zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzip!

This'll be quick!  Jammin" day and thanks to all those for payin' us a visit!  Not to mention all the repairs coming through!  Kept us jumpin!  Put out three new sweeties today and one is a REAL GEM!  Completely original (except for new tires) 1958 Roadmaster Skyrider Deluxe!!!  GORGEOUS!  Also put out a couple yesterday and I will pic 'em below but we sold out of just about every adult bike we had.  So we will be starting tomorrow with the beginnings of a whole new batch!  So we will see you all on the 'morrow!

PRE-WALMART MONGOOSE
SOLD

1958 CLASSIC!!!
ONLY $225.00!!

BRAND FREAKIN' NEW AVALON!
ONLY $95.00!!

FULLY RE-FURBED TRAILWAY!!
ONLY $130.00!!

Rituals Interupted

Cute story.
Around our house we have traditions and rituals.  Schedules and procedure that dictate the passage of our day.  Night time Is no exception.  Upon returning home at the end of our day, dinner is prepared (mom, dad and Elijah taking turns) we all sit at the dinner table (no toys, no TV) light conversations ensues (with the customary admonishments for loud voices, arguing, unpleasant topics, hands off and proper eating etiquette) Once completed the elementary kiddos and Izzy go to their prospective bathrooms and the boys share the shower and the girls the bath, while the older boys "clear and clean"  Miranda then has her dinner and Mom and Dad after dinner coffee.   Then it's set out clothes for the morning, pick up debris, (if they didn't dawdle, story time) then kisses, tuck ins and lights out.
Hence our evening. 
Well from time to time this organization goes askew.  For whatever reason not everything goes according to plan.  Last night, shortly before I got home Izzy lay down for a nap.  NOT a good thing as she can take  half hour power nap and keep the whole house awake until 3 or so in the morning.  Once dinner hit the table we tried to wake her but she was out, so we opted to let her rest with the idea we would put her to bed once the boys finished their shower.
Well the boys hit the water and Rozy took her bath.  Once all was said and done and the kiddos were preparing for bed the prerequisite battle royal between Owen and Rozy roused Izzy.  Luckily she didn't wake cranky!  She had her dinner, but as she still appeared slightly groggy I made the foolish decision to just wash her face and hands and put her to bed.
Oh Nay, Nay!!
Like her father, young Miss Izzy is becoming a real stickler for protocol and when it was announced she would be going to bed without her bath I quite honestly think the gates of Hades briefly opened up, and a sulphur and brimstone tantrum ensued as she defiantly thrust fist to hips and announced in a bellowing righteously indignant voice  "But you are SUPPOSED TO!!!!"
Young miss Izzy was treated to a sour apple bubble bath with her hair diligently washed, dried and brushed.  Fresh jammies and extra tucks and kisses by Mommy.
I have NO illusions into who is really in charge.
ANYWAY!
Wow.  Talk about dead.  Yesterday brought a deluge of rain making the majority of the  population of Florida  cower in their homes.
Apparently.
We had a few stalwarts brave the elements to visit, and we do so appreciate the kind words and praise.  I am very happy to see that one of our new friends was able to locate a suitable (albeit temporary) bike as she has professed to needing to get out, and out soon to exercise.  I'm sorry we were not able to find what she was looking for but she got a real sweet Trek Navigator for a descent price, and I'm happy we could help a little bit in getting it fitted for her.  Also thanks for the cool Mongoose she sold us, I should have that one ready later today!
Also shout out and appreciation to the folks who had been down vacationing and picked up the Schwinn hybrid on the vacation rental.  They returned it in top notch shape and that gem is available again!
All right, best I get to work as gots lot to build!
Remember, God created rain coats so you could visit bike shops.

24 SPEED SCHWINN HYBRID
ONLY $130.00!!

TREK 700 HYBRID
ONLY $190.00!!!!

SCHWINN HYBIRD W/ BUSLOADS OF NEW PARTS!!
ONLY $135.00!!

"But The Name Is......RE-Cycle?"

