Now THAT'S a WEEKEND!!!

ZOWIE!!
A big thanks to all the folks who made the last couple of days so freaking awesome!  It was like the height of the busy season Friday and Saturday!  My biggest charge being that so many folks are out looking for rides! Sure, as always we greatly appreciate all your trust I bringing us your repairs, but also, in what is normally the doldrums of summer we have had so many people from all ages and walks of life coming in who REALLY want to ride! Over the last 72 hours I haven't been able to build them fast enough!  Below, I will show you what was built yesterday, and the ones that flew out of here since our last post.  We had a couple old builds come in as well!  We rebuilt a real sweet Trek Antelope 950 two years ago, and the gent who had bought it, brought it back in yesterday.  He was coming back to riding after a long absence, and after riding the Trek for over a year discovered he really enjoyed riding and wanted to upgrade.  No, no...don't berate him going "new", because if we helped in any small way towards his rediscovering the joys of two wheels?  Well, that is good enough for us!  Besides, we got back one SWEET ride AND I was able to fix one thing about the bike that always bothered me!  When it was originally put out, I didn't have a matching set of shifters to put her, but tis time around, I had the one she needed!  YAY!!!  And, ten minutes after posting her on Craigslist an excited father came I ad snagged it for his son.  Yep, that's the way it has been all weekend!  Even found homes for three of them while they were still in the rack getting their facelifts! 
And yes, you a bet there have been more then a few "Ten Minute Rules" in all that excitement!  One I particular gave me the giggles!  As I have lamented in the past, I am always hesitant to let those who "want to think about it" or "check out a few more places" know what will happen should they NOT snag up what they see and like when they see it.  A couple came in looking for two rides, and she saw the Trek 7200 we had and the awesome Giant Suede that was then being suspended in the rack ready to be transformed.  They both agreed they would be perfect....but....they wanted to "go look around".  Well...I took the plunge, went against my norm, and informed them what to expect "looking around".  We are the only shop I Florida dealing exclusively in refurbished bikes, and either they could shop Walmart and spend around $150.00 or go to another bike shop and spend $300.00 plus.  Then I pointed out the ten minute rule sign and what it meant and they gave a "yea sure" chuckle, and said they may be back.
Okey Doke!
....seven minutes later (yes...I actually use the countdown feature on my smart phone) another couple came in, saw the Trek...loved it and snagged it up.  They also eyed the Giant and after finding out how long until she would be done, came back and grabbed her as well.  Also, I that time frame, three other rides found new homes.  Well, no sooner had the dust settled from that busyness, and I did a per functionary clean and reorganization of the lie up, did the first couple come back in, now fully aware of what a sweet deal they'd walked out on, only to do a comic double take as to just how empty the store was compared to how it looked two hours prior!  I smiled my best Impish smile and waited for the inevitable "WHAT THE....where'd all the bikes go"  Oh...I REALLY fought the urge to smugly tap the Ten Minute Rule sign and grin!  But I was a good boy, and just informed them of what had occurred.
Is it wrong of me to take satisfaction out of moments like this?
Enh.....color me Smug!
ANYWHO!
Yesterday, what we still got left from the builds, are a real sharp looking ad well riding MGX dual shock MTB resurrected from the scrap pile, and the pick of the litter HAS to be a gorgeous 2012 Trek 7200 hybrid resplendent with a full compliment of accessories!  NICE!  This one was garage kept for four years and LOOKS IT!!  Gorgeous!
Today, got a couple quick repairs to do, then back to the newbies! 
Hope to see y'all soon!

2012 TREK 7200 HYBRID!

ONLY $325.00!!!

26" DUAL SHOCK MGX!

ONLY $90.00!!!

THIS ONE DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR!  (THAT'S THE NEW OWNERS FOOT I THE LEFT HAND CORNER!)

THIS TREK 950 HAD A BRIEF RETURN VISIT BEFORE HEADING OUT AGAIN!

THE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER SUEDE..NOPE, SHE NEVER SAW THE FLOOR EITHER!

In Life...grab what fullfills you...you may not be afforded a second chance!

