fall of 2010 to keep family and friends informed of my medical condition and has continued as a review of family activities.  Written by Zelma and edited by Steve. Working on adding past issues to the blog.]

Hi All,

Good weather finally made an appearance today and Steve and I were able to go for a ride on the canal path.  This is the first time we've ridden outside since early September.  It was so nice :-) !

We are also including a picture of Olivia - playing nurse like Mom - Sarah starts her new job in nursing next week.  Olivia is wearing scrubs that we found at the Strong Hospital gift shop while Steve was doing his inpatient stint last fall.

Miles for the week are 89, miles for 2015 are 1,208, and total miles are 13,462.

Take care,

Zelma

Basic Bike Maintenance

There are a couple of basic maintenance tasks that every cyclist should perform periodically.  How often will depend on how much and where you ride.  A few minutes spent every once in a while will help the performance and longevity of your bike.

We're talking about cleaning and lubricating your bike.  This isn't rocket surgery, and requires little in the way of special "stuff." The only thing you will need is bike chain lube (no 10w30, WD-40, 3-in-1 or EVOO).  More on that below, but first we need to clean the bike and chain.  The chain should always be re-lubricated after degreasing it.

Here is a short video to show the basics.  I'll have some comments after the video.

Another short video about doing a "waterless" bike wash, and also some good information on cleaning and lubing under the bottom bracket.

I don't see why you couldn't do a "waterless" wash with the wheels on the bike, and use diluted Simple Green (or similar) rather than "bike wash."

And here is a good, but 15 minutes long, video by someone even more anal than I am about cleaning a bike.  Stick around for part two, where he explains that you don't need all the special equipment and gives some more tips.

I have a Park Chain Cleaner, but only use it a couple times per year  Unless you're riding a mountain bike in the mud, you can get by with degreaser, a rag and maybe a toothbrush.  I do like the Finish Line Grunge Brush for chain, cassette and chainring cleaning though.  If you are going to buy only one, I would get the brush for half the cost of the chain cleaner.

I use a little car wash soap in a bucket of water to wash bikes, but you can use dish soap or a little Simple Green.  I use citrus degreaser or diluted Simple Green (50/50) for chains and derailleurs.  I rinse with the hose, or more often with just a spray bottle with water.  I dry with a microfiber towel, but dry with whatever clean rag you have on hand.

Park Tool GearClean Brush; Finish Line Easy-Pro Brush Set and Grunge Brush.

I prefer a soft brush or sponge for cleaning the fame and wheels and a stiffer brush for derailleurs, pedals, tires and wheel hubs.  A bottle brush or toothbrush is good for getting into tight spaces in derailleurs, etc.

As part of my winter maintenance program, I apply a couple of coats of car wax to the bikes.  This helps to make cleaning them easier, but surely isn't necessary.  (I'm retired and have time for this stuff.)  Also it doesn't hurt to put a little auto detail spray (or even furniture polish) on the frame after a wash and dry.

One of the issues we have in the summer is that the crushed stone part of the canal path can get pretty dusty.  If you ride in dusty conditions, one of these can be really handy to have.  A quick once-over and the bikes look good as new.

Once the bike is clean, you'll need to lube the chain.  It's also a good idea to periodically lube the pivot points on the brakes and derailleurs, but for now we'll just deal with the chain.

Choosing a bike chain lube can be a contentious issue.  Everyone has their favorite, and many will tell you why yours is no good.  It doesn't have to be this way.  You can't go wrong with a good dry chain lube like Finish Line Dry or ProGold ProLink.  Either can also be used as a general bike lube for brakes, derailleurs, etc.

Clean Ride is also a popular chain lube that we have successfully used for years in our dusty conditions, but the others are better general purpose lubes and you only have to buy one.  The "precision oiler" is for applying ProLink to pivot points.  Rather than buying one with oil from ProGold for $8, I got two empty ones for $10 through Amazon.

When oiling the chain you want to get the lube into the rollers.  Any excess lube on the outside of the chain plates will only serve to attract grime to later be deposited on your leg or clothes.

I always use the "fastidious" method (I'm retired) rather than the "quick and dirty" method because I think it is "dirtier" and you use more lube than needed.  I also don't like spray lubes because I think they are messy and wasteful.  If you don't have a master link, mark one of the chain links with a Sharpie so you can tell when you have lubed all the links.  You should lube your chain:  (1) after cleaning it, (2) if you ride in the rain, (3) if it starts squeaking, (4) if it looks rusty or (5) about every 200 miles or so.