Yes.  Our preferred way of building bikes is by reusing what has already been manufactured to rebuild reliable rides. 
But.
As of late the demand for reasonably rated rides has escalated to the point that should we get a bike in that's potentially a good deal, but may require a part or parts we don't have laying about, we have had to go....
*shudder*
NEW! 
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Such was the case yesterday.  Whilst standing looking at the dwindling,  paltry selection we have left after three days of record sales, then glancing through the ever growing bay of "bone row", with what could potentially be some real sweet treats, a executive decision had to be made!  So I did what any aspiring, intelligent highly powerful executive would do!
Asked my wife if I could spend money.
She reviewed my requests and gave me the thumbs up, reluctantly.
A short trip to our local supplier and I have the trimmings to what will be at lest three to four choice rides.  Got a Trek hybrid, a Schwinn hybrid, that classic Fuji, a Gary Fisher, and a Giant Cypress all tore down and ready for building!
YAY!
On to Ironic.
Had a visit from Chip and Joanne yesterday evening.  He's looking for a set of alloy bars to finish up a project and during the discussion he informed me that the city of Dunedin is have a Green fest or some such and they contacted him to give an assist and some input into this years theme.  See Chip is a well known local bike guru, so when anything bike comes up hes the man to call.  Apparently this years theme and name is...
"re-cycle bicycles"
hmmmmm?
They apparently have been in touch with some of the local shops seeing if they can donate the time and material to build recycled bikes for the homeless.
Local shops excluding us of course.  Seems they were caught totally of guard when Chip commented on them choosing shops that specialize in bikes costing more then $1500.00 why they are not talking to the shop in town that specializes IN recycled bicycles!? Hence the name.....
"RE-Cycle"
Apparently at this point some thought was given to the practicality of contacting such a person as us so I look forward to the communique.
ANYWAY!
As the balance of our day was given to tear down and prep we only have three newbies to present but more will most assuredly follow!
With that I bid you a good day and look forward to seeing y'all!

SCHWINN HYBRID!
BOATLOADS OF NEW PARTS!!
ONLY $135.00!!!

BOYS BEGINNER 20" BMX!
ONLY $35.00!!

GIRLS 20" 6 SPEED!
ONLY $45.00!!!

Pleasent Surpries From The Most Unlikely Of Places.

Quite a busy day yesterday but before that...
If I hadn't mentioned before, locating and opening the new store brought about not just occupational changes but some household ones as well.  As the new locale came complete with a private room in the back we decided to turn it into a playroom for the kiddos.  Originally we had envisioned it for the two youngest so Mom could come to the shop in the am with me and stay the day.  It became quickly apparent, however that this was impractical.  It's too far from the house to push a carriage each morning and Miranda is still to little to bounce around in the back of a "pull-along".  Not to mention young miss Izabella would only remain in the playroom for about 30 seconds before wanting to "help" daddy.  As fate would have it (and as we still wanted mom to return to her place of honor at the head of the shop, it's her name on the business after all) another attempt at rearranging the status quo, in the way of Elijah watching the kids after school so mom could come up and work proved disastrous.  A 17 year olds idea of monitoring children is turning on the TV and falling asleep on the couch!  Needless to say returning home at the end of the day to THAT kind of disaster wore thin after about 48 hours.  Near to resigning herself to household captivity we came up with the brilliant (albeit whimsically polyanish) idea that, as the elementary and middle school the remainder of the children attend is only a few doors down from the shop mom would spend the first part of the day at the house with the babies until Elijah returned  then she would come here, picking up the little guys and THEY would utilize the playroom (ostensibly for homework and such).  It has had its speed bumps, but all in all (and school T-shirts are cheap enough that we can replace the grimy ones every couple of weeks) it's been good.
So I told you that story to tell you this one.
Long ago I reserved myself to the fact that our 10 year old, Owen would later in life seek a vocation in  the field of Demolition.  His penchant for mass destruction an inescapable driving force.  Lately however he has surprised me and in no small way given me reason for pride (not to mention hope!) Left alone, he has been concocting some rather ingenious creations out of a hodgepodge of discarded items.  He is showing signs of his fathers knack for seeing through what something is and seeing what it can become.  The art of imagination and creativity which seems so nonexistent in our societies youth is burning hot and bright in this boy.  I now have to reflect back on his earlier days and realize what I mistook for destruction was point in fact, research.  Research into what and how things were and worked.  I sometimes fail to remember the lessons of my youth, and the many unsuspecting mechanical devices (not to mention a 64 1/2 Mustang and a '71 VW Bettle) that fell under the  machinations of my boundless curiosity, much to the chagrin of my beleaguered parents. So it was with that sudden realization that I beheld Owen's most recent triumph that he proudly presented to me yesterday.  From a scattered pile of parts in the back of the shop, and with the help of some scavenged trash he created this...

Yes.  Rear of a three wheeler held firmly with old inner tubes, nestled into the fork.  She actually rides AND turn (albeit WIDELY!) Astride sits it's young inventor.