Oh, if you folks ain't out there riding...You SHOULD be!  Sure, the days feel a lot like bundling up in a parka, covering yourself with a wool blanket and climbing up into the attic to take a roll in the insulation in August, but the Nights?  Not to mention early morning?  WA-HOO!  There is a cool breeze coming from...somewhere, and it is SAH-WEET!  The roads to yourselves, very little noise!  Oh, it does the soul GOOD! Just came in from my ride home and took a couple extra miles just to unwind!  Nothing but me, a couple cops and the paperboys! 
So, to all the folks calling in and inquiring about the Evox recumbent, well...yes...it WAS an awesome bike!  BUT...it's gone! It NEVER ceases to amaze me!  No matter HOW much I shout "DON'T WAIT!" to folks they must think I am full of bunk...high pressure sales and all that.
Um....NOPE! We've been doing this shtick for ten years!  We know how long it takes to find a new home for our rides and it is a QUICK adoption process!!! Most of these doe eyed beauties don't last for more then 24 hours before someone becomes smitten with the charms, and THRILLED at the LOW PRICED adoption fees!  The Evox was NO exception!  It's had only gone out Monday and we must have had two dozen calls within MINUTES of posting, and almost unanimously everyone, although THRILLED to find such a fine ride SOOOOO cheap...said they'd be in this weekend to look at it!?
Sigh.
I DO hope those people call first and save themselves a trip!
Today, yet again, was all about the repairs!  I did manage to get that sweet old Giant HUGE Big Boy stripped down and some of the parts picked out before I had to head out to sweat my nethers off at the plant!
Ugh.
Logan managed things after I headed out, and from what I heard took in a few more fixer uppers!  Have t check them out first thing!
And too anyone coming by the old Shoppe these last few mornings...sorry if I haven't been here waiting.  Although I really love my new position at the plant, the heat coupled with a VERY constant, steady work flow, has left me exhausted at the end of my day...so...a couple days this past week or so I have done a "whoopsie" and opened late.  I do HATE doing that...but...these old bones....what ya gonna do?
OKEY DOKEY!
Speaking of which, best get some sleep!
See y'all tomorrow!

Dwindle That Pile!

Another Monday come and gone!  And complete with a Solstice full moon, no less!  Although, sadly, for some reason, clouds or what have you, I never got to see the full effect!  Sad Face! Oh well...I did get to see a hunters moon the other day, and that was just as impressive!  Forgive me if I speak from this point forward in the present tense in regards to Monday, as my day hasn't ended yet, even though it's 4.44 am on Tuesday! 
Ick.
Been a busy day! LOL!
Got here earlier than usual, with an unusual amount of pep, and wanted to finish up the Schwinn S-25 we picked up on Saturday.  Sometime...how some folks can mistreat a perfectly good ride, escapes me.  The gent I picked it up from had "had it" with the bike, as it had been giving him "too many problems!"
Sigh.
It is a real clean looking example of the brand, but had just been...unloved.  The biggest problem was the forks were on backwards.  Yes, you may be scratching your head saying "WHAT!?"  but believe me, when I say this while I am talking to you, but as a Wal-mart bike..well...you get what you pay for when the guy "assembling" it, is paid minimum wage, has no skill, and a tool box that consist of four tools (no joke...flat head, Philips head, crescent wrench, and an allen key!) They put the petals on, turn the handle bars straight (sometimes) and put the seat on.  THAT'S IT! 
SO, sometimes, they are unaware that the brakes go FACING OUT!
Sigh.
Well, it had been giving him problems, BUT we gave her "the Old RE-CYCLE strip down" and solved ALL the problems!
Anywho!
Once that was done, it was on to repairs, as folks were at my door even as I was opening early!  YAY!  Once those were done, it was down to stripping down some of the overflow out back.  Yes, our thrice monthly visit from the landlord "concerned" about the build-up out back, prompted me to do a little foraging through the piles to figure out what could go!  I hate scrapping a bike that some day could see a new life, but not as much as I dislike the nervous tittering of the guy that owns the place!
Sigh.
I got about half way through the pile, and need to finish it up tomorrow.  BUT, I did manage to find room inside to drag a few "Could-be's" into the shop!
Sent the sweet men's cruiser to a new home, or rather Logan did in the evening, so there are still some folks out there brave and stalwart enough to endure the summer riding season!
HOORAY FOR MOXIE!!!
What's YOUR excuse?
Okey Dokey!
Now, I'm gonna get four hours of death sleep then be back at it!
Y'all have a good night...
er.....
Morning!

26" SCHWINN S-25!

ONLY $95.00!!!

There's an airbag at the bottom of this thing...right? An Airbag!?