You may have noticed that most of these videos have the bikes in a repair stand, which is nice to have even for just washing a bike.  The bike won't fall over and you can easily work on both sides.  Also, in order to do any derailleur adjustments you'll need to get the rear wheel off the ground.  However, a good entry level repair stand like the Park PCS-9 or the Feedback Sports Recreational will set you back over $125.  I've had an earlier version of a Feedback Sports stand (from before they acquired Ultimate) for more than 10 years and it is still going strong.

 For light duty and occasional use, this $20 stand looks like it may be a good alternative.  You may be able to use a car bike rack (depending on the design) or a trainer stand if you have them.  Or if you are handy, there are several DIY bike stand projects at Instructables including mounting a car rack on the wall.

And finally, if you are really (not) serious about cleaning your chain, be sure to check out the ShelBroCo System from the late great Sheldon Brown.

Keep Moving

What's in Your Seat Bag?

In a prior post, I talked about how to be prepared for a flat tire out on the road and suggested getting a seat bag to carry the necessary items.  Here we will look at what else we carry in our bags.

I carry all of the tools in my seat bags.  The road bike bag contents are below.

Contents of Steve's Seat Bag.

From the upper left:

Two spare tubes in disposable vinyl gloves.  (The gloves help to protect the tubes and can be worn for messy repairs on the road.  Take them off inside-out to deal with the mess.)

Tire Levers.  (Good ones are available from Pedro's, Park tool, Lezyne and others.)

Multi-tool.  (See discussion below.)

Presta-to-Schrader valve converter.  (Because I have it. :))
Park Tool "Super" self-adhesive patches.
Rema Tip Top vulcanizing patch kit.
A KMC "Quick Link" to fit the chain on this bike.
Band-Aids, Antiseptic wipes, and tape.
Couple of zip ties.  (Not in picture.)

The seat bag for my fitness bike is outfitted much the same, with at least one tube to fit that bike as well as tire levers and a patch kit.  The only thing I have to swap between bikes is the multi-tool which fits in a pouch in the cover of the bags.

Since Zelma rarely rides alone, her bag contents lean more toward first aid supplies.  Her road bike bag contents are below.

Contents of Zelma's Seat Bag.

Two tubes (again in disposable gloves).

Band-Aids and bandages.

Neosporin.

Benadryl (for bee stings, etc.)

Another Quick Link.

Hand cleaners.

Moleskin.

I also have the First Aid for Cyclists app on my Android phone, and I'm sure there is something comparable for the iPhone.

It's a tight fit with two narrow road tubes, but each of these loads fits in a Small Topeak Aero Wedge Pack.  (We use medium size bags on the fitness bikes.)  Topeak bags come in sizes from "Micro" to "XL", so there are a lot of options; not to mention other brands which also have a wide range of sizes available.  Check out a few different bags to see what size and features will work for you.

Loaded Topeak Aero Wedge Pack with new Selle Italia Flite 1990 saddle.

I always carry a compact multi-tool when out for a ride.  They can come in handy if you want to make an adjustment to your saddle or handlebars, or need to do something more serious.  (For example, I was able to replace a crank arm when it fell off of someone else's bike.)  You will also need a hex key (Allen wrench) to install a bottle cage, or a rack or fenders.

I have been using an earlier version of the Crank Brothers M17 for many years and like it.

Earlier Crank Brothers M17

This model includes a chain tool (on the left) and spoke wrenches (which I would only use in an emergency).  The list price is $28, but it is widely available for around $20.  The next lower model from Crank Brothers has 10 tools and lists for $20, but is only discounted to about $17.

Eventually you will need to replace your chain, and that will require a chain tool or taking the bike to a bike shop.  If you bring the bike in, they will charge about $10 to do this each time; so I would recommend spending a little more and buying a multi-tool that includes a chain tool.  This won't be as good as a dedicated chain tool, but will be fine for infrequent chain replacements.

A comparable tool from Topeak is the Hexus II, which also includes two tire levers and a chain hook.  For about $25, the Park Tool IB-3  includes a chain tool and one tire lever, but no Philips screwdriver.  Another option for around $25 is the Lezyne RAP-14, which doesn't have tire levers or a flat-head driver.  Though I have been happy with the M17, if I were buying today, I would probably choose the Topeak.

While there are cheap multi-tools available on Amazon and eBay, this is one area where I would recommend spending a little more for a quality name brand tool with all the features you may need in the future.  As I learned from Chris Allingham at The Virtual Weber Bullet site, "Buy the best, and only cry once."