I am looking forward to this young mans future.  It should be interesting to say the least.
ANYWAY!
As reported, yesterday was QUITE a busy one!  First, thanks to all for the steady stream of repairs!  We do so appreciate the trust. Not to mention the steady stream of bill-paying fodder!  The sales floor was a buzzing as well, as seven rides found new homes yesterday!  One young lady coming in to find newbies for her growing "very competitive" girls grab up three sweet looking rides! One gent, looking to fulfill a somewhat convoluted plan to decrease his auto time on the road, grabbed up the 24" Mongoose.  Hey, you had me at "not gonna drive as much..." Some visitor to our area came in and within about 30 seconds snatched up the ldies 26" dually, and a Male dually I had JUST put out! (see the pic below) And toward the tail end of the evening a repeat returner finally found "what he didn't know he wanted but would know when he saw it" ride, in the way of a super-cool looking Nishiki...er....um....MUTT!  Bought it while it still lay in state on my rack, so we quickly finished 'er up as he was dutifully waiting in the chairs outside.
SO!
Where does that leave us?
HURTING FOR STOCK!
Yes mamn's and sir's I have GOT to do some more building!  Got plenty to work with and just picked up a SWEET older Raleigh that had been languishing in someones back yard for years (check out the before pic below) Already got her all worked out in my head so be looking for that one later tomorrow!' All right!  So that'll do me for now, as I'm back at it!
See ya soon!

Yep. lasted about 7 minuets.

This one just didn't last.

keep an eye out fer this one!

It Has Begun....

As with every morning it was a higgly piggly roust of children, groggy and half conscious stumbling about in preparations for the day.  Dad, perched in his throne of power (south end of the couch) was barking out orders, occasionally making repeat trips to the boys room to make sure everyone in question were thoroughly motivated, and of course after dual diaper changes and bottles (with the appropriate amount of cuddle time) plopped the baby girls in front of the video babysitter (today's selection, "Spongebob").  After confirming that all children of school age had in fact NOT chosen to dress in yesterdays clothes and in fact said clothes were clean (Owen has the bad habit of putting on the previous days shirt, but in attempts to deceive dad turns it inside out to hide that days stains) and that the strip of hair on the back of Rozlynds head was "knot free" we began the sometimes hairy (not to mention nerve racking) ride to school.
As is the norm. Logan, tried and true quickly took up point, well distance from the bulk of the parade.  A ride of determination, Owen zig zagging from left to right oblivious to oncoming traffic is met with a barrage of "STAY TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD!" Kaleb of course, still groggy and reluctant to even get to school languishes in the rear.  Rozlynd of course falls in lock step with dad and begins a unflinching rhetorical conversation regarding events and topics while most probably of major import to a nine year old girl, is frequently met with a strained degree of bemused interest by a 45 year old male who has had no where near enough coffee.
Half way to school in the middle of a diatribe about what she would do if she were in charge of the school there was a call from across the street.  A meek little voice called out "Rozlynd" and without breaking a vowel her speech broke with a determined "Out of my way, Dad!" and she was off in a shot!  A young boy, presumably her age but a good foot shorter (we breed 'em big!) carefully crossed the street to meet up with her, now waiting patiently for him. As I approached the meeting spot I witnessed him hand her a small, freshly picked flower.  She paused, glanced at it and then giving it no more thought began to talk to him, at great length of Pokemon.
Heh.
I must say, as much as I experienced a sharp pang of trepidation, and remorse for my loss of prominence in her mornings attention, it was quiet cute.
And telling.
As my little girl shares a genetic, temperamental and personality likeness to that of my sister (with a tad bit of my mother and my wife mixed in) I was not at all surprised at her choice of men.
He was smallish, cleanly dressed, quiet (one might say meek) with glasses and an attentive smile. All the rest of the way to school she prattled on and he quietly maintained in rapt interest.
As I have always suspected my little girl will grow up to fall in love with a man she has complete control over!
ANYWAY!
Thanks to Dan for paying us a visit and shooting the s#$@ for a while this morn" (us displaced Yankees have to stick together!) as the conversation morphed into spinning yarns about our respective youths growing up up North and our occasional encounters with the supernatural.
OH yes!  Short of viewing it on the  discovery channel I haven't met anyone who grew up down here that can relate to the experience, but next time your in and if you got the time I'd be more then happy to regale you with tales of coexisting with the great beyond!
SO!
Managed to get out two new goodies yesterday (in between repairs, and an ongoing Firefly marathon on my recently acquired DVD set of the entire series (sadly only 14 episodes)) so feel free to check 'em out as now I must get to work on building more!
Se ya soon!

"LIKE NEW"! LADIES 26" DUAL SHOCK
$90.00!!

PRE-WALMART ROADMASTER
ONLY $75.00!!

This MEANS something.....

Given the fact that I am a major Sci-fi buff it should come as no surprise to me that the following came to pass.  What's confusing is that none of my kids have ever seen the film that could have inspired and explained the perplexing events at dinner last night.  Sitting down to a pleasant Sunday dinner of roast pork loin, mashed potatoes and broccoli Owen created this...

Then, wanting to be part of the mass hallucinations Rozlynd (who had already eaten much of her dinner came up with this small sister Island....