Ten Minute Rule by proxy! 
Sometimes, the way things go around here can be somewhat confusing!  Case in point; We had two SWEET rides here for two-three weeks respectfully.  The Schwinn Protocol and the Townie Electra.  (that's not to say that ALL our rides aren't SWEET!) Both 2016 models with little to NO wear, and sporting price tags more than HALF off their original retail...but they sat for what, around here, is a LONG time (most rides are gone in 48 hours or less).  Advertised in all our useful internet venues (print is dead folks, sorry to say) and "renewed" on Craigslist every 48 hours, they just sat with little to NO response.  THEN, Thursday, the Protocol left to a loving home, and no sooner was it gone did I get three calls asking if it was still here (I had updated it's post earlier that day, and had not yet deleted it).  Yesterday, the Townie went out with a gent who had been wanting it since he first saw it while doing some after hours window shopping.  That was just before close, and true to form, this morning, first thing, prior to me doing all my morning updates, had two calls about it and one very nice lady stopped in, in an attempt to pick it up...having just seen it on Craigslist!  Always call ahead folks, and safe yourself a possibly, wasted trip! 
Now, as I am not one to shrink from criticism, we had an experience all together alien to us the other day, that brings about a cautionary tale!  That odd happenstance was a "disgruntled customer"!  Yes folks, it may sound a tad bit odd for anyone who works in retail or service to NOT complain about difficult customers on a daily basis, but we RARELY have ANY problems!  This time however, was a series of missteps that lead up to the problem. First, the gent brought in his Hyper Mountain Bike to, ostensibly, "get the gears fixed".   He did so, mid-week in the afternoon, after I had departed for the second job.  I spoke with Logan briefly, as the customer had wanted it done "while he waited" and had to explain the situation to him, which he begrudgingly excepted, but I assured him I'd check it out first thing in the AM and get in touch.  At this point he informed me that as he himself would be at work all day, and could not receive phone call, that I should just go ahead and "do whatever it needs".  I don't care too much for those conditions, frankly, as it has been my experience that what some folks may consider "a quick fix" is anything but!  I told him this, but he assured me it would be no problem.
Ok...famous last words!
When I got in, in the morning, I put the ride in the rack, and sure enough, it was skipping and missing shifts, and was quite sloppy.  But here's the rub, had NOTHING to do with the gears!  His rear axel was bent, the bearings on the drive side were blown, the left were worn down, the freewheel had several bent teeth, the chain had three bent links, the front tube was a blown out gell tube (ick) that needed more than "just air".  Now HOW he thought this was a gearing problem and didn't notice the incessant wobbling in the back end as he rode, is beyond me, but as he said "do whatever it needs" I did that.  Now, mind you, we replaced his freewheel, rear axel, replaced and repacked the bearings, replaced his chain, front tube, seat clamp and adjusted the gears for good measure for only $68.00.  If you have ever gone to a "boutique bike shop" you'll know, you couldn't get the freewheel installed for cheaper then that.  Well....he came in to pick up the bike the following day, and was "flabbergasted" that it cost "That MUCH!" to repair, what he was convinced, was a simple gear problem.  He had anticipated between $5-$10, would take care of the problem.  Here's the lesson; if you recognize that your ride isn't riding right, get it to a mechanic ASAP!  Little problems become BIG problems very quickly.  The longer you wait, the more wear and tear, metal fatigue ETC, that are going to end up costing you more.  He eventually, reluctantly, excepted the explanation (it helped that I kept all the old parts just to show him where all the breakage was) and departed.  Unfortunately, we, and others of our ilk, have the unenvied task of having to be the bearers of bad news, BUT, don't kill the messenger (This ISN'T....SPARTA!!!!) we didn't break it, we're just trying to fix it!
Okey Dokey...talking about "fixing" I best get at it!
And, oh YEA!  Duh'!  We put out another goody yesterday, nice, simple men's cruiser!  Check her out below! 

MEN'S 26" CRUISER!

ONLY $65.00!!!

1....2.....3.....CLEAR!!!!

It's Alive....IT'S ALIVE!!!!

Yes, Igor...the creature STIRS!!!

I have found the secret to bringing in hordes of customers and sending rides to new homes!  it was SO simple I can't believe I never thought of it.  Step One: Be REALLY tired and want to take a nap.  Step 2.  TRY to take a nap!  THAT'S IT!  It's just that easy!