Keep Moving

Chrome Browser and Extensions

I have never been a fan of Microsoft and disliked the Internet Explorer browser in particular. I won't claim this is a rational position, but it has been real.  When I retired, I bought an inexpensive Dell notebook running Ubuntu Linux rather than Windows.  When the notebook fell victim to a spilled adult beverage, I stepped up to the cheapest Apple MacBook in 2010.

I had used the Firefox browser from the Mozilla Foundation for many years on both home and work computers.  At the time, Firefox was one of the first browsers to use tabs rather than separate windows for multiple open sites.  I continued to run Firefox on the MacBook rather than Apple's Safari browser.

At some point Firefox seemed to get buggy and would hang on loading web pages.  Zelma was having the same frustrating experience on a Windows PC and we decided to give the Google Chrome browser a try.  We continue to use Chrome and recommend it to family and friends.

Different people may want different things from a browser and extensions have the potential to further customize that experience.  If you are less than excited about your current browser, it may be worth giving Chrome a try.

The conversion to Chrome is easy and all of your bookmarks (including folders) can be imported from your current browser.  Trying Chrome is not an all-or-nothing proposition as you can always continue to keep whatever you are using now.  However, any bookmarks added to one browser will not be saved in the other after the initial import.

Chrome is also available for smartphones and tablets, and will sync bookmarks and more across your devices. (I use Javelin on my Android phone, but that is another story.)

For someone who was a Microsoft hater, I seem to have become somewhat of a Google "fanboy"; and they are arguably a worse monopoly than Microsoft ever was.  Besides Chrome, I use Blogger, Google Drive (instead of Dropbox), Picasa Web for photos; and I am on my third Android phone.

On to some of the features of Chrome and some of the extensions that I use.

By right-clicking on a tab, it can be "pinned" on the left of the tab bar.  These and other tabs can be dragged into a different order.  By pinning a tab it can be kept open without taking up space on the bar.  To close a pinned tab, right click on it and choose "Close Tab."

Websites that you visit frequently, but don't want to keep open all the time, can be bookmarked by clicking the star to the right of the site's URL in the address bar.  Bookmarks can be organized using the Bookmark Manager, including putting them into folders.  (Tip:  Bookmarks can be copied into more than one folder using Bookmark Manager but will be moved to the last folder selected if "created" more than once.)

Bookmarks can be accessed from the Bookmark dropdown (shown above) or by selecting "Always Show Bookmarks Bar" from the Chrome "View" menu.  The Bookmarks Bar also appears when a new tab is opened so it doesn't need to permanently take up space on a smaller screen.

You can do a Google search directly from the address bar in Chrome, but it will not display the predictions like a normal search in Google.

There are currently over 50,000 extensions available at the Chrome Web Store.  They range in quality from excellent to useless or worse, so it is a good idea to search for recommendations on the web or choose those that are highly rated with a significant number of users.  If you are into a social media site, there are probably several extensions related to it.

Over the years I have accumulated over 50 extensions, and about 25 are currently active.  Some are more useful than others and some are for specific uses which will be covered in a later post.

Extensions from the above screen capture that I would recommend for anyone include:

1.  A password manager.  We use LastPass which allows you to easily generate and use unique secure passwords without having to remember them all.  It can also be added to your phone for $12/yr.

2.  An ad blocker.  Currently using Adblock Plus which blocks all annoying ads including video ads on YouTube.  It also seems to work for Facebook ads.  The blocker can be turned off on a site-by-site basis by clicking the button.

3.  A privacy/efficiency tool.  Using Click&Clean which allows you to set various levels of cleaning and/or customize for individual elements.  For example, you may not want to wipe passwords and cookies.

4.  Email This Page (by Google).  Clicking the button opens your default email app, pastes the page link in the body of the email and creates a subject.  Easier than copying the URL, opening email, and then pasting the link.

5.  Awesome Duplicate Tab Button duplicates the currently focused tab in a new tab or window depending on the setting.  (Doesn't carry over the tab history, however.)

6.  A weather button is nice to have.  Have been using Weather Forecast since the developer of Forecast Fox stopped supporting it.  Current temperature and conditions are on the button and a five day forecast is a click away.

Another beautiful day in Rochester, but the weekend looks promising.

7.  The App Launcher in popup button allows you to access the Google App Launcher from the Chrome toolbar.  Quick access to YouTube, Maps, Gmail, Google+ and more.

8.  Recycle Bin automagically remembers the last 20 (or more) closed tabs so they can be easily revisited.  (You can reopen a closed tab by right clicking in the tab bar, but it is only for the most recent tab and you have to keep opening tabs until you find the one you want and then close the others.)