Elijah, not wishing to be upstaged and having barely touched his meal as he was prattling with Kaleb about trivia matters created what appears to be the Mainlands...

Now I am not sure where these chains of Island may be nor what their importance may be to some impending extra-terrestrial "Close Encounter" but if for some reason these children all of sudden pack up and disappear I state for the record that this is why!
ANYWAY!
Today is the dreaded first of April and have no fear when I say that we here DO NOT support the execution of "practical jokes".  In no way am I a fan, but our 2nd eldest son, Elijah is a huge one and doesn't necessarily wait for the holiday to celebrate them, but none the less we have strived very hard to break him of his love for this accursed day! (his last recorded attack on his father came in the way of salt in the sugar bowl for my morning coffee! Almost resulted in him landing in traction!)
Saturday, as reported was one blistering busy day, so I will be working extra hard to put out some more goodies for your perusal!  Keep an eye on these pages (and Craigslist) for the results!
Have a good morning and we hope to see you soon!

Much Ado About Nutting

Wish I had a bevy of new goodies to show off, but between all the sellin' (the Univega found an excited home! The Pacific MTB didn't last 10 minuets.  The Exotec took off with a gent who had come looking for a hybrid, and the girls 24" had "everything I've been looking for, and less then half of what I was going to pay online!" for her new owner) I was only able to finish up two.  Another sweet Giant hybrid, and an old school (pre-Walmart) Mongoose MTB but they both sold even before I could get a pic.  Lotta that happening lately. We did however get in several new goodies fer fixin'!  Thanks to Chip for the old school Giant and Gary Fisher gimme's!  Also picked up an early Roadmaster MTB (before Wal-mart, again) and a (soon to be) nice Schwinn Hybrid.  Not to mention several more kiddo's bikes. Sooo, my work is cut out for me net week. 
Now tomorrow, obviously we are NOT open as it's Rabbit's day, and we gotta hide the eggs fer the kiddo's (still not sure who had the misguided idea that rabbits lay eggs).
So y'all have a relaxing day scraping the kids off the ceiling after the sugar rush and we'll talk to you Monday!

Springing Back!

Hasn't felt much like spring break this week.  Well except for all the kids being home 24/7 up mom and dads but. But today was a real break from the bitter cold we have been contending with (all due apologies to our northern friends) as we were for once able to work with the doors open.  As it was a tad bit quiet today we worked on getting out some new goodies.  OK, maybe not ALL day!  There was that brief nap I took this afternoon in the play room.  Late night doing some emergency plumbing repair after a midnight run to Walmart.  Suffice to say whoever had the bright idea of putting the water heater RIGHT next to the garage door so as to set up a target for the release valve should be shot! 
Needless to say I was a tad haggard this morn!
But below are the new cool rides and more to come on the 'morrow!

GIRLS 20"
ONLY $35.00!!

LADIES 24" MTB
ONLY $50.00!!



MEN'S 26" MTB!!
ONLY $95.00!!

DOH!

Ever have one of those days you were suffering from a terminal case of Stupid? 
Yea.
Spent an hour and a half yesterday and half this morning working on a Next Avalon (yes...many of you may ask yourself "WHY?!") as I refused to give up.  Got it finished, finally then washed it and as I pulled it back in I noticed a wobble in the rear end.  Thinking the rear wheel wasn't tight I put her up on the rack and it was THEN that I noticed the rear shock was shot.
ARRGH!!
I broke a cardinal rule!  "Check ALL systems and components before starting work so you know what you are up against and to make sure you have all the parts you need!"
Guess what one part I don't have?
Oh you ARE good!
The idiocy didn't stop there.  Then I picked up a new bike from a source we have done business with many times in the past and rarely have to do anything to the bikes he brings in as he usually fixes them up before bringing in.
Nope. Not this one!  As it stands have had to replace the entire brake system and shifters.
ARRGH!
So needles to say I ain't got carp to show you today! 
I do so hope to amend that tomorrow!
All right, I best get a move on before it gets dark and REAL cold!
Night!

Respect Can Extend To The Most Unlikely Of People!