Oh yes!  Summer time is here in a big way!  With the added work load at night ( short explanation:  I spent two weeks training my replacement...and he's not getting it as fast as he should. That coupled with no practical building aptitude, well...short form.  Now, not only do I have to learn my new job, I have to keep checking in with him and going over certain things...again....and again....and again! Couple that with working in the heat (NO cross ventilation in my section!  UGH!  I miss my BIG bay doors!) and I have had to build a rolling cart to help drag my butt around!) I was POOPED yesterday!  Logan hangs out here during the day to take over when I head to work, and after finishing up the repairs, and seeing as it had been relatively quiet that morning, I informed him I was going in the back room for a quick nap before I headed out, with the caveat that should anyone come in or call, to come get me.  No sooner did I lay my weary head down, did folks start coming in.  Well, no worries, sleep would come later...Hey, there's always COFFEE!! Seriously, I whine, but I am MORE then happy to get folks on to two wheels!  Amongst getting in a couple repairs, we also sent home a sweet DAILY BANGER SPECIAL!, that GORGEOUS Schwinn Protocol and the Motiv MTB!  On top of that, several phone calls from folks looking to come in and take a peek at what we have. 

Today, I have a few to tear down, then it's on to newbies.  I feel guilty, as this week I have only built two new rides and that is a LOW numbers turn out for us!  Shame on me!  But I've been....

Yea, I've been in a picture posting mood! 

And even in the rain, another ride just sloshed out to a happy new owner!

All right, I best get to it, as our stock is dwindling yet again!

Peace!

WE ARE ORLANDO!!

Hey, there, High there, Ho there! 
Oh, it's been awhile!  Sorry for not checking in sooner but it has been a somewhat grueling week so far!
Ugh.
Look, I am not going to rant on about what happened in Orlando this weekend.  As much as I would like to pen a SCATHING commentary on Americas PATHETIC desperate grasp on the 2nd amendment, to the point of the idiots at the NRA and their ilk crying FOUL whenever actual SANE people try and discuss the possibility of maybe, just possibly, we MIGHT want to consider enacting more stringent rules for WHO can go out and buy a gun, and the fact that MAYBE hunters DO NOT need a gun that can fire off 40 plus round a minute!
(Seriously?  Are the bloody deer manning a fox hole with a bloody Vulcan in it?!)
I mean...lets just TRY and think RATIONALY about this.  If someone has made REPEATED threats against America, is reported to be INTENSELY homophobic, has been investigated by the FBI TWICE, has had SEVERAL reports made to the police that he beat his wife, AND has a father who host an INTENSELY anti-American, Pro Taliban show....MAYBE, he may NOT be the one you want to give a gun license too!!!
I am JUST SAYING!!
It is WAY past time that we actually start being SMART!
GOD!
Anyway...
it was a long weekend.  I was awake Sunday morning when the story flashed across the computer.  I thought "that's HORIBLE!" but made no more connection to it then the mourning of another "sick and tired of this crap" American.
Until....
A VERY dear friend of our family...scratch that...he IS family!  All our children know him as "uncle Daniel" was at that club...that night.  Thankfully, good fortune smiled down upon him, and even though his friends urged him to stay for "one more drink" he opted to head back to his hotel.
....less then five minutes before it all began.
He hdn't even reached his hotel room when he first heard the shots.  When it was all over, he lost five very close friends. 
The sad reality of all this is, the more we allow this to continue, the more lives will be lost, and the more the living who remain, will be touched by it, directly in some way.  All the fighting about the cause, whether it by "homophobia" or "anti-American" or "Islamist Extremists" is just irrelevant.  It's all of us, sitting on our asses saying "oh...that's horrible" then just excepting it as the status quo.  All our ineffectual politicians with the graft jutting from their wallets from "NRA Lobbyists" telling us to "pray for the victims" while they sit on their thumbs and do NOTHING rational to stop the spread of violence because their coffers will be lighter, and all the idiots chanting that GOD AWFUL phrase "you'll get my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hands"....hmmmm? THERE'S A THOUGHT!!!  For a second I challenge you (because I NOW KNOW what it feels like to sit up all night and day, waiting and praying to hear from a loved one who may or MAY NOT have made it out alive because some crazy asshole with the "Florida Stamp of Approval" took his recently purchased, military grade rifle and mowed down a large group of people because he just didn't agree with their lifestyle, religion or political believes!) to sit and SERIOUSLY consider...what if it were YOUR wife, or husband or child or parents that were at that club, or mall, or movie theater, or college, or grade school?  Would YOUR belief that everyone has the "right to bear arms" hold up to the realization that if they JUST RAN A REALISTIC BACKGROUND CHECK your loved one would still be alive?! If after that, you STILL support this antiquated ideology...you're just a sick, twisted individual that holds NO value in your family OR human life!
Okay...I guess I did rant! 
But I ain't ashamed!
Enough is ENOUGH! 
Anyway...
I'm stepping down off my soapbox, whipping it off and putting it away...
for now.
Hopefully, this will be the LAST time any of us have to talk about this!
*sigh*
For now, once my ire has died down, I'll cover shop biz later.
Good night. 