Other buttons visible in the shot above include (9) Picture in Picture Viewer, (10)Amazon Smile 1Button, and (11)ZenMate Security & Privacy VPN.  These may or may not be useful for you, though I do recommend the Amazon Smile program.

For Wikipedia users, the Wikiwand extension works in the background to improve the reading experience by providing several enhancements to the layout and appearance of Wikipedia pages.

The other Chrome extensions that I have running in the background relate to Facebook, Pinterest, Evernote; and news aggregation and text messaging on the Mac.  Those will be covered in a future post about my limited incursion into the social media arena.

In summary, I think the Chrome browser is worth a try and the experience can be significantly enhanced by using free extensions from the Chrome store.  I hope you are also encouraged to seek out extensions or add-ons for your current browser.  Worst case, you can disable and/or delete the extensions and you can always go back to using your current browser.

Keep Moving

This Weeks' Update [4/5/15] - Still Riding Inside

[The Weekly Update is an email that was started in the fall of 2010 to keep family and friends informed of my medical condition and has continued as a review of family activities.  Written by Zelma and edited by Steve. Working on adding past issues to the blog.]

Hi All,

Spring made a brief debut this week but decided to have a limited engagement as this weekend was back in the 30's with - yes- snow!!! Fortunately the flakes only blew around in the air and didn't stay long once they hit the ground.

Steve has been keeping busy with a new update to his blog and with publishing the current [Q1 2015] stats.  

Per his blog "This is what happens when a retired accountant has four years of mostly spare time to tweak a spreadsheet."

Matthew was home for the weekend and GJ made dinner for us on Saturday night (yum!).  The rest of the time was spent working on the mountain of "stuff" that is due in the next 4 weeks.

Miles for the week are 78, miles for 2015 are 1,119 and total miles are 13,373.

Take care,

Zelma

Bicycle Helmets

Giro and Bell Helmets on Different Shaped Heads

Bike helmets have been in the news lately with Arnold Schwarzenegger getting
stopped in Australia, and a California state senator proposing mandatory usage for all cyclists in that state.  (The accident that prompted the proposal was caused by a drunk driver, so I don't think helmets and reflective clothing are the real issue here.)

You can spend as much or as little time as you want on the pros and cons of helmet usage here, where a Google search returns almost 50,000 hits.  There is a short article on both sides of the issue of mandatory helmet usage at Bicycling, and Bike Snob NYC has his irreverent take on the issue here.

In New York state, helmets are required for riders and passengers under 14.

Olivia ready for the Burley trailer in the spring

I don't think helmets should be mandatory for adults, but we always wear them, even for leisurely rides on the canal path.  It has become like using a seatbelt.  I also feel that parents should set a good example for their kids by using a helmet.  Your mileage may vary.

Common complaints about helmets are that they are uncomfortable or too hot, and that they mess up your hair.  Modern helmets are relatively light, well ventilated and, if fitted properly, reasonably comfortable .  And if "cycling is the new golf", then "helmet hair" should be stylish.  (There also should be a lot of good deals on expensive and lightly used cycling gear on Craig's List when the next new thing is declared.)

There is a ton of impartial information from the consumer-funded Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute at Helmets.org including this "Quick Answers" page.

A video from Performance Bikes about choosing and fitting a helmet.

And another from Art's Cyclery.

Cycling helmet prices start under $40 and can go to $300 or more.

Assuming a helmet fits properly, an inexpensive helmet will provide the same protection as a more expensive one of the same type.  More money may mean more comfort, however.  (The newer design MIPS helmets may provide more safety in certain conditions but they are less widely available and are relatively more expensive.)

It's best to shop for a helmet in a bike shop where you can try on helmets from different brands in different sizes and price ranges.  You will be able to get help finding the right helmet and making adjustments so that it fits properly.  And if you find one there, buy it there.  

We have found that in moderately priced helmets, Giro models fit better on rounder heads and Bell helmets are more oval shaped.  They are both owned by the same parent company, but their molds are different shapes and the retention systems also vary.

A helmet only helps if you wear it; and you're more likely to wear it if it is more comfortable.  So spend some time (and money) finding the right helmet for you.  As mentioned in the videos, more money will get you a lighter helmet and a more adjustable retention system.

Visors are a good option.  They are removable on most models and nice to have on evening rides when heading toward the sun. I've heard they are also good for early morning rides, but I can't confirm that.

Hope this information helps you find a helmet that works well for you.

Stay safe out there and Keep Moving.