Well, I said if I had something worthwhile to talk about I'd be back!
I'm back.
One thing I have grown to appreciate as I have aged is the realization that truly "with age, comes wisdom".  One inescapable truth is that one must suspend ones own beliefs, open ones ears and consider the opinions of others to truly be able to come to an educated conclusion on any subject.  Well, while I was flipping through my news briefs this morning I stumbled upon one from a source I thought I would NEVER find myself in agreement with.  Now in the past there have been a few people I thought i would never find common ground with, but even a cynical person as myself was emotionally moved when George W. stood at ground zero and speechified, but this is one gent I would have never thought I would find any use for other then kindling.
Bill O'Reilly!!
But as with so many things, I was pleasantly proven wrong in my all encompassing disregard!
"The compelling argument is on the side of homosexuals," O'Reilly said on "The O'Reilly Factor" Tuesday. "That's where the compelling argument is. 'We're Americans. We just want to be treated like everybody else.'"
HOLY CARP!
He went on to say "The argument on the other side hasn't been able to do anything but thump the Bible,"
Brilliant and insightful! Granted, he goes on to lambaste Clinton for passing DOMA then oppose it.  And of course chide Obama for changing his stance on gay marriage during the election (for the record, I criticized that very maneuver in this blog) but the mere fact that he bucked the Republican Talking Points is impressive. O'Reilly supports civil unions, but made it clear that gay marriage is not an issue that animates him and is one that should be decided by individual states.
"The gay marriage thing, I don't feel that strongly about it one way or another," The moderately cynical side of me would say that this is a safe place for any moderator to be.  Don't take a solid position on such a hotly debated issue, but it's comforting to know that such a stalwart would at least acquiesce to the truth of the matter.  To date I have not heard one rational, realistic or comprehensive argument to defend the position against gays having the right to marry.  Such unions would in no way crumble the foundation of our civilization nor pervert the youth of America, or lower property values!  Or whatever catastrophic doom the bible thumpers predict.
ANYWAY.
Perhaps I have in some small ways misjudged Mr. O'reilly

Yep....Tuesday....

And as such....
Was a repair day, plain and simple! We thank you all for your trust and kind words!  Very appreciative for all the work!  Did manage to put out one new goody though, as well as another about 90% done.  We had almost gotten to the end of the overstock pile but then added a little more to it today, which is cool.  Got hold of a vintage ladies touring/road bike with the dual top tube.  Similar to the older Nishiki.  Will be quiet sharp when shes done.
SO.....
What you been up too?


un, hunh?

Really?

Is that legal?

Anyway.
Sorry, I know I'm being silly but other then concentrating on repair today was a very text book day, and now I'm just vamping here!  So I'll let y'all off the hook until I have something interesting to say!

Ha, Ha!  Very funny!

LIKE NEW LADIES 24" MTB!!
ONLY $75.00!!

Decisions...Decisions....

Once we moved in here we were open for a few Sundays in order to get more rides made (and help beef up the bankroll to pay for the move!) and as Sundays were never a busy day at the old joint, we were a tad bit shocked with just how busy we were!  So hence our current dilemma.  We definitely need one day off a week for family time, but we also want to best serve our customers when they need us the most! The Trouble is we are about as equally busy every day of the week! 
GREAT problem to have!
So, today was a bit of all right!  Found homes for a few goodies and brought some more in to feed the need!  Put out a FANFREAKIN'TASTIC Univega Modo Vincere Triathlon bike, four kiddo bikes and  sweet, lightweight MTB! 
Have to thank my wife for allowing me to beef up my MP3 player last night.  Was getting  little tired of the old venue.  But one problem though, when my oldest bot did the syncing for me, for some reason he dumped our whole music file into my player.  In layman's terms I had not only MY music...but his and my wife's.  Which equates my fine musical tastes were tainted by guttural screams, funeral dirges, Bjork and Micheal Bolton!
*SHUDDER!*
I mean...I didn't even get to hear ONE of the William Shatner or Monty Python songs I found!
Bummer!
All right, feel free to check out the new goodies for now I gotta head home to some good home cookin!

BOY'S 20" BMX
ONLY $40.00!!

"LIKE NEW" BMX
ONLY $60.00

LIGHTWEIGHT MTB
ONLY $125.00

UNIVEGA!  ALL SORTS OF GOODIES
ONLY $310.00!!

No IDEA Where The Day Went!

Today was a whiz bang of action!  Thankfully only a couple early morning "Yardsalers" then it was genuine business!  As always a sure way to ensure brisk business is to start a project!  As we are hurting for light up front we opted for a little "Star-lit Tea Party" and hung up Christmas lights from the ceiling.  Cheap? Yes.  But effective! No sooner had I pulled the bikes out of the way and started hanging did the throngs of veloists' come in!  HAPPY DAYS!!  MANY a new rider out on the road today!  An many new faces as well!  We got referrals from Tampa, Plant City even NEW YORK and GREAT BRITAIN!!!  No kidding!  These folks were told in their home country (OK....yes, I know New York isn't exactly another country) that when they came to Florida they had to pay us a visit!
WOW! 
I feel genuinely Cosmopolitan!
Needless to say when the dust settle we old just about every adult bike we had!  HAVE NO FEAR!! We also picked up several new goodies!  Below is a rugged 24" MTB, and two NEW (I mean NEW, not "like new") Cruisers!  Seems the gent had bought them for company but they never used them!  Also got a banger Avalon, a lightweight MTB and Lee did some horse  trading with a SHARP looking Columbia Road Bike I hope to have done up tomorrow!  So come in and check out the goodies tomorrow as we are open from noon-five!

