Terrierman

Have I ever mentioned that my grandson nearly lost a toe to a pygmy rattlesnake bite? He was just a little tyke walking around barefoot in the yard. Turned out to be quite an ordeal. And about bikes. I'm surely not the only guy who ever got off the bike and used it for a shield between the angry dog and me. Let's hear some good dog chases guy on bike stories, what say?

And a pleasure it truly is.

I believe I recognize that truck😎

This thread was better when it was about snakes and bikes,🙃

I've only ever had to deal with them at the gas station. And that was plenty.

When I go to Waffle House I always get a waffle well done and two over easy eggs to top it with. Their food is not that bad. How do you mess up a waffle and a couple of eggs anyway??But I swear, I have yet to see a Waffle House waitress with a full set of teeth. Good to see you posting again mi amigo.

I'm cooking old school St. Louis style salsiccia sandwich tonight. The sausage is on the grill and the onion, red bell pepper and fresh garlic are ready in the saute' pan. Some marinara - Prego = actually surprisingly good - and what passes for dago bread here in hillbilly country. Sadly, the bakers here don't know how to do chewy bread with a tough but still right crust. I'll get by somehow though.

Rodney Strong is strong.

It's good to see you back on the reservation.😎

There's some more manageable single track West of 65. Takes off at the shooting range. See a lot more hikers than bikes though.

That story I posted about the Felt winding up on top of me in the creek was at Busiek. 😎 Busiek is also the area that got me to give up riding bikes off road out of fear of broken bones and other similar problems. Those shared horse trails that went straight up/down fall lines with 4 and 6 foot drops covered in rocks from apple to watermelon sized loose rock turned out to be just too much for this one, especially when I started having orthopedic repairs. Good memories though, of a beautiful place and younger days! I lived in Spokane at the time and my property backed up to the creek that flows from there through Busiek. Walked and biked from the house to 65 and back many times. Pretty valley it was and I'm sure still is. Rugged country in the heart of the Ozarks.

Plus if you wind up in the same spot at the same time, you get to meet a new fishing buddy. One who's not afraid to put in a little work and a few $$ for a fun spot. Those are my kind of guys. There's just no downside here. So long as you use light tackle. Just sayin'.

It is!

What did you do when the flu got going? Your boy wants you to forget everything.

Get in there. Not wrong. Hell, he's probably in quarantine by now. No point in wasting a good bag of corn. But. Use 4 lb test and a 4' UL uglystik.

Good luck with that. Had a great conversation with my daughter earlier tonight. She says tested as dominant personality from HR at her office. I had to laugh and admit that it might have taken a while to show, but she got it honest. She agrees and it's all good. May it turn out as well for you and yours.

Hardest college class I ever had. Only took it twice and thought that was a huge accomplishment.

Pentair is a solid outfit. Did a lot of business with them back when I was actually in business. Everything from little home STEP system or well pumps to you name it. Best to your son.

A&B is a good shop. They do all my maintenance work and we bought Lovey's bike there. Bought my first real adult bike there about 25 years ago. Like that they do trade ins. Your girl is too cute by half!

I confess. Wear gloves always. Used to be a helmet nazi, but not anymore. Those things are too hot for me in the summertime. I've fallen, twice. Once for forgetting to uncli[p at stop sign, and once on slippery blacktop bike trail on downhill curve. Both times was glad for gloves. Both times had helmet on. Head never bounced off anything. I get that helmets are smart. Thing is, nobody ever said I was smart. So. Since I don't wear one all the time, it's just never for me. If I was on an organized ride that required helmet? No problem. Just not when I coast down the driveway, ride the 5 miles to the quickie mart, grab something to drink and ride back home. YMMV.

I like the cheap ones with crocheted back and padded leather palms. They sell fancy looking expensive ones with a fashionable logo though if that's important to you. 😎 Those old steel frame Treks are highly thought of in certain circles. Nice bike.

Bike gloves too. Two kinds of bike riders exist. Those that have fallen and those who are going to. Bike gloves will protect your palms should the unfortunate happen. I think they're more important than a helmet.

I rode clips for years. Keeps your feet sold connected to the pedals. Clipping in/out becomes second nature. I ride platforms now due to the twisting motion to unclip being a bad idea with fake hips. Funny thing. First day I had the felt went riding. Creek crossing about five minutes from the truck. Headed straight across a little pool about 2 feet deep. It was soft gravel and I went over the bars landed in the water with the bike still clipped to my shoes above me. I'm sure a video of it would have gone viral.

Comfort thing. They're great. Who cares what people think?

Deore is good quality. Nice bike.