NEW MEN'S CRUISER
ONLY $90.00!!



RUGGID 24" MTB
ONLY $65.00!!

GORGEOUS NEW LADIES CRUISER
ONLY $95.00!!!

Peace!

Aquatic Dynamics

Just one more bit of proof of the superiority of bicycles to cars. 
But first, I set the stage.
Anyone in the area knows that yesterday we had some less then ideal weather.  Around six pm a local transformer blew and we were left without lights.  Now being the intrepid capitalists that we are we would not give in.  Although I had expected the lights to return quickly they did not.  So I quickly discovered in the rapidly decreasing light that if ever I should loose my eyesight I could effectively build a bike blind.  As the rain increased I sent Angi and the kids home in a cab as I need my bike in the morning I sally forthed bipedal.  Not to mention I had promised the kiddo's I would rent "Wreck it Ralph" for movie night.  Luckily the rain let up some for the trip only to open up viciously once I got home.  A little bit after my shower it was discovered we were out of milk and as Izzy cannot survive an evening without her prerequisite 6 bottles or so, and the rain had ebbed again Kaleb volunteered to go to the store.  Unfortunately 10 minutes after he left the skies opened up AGAIN, and this time the torrential downpour was accompanied by a symphony of thunder and lightning.  After a few minutes of this I became concerned (yes.  he can be a pain in the ass at times, but he's still my son). So donning outside clothes again, off I went in search of.  This is when I discovered the perfection that IS a bicycle.  Where we live there are some low lying areas that quickly flood when hit by such rain, and at the intersection of the road leading into our subdivision and Sunset Point Road it will quickly become a rapidly moving river some 12 inches or more deep.  As I paused at the rivers edge watching the cars trying ponderously to navigate the treacherous tide I saw a wrecker pulling one of those small "pregnant roller-skate" out of the telephone poll, and as if that was not ominous enough another of those little ecno-cars slowing to avoid hitting a stalled car started drifting back, awash in the growing flow of water.  Well, as it was the only way to cross to get to the store i said the heck with it (not to mention I was now soaked to the bone) and I pushed off!  And never once lost traction with the road!  No risk of stalling, no damaging an electrical system or suffering countless thousands dollars of damage! HA HA! 
In the end I found Kaleb safely under the overhang of the old Sweetbay entrance waiting out the storm and after a few minuets it diminished enough that we could make a quick, relatively dry run back to the house.
Yes. Every day in every way my belief that cars are a non-necessity for us is reaffirmed.
ANYWAY!
Needless to say with the unpredictable weather yesterday we were a little slow, but that's OK!  Still had a few folks bring in repairs (thank you for your trust!) picked up a few more goodies and put out several more!  REALLY making more then  dent in the overstock now!!!
So check 'em out and we'll see ya soon!

COOL LOOKING BOYS 20" BMX
ONLY $45.00!!!

CUTE 20" CRUISER
ONLY $30.00!!

COMFY LADIES CRUISER
ONLY $65.00

SHARP LOOKING BOYS 18"
ONLY $35.00!!

LADIES 10 SPEED
ONLY $65.00!!

Tail Wind

Another Whirlwind day!  Thanks to all for the support and patronage.  See if I can recap here.  Or remember.  Sold two of the BMX'ers to a gent looking to get his whole family on bi-pedal transport  More power to you sir and we look forward to your return for the rest!  Also bought and quickly sold a GORGEOUS 2006 Schwinn Super Sport Triathlon bike.  This puppy was CHERRY!  Lasted about and hour.  One of our former comrades from the old plaza came in and grabbed up the Raptor so her dog can have something to drag her on.  And a local teacher helping out a couple of her students who's bikes got pilfered came in a snatched the Next BMX we had.
Yea....I think that's it.
Also thanks to everyone for their repair today, we appreciate the trust!
So here's the latest and we're off!
See ya tomorrow!

GORGEOUS AND GONE!!

LADIES 10 SPEED MTB W/NEW TIRES!
ONLY $75.00!!

LADIES 6-SPEED
ONLY $70.00!!

OK....so....Not So Much...

Yesterday was not as productive as Tuesday.
That's OK though, as we were just very busy helping out customers which is, after all what we are here for.
(at least that's what the instruction book says)
Not to mention the fact that it wsa overcast and rainy, so when the kids came up after school they were pretty much under foot as they couldn't play out back.  Now don't get me wrong, I think its real cool that with the new joint we have a whole room in the back dressed up as a playroom for them to do their homework, and watch movies, games etc.  BUT they seem more interested sometimes "helping" daddy or mommy.  And then this morning as I was looking for a pen I found further evidence that kiddos were a foot....

Apparently Angi's desk was the site of a gruesome Pokemon' battle.
There were few survivors.
Well, I guess it's a good survival trait that our kids can be pretty much comfortable wherever they go.
ANYWAY!
We are now OFFICIALLY a store! The lackluster, unreliable and all together unprofessional sign company I unfortunately contracted with FINALLY put up our awning!  And it only took 7 weeks!
Oh PLEASE don't get me started!  Suffice to say I am not the type to badmouth another business (OK...except WalMart) but if you should ever be in the market for signage please call me and I will tell you who NOT to use!!!
In the end though..it is a good looking sign...

That's my bike in the foreground for scale!
Once again...logo design courtesy of the Chip Haynes Multi-Media Corporation!

MOVING ON!
SO thanks to all the cool folks coming by to pay us a visit!  The Raleigh hybrid that lasted a surprising three days found a new home!  And to a very happy camper as well!  Also, a young lady who picked up the ladies bike on Tuesday brought a fellow co-worker in yesterday who was intending on browsing but ended up walking out with the sweet looking 26" dual shock men's bike I had just put out a couple hours before.  So thank you very much Miss. for the hand delivered referral!  And a belated and new "THANKS" to our friend from Canada, Dave for the wonderful donation of food! 
BACK STORY!
When we first started this little enterprise, we were just buying, building and selling bikes out of our garage.  The concept of "Bike Re-pair" hadn't come up yet.  Well one day Dave and his wife stopped by the old homestead, looked at a few we had out and started talking with Angi.  One thing led to another and he asked me if we serviced other folks bikes.  Well, never being one to be accused of being "sharp witted" I said I'd be more then happy to take a look at what he had and help him out.  He brought it by later, I figured out hat was wrong and fixed it, then handed it back and stood by dumbfounded when he insisted he "pay" me for it.
What means this...pay?
Well after that the rest was history (and after Angi insisted I changed our sign too...."and repairs"!)   Dave and his wife have been a mainstay in our life ever since.  When we were going through our "Dark Time" in the first year, they were there with food, comforts and the occasional referral hand delivered to bring in much needed income.  And every year they come down we service their bikes for the season.  And every time their community center has a shindig they bring us the leftovers!  Mmmmmmmmmm!!!MM!  Good home cooked goodies!  This past St. Patties day feast gave us four trays of Corn beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots!  Four dinners, and corn beef hash (also added some stew beef (remember...the boy bought the seasonings the first time around instead of the meat!)) and today brought by even more goodies!  Haven't seen it yet but heard it was Meatballs, sausage...etc!  MMMMMMMMMM! M!  I have Italian food in my future!
Well I have blathered enough, need to be getting back to it!  Check out the two new goodies I DID finish and we'll see you soon!

LADIES 6 SPEED W/ NEW TIRES!!!
ONLY $70.00!!

LIKE NEW MEN'S DUAL SHOCK MTB
SOLD

Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken

The Last Letter

A Message to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney From a Dying Veteran

To: George W. Bush and Dick Cheney
From: Tomas Young

I write this letter on the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War on behalf of my fellow Iraq War veterans. I write this letter on behalf of the 4,488 soldiers and Marines who died in Iraq. I write this letter on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of veterans who have been wounded and on behalf of those whose wounds, physical and psychological, have destroyed their lives. I am one of those gravely wounded. I was paralyzed in an insurgent ambush in 2004 in Sadr City. My life is coming to an end. I am living under hospice care.

I write this letter on behalf of husbands and wives who have lost spouses, on behalf of children who have lost a parent, on behalf of the fathers and mothers who have lost sons and daughters and on behalf of those who care for the many thousands of my fellow veterans who have brain injuries. I write this letter on behalf of those veterans whose trauma and self-revulsion for what they have witnessed, endured and done in Iraq have led to suicide and on behalf of the active-duty soldiers and Marines who commit, on average, a suicide a day. I write this letter on behalf of the some 1 million Iraqi dead and on behalf of the countless Iraqi wounded. I write this letter on behalf of us all—the human detritus your war has left behind, those who will spend their lives in unending pain and grief.

You may evade justice but in our eyes you are each guilty of egregious war crimes, of plunder and, finally, of murder, including the murder of thousands of young Americans—my fellow veterans—whose future you stole.

I write this letter, my last letter, to you, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney. I write not because I think you grasp the terrible human and moral consequences of your lies, manipulation and thirst for wealth and power. I write this letter because, before my own death, I want to make it clear that I, and hundreds of thousands of my fellow veterans, along with millions of my fellow citizens, along with hundreds of millions more in Iraq and the Middle East, know fully who you are and what you have done. You may evade justice but in our eyes you are each guilty of egregious war crimes, of plunder and, finally, of murder, including the murder of thousands of young Americans—my fellow veterans—whose future you stole.

Your positions of authority, your millions of dollars of personal wealth, your public relations consultants, your privilege and your power cannot mask the hollowness of your character. You sent us to fight and die in Iraq after you, Mr. Cheney, dodged the draft in Vietnam, and you, Mr. Bush, went AWOL from your National Guard unit. Your cowardice and selfishness were established decades ago. You were not willing to risk yourselves for our nation but you sent hundreds of thousands of young men and women to be sacrificed in a senseless war with no more thought than it takes to put out the garbage.

I joined the Army two days after the 9/11 attacks. I joined the Army because our country had been attacked. I wanted to strike back at those who had killed some 3,000 of my fellow citizens. I did not join the Army to go to Iraq, a country that had no part in the September 2001 attacks and did not pose a threat to its neighbors, much less to the United States. I did not join the Army to “liberate” Iraqis or to shut down mythical weapons-of-mass-destruction facilities or to implant what you cynically called “democracy” in Baghdad and the Middle East. I did not join the Army to rebuild Iraq, which at the time you told us could be paid for by Iraq’s oil revenues. Instead, this war has cost the United States over $3 trillion. I especially did not join the Army to carry out pre-emptive war. Pre-emptive war is illegal under international law. And as a soldier in Iraq I was, I now know, abetting your idiocy and your crimes. The Iraq War is the largest strategic blunder in U.S. history. It obliterated the balance of power in the Middle East. It installed a corrupt and brutal pro-Iranian government in Baghdad, one cemented in power through the use of torture, death squads and terror. And it has left Iran as the dominant force in the region. On every level—moral, strategic, military and economic—Iraq was a failure. And it was you, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, who started this war. It is you who should pay the consequences.

To read Chris Hedges’ recent interview with Tomas Young, click here.

I would not be writing this letter if I had been wounded fighting in Afghanistan against those forces that carried out the attacks of 9/11. Had I been wounded there I would still be miserable because of my physical deterioration and imminent death, but I would at least have the comfort of knowing that my injuries were a consequence of my own decision to defend the country I love. I would not have to lie in my bed, my body filled with painkillers, my life ebbing away, and deal with the fact that hundreds of thousands of human beings, including children, including myself, were sacrificed by you for little more than the greed of oil companies, for your alliance with the oil sheiks in Saudi Arabia, and your insane visions of empire.

I have, like many other disabled veterans, suffered from the inadequate and often inept care provided by the Veterans Administration. I have, like many other disabled veterans, come to realize that our mental and physical wounds are of no interest to you, perhaps of no interest to any politician. We were used. We were betrayed. And we have been abandoned. You, Mr. Bush, make much pretense of being a Christian. But isn’t lying a sin? Isn’t murder a sin? Aren’t theft and selfish ambition sins? I am not a Christian. But I believe in the Christian ideal. I believe that what you do to the least of your brothers you finally do to yourself, to your own soul.

My day of reckoning is upon me. Yours will come. I hope you will be put on trial. But mostly I hope, for your sakes, that you find the moral courage to face what you have done to me and to many, many others who deserved to live. I hope that before your time on earth ends, as mine is now ending, you will find the strength of character to stand before the American public and the world, and in particular the Iraqi people, and beg for forgiveness.

No...seriouly!

Ok, OK...
I rag on my kids from time to time for their incapacity for rational thought so it is with a desire for equality that i give you this tidbit that hints to the origins of their awkwardness!
After waiting on a customer I picked up my coffee and a set of allen wrenches from the counter.  I picked up the allen wrench holder upside down and they started to fall out.  Well instead of taking them from one hand to another I just flipped my hand so the allen wrenches were right side up.
Then for a brief moment I was curious as to why my pant leg was suddenly warm and wet.
Yes.
Another evidential argument for nature over nurture.
ANYWAY!!
Today was oddly repair free, so I Got BUSY!! 
On building bikes..
Get your minds out of the gutter..
(come to think of it... anyone imagining ME doing that......*shudder*)
Put out seven..yes SEVEN  new beauties today!!  Check out the pics below.  Now of course a couple did sell, but they were just too tantalizing I suppose!
So without further adieu I'd best get a move on, as the wife really wants to get a move on.
We'll see ya all on the 'morrow!

SCHWINN CEDAR CREEK
ONLY $105.00!!!

LADIES 26" MTB
SOLD

MEN'S 26" MTB
ONLY $80.00

REDLINE BMX
ONLY $110.00

MEN'S 26" MTB
ONLY $75.00!!!

"LIKE NEW" 20" MTB
ONLY $70.00!!

20" BMX TRICK BIKE
ONLY $65.00!!!