Not a heck of a lot, no.

Well, it's been a few days, but lets face it, it's just like this during the summer. Things die down to a very slow crawl and very little of anything exciting happens.  Not much in or out, so our focus turns elsewhere.  This week has been kind of crazy on the running about, mainly end of the school, batting down the hatches for the kiddos kind of stuff, so if I have been here, it's more just keeping the doors open.  Today, I have hopes of actually building things.  We can only hope! 
We have managed to send a few to new homes this past week, and still kept a steady stream of repairs coming in.  All standard stuff though with no real fun stories.
God, I'm boring right now!
But, I thought I'd poke my head in a let y'all know, Yes, we are still here, just entering into our Summer Cocoon until more fertile fields become apparent!
See ya soon!!

Monday Morning, Today!

Sunday was SPRING CLEANING TIME!!! Well, okay, maybe not spring and unfortunately not just one day!  Ugh!  Still got stuff to put up today.  Trying to get the back of the shop organized and cleaned out.  Way too much sh...tuff cluttering up my area.  Surprising how much stuff you can accumulate when you're not really paying attention!  Of course, s I always the rule, the stuff will be sitting here for years, and the moment I get rid of it, is the moment I need it!  Just SAYING!
Yesterday was the perfect day for it, as with the impending storm coming, most folks just seemed to evaporate and go into hiding.  Funny thing is, it wasn't much of a much.  Some gusts and sheet rain for about a half an hour last night, and then just a slow, incessant drizzle.  I really don't think that qualifies as a HAZZARD WARNING that flashed over my cell phone last night! 
So, yes, more cleaning today, and getting rid of some of the access stuff I really have no need for, then, if time allows, on to newbies!
Thanks to all the folks for slowly trickling in today to grab their repairs.  Helps me weed out that to!
Okay, so tonight, I'm not sure if I will be finally getting out of shipping and going on to my new vocation, or if I'm going to have to continue there for a little while longer.  The "kid" they hired to replace me never showed up on Friday.  Granted, it's hard work, and the joint ain't temperature controlled, but it's a paying job! Trouble I find, is there's a good chunk of this latest generation that seems to want  the money, but not the work to get it!  By my standards, he was very slow, and spent the better part of Thursday complaining about the heat and the noise in the plant, as it was giving him a headache?  Seriously,  go hit up McDonalds.  SHEESH!  Sorry, but I just don't cotton to laziness!  The end result is, unless they get another body in there, I may be continuing, in some capacity, to cover that area.  Well, at least it won't effect my raise!
Okay, now I better get back at it!
See ya soon!

Conscious Once Again!

Hail and a hearty, ROWSDOWER!! 
After a few days of enduring insomnia I FINALLY got a full nights sleep last night!  WHEW!  Was beginning to think my brain would never shut down!  Once you start hallucinating...well...you got issues!  But, back at it and trying to get all the things that I let slide over those days back in order.  Cleaning the shop first thing this AM was imperative! Then on to repairs that have started to back up.  I had to do overtime at the plant yesterday so the shop became Romper Room with the kiddos in charge.  Well, a very capable Logan was in charge, but the rest of the brood just "showed up" after school with Elijah to hang out. 
So, this week has been a little quiet, as we sit under a tropical depression that doesn't seem to be amounting to anything but icky humidity!  This of course leads me to the seasonal lesson of when to ride!  Early morning, after dark!  That easy! And bring LOTS of water!
LOTS of looky loo's today.  Sometimes I just want to shout out "Grab it now!  Won't be here when you come back!  But I bite my tongue.  That's a no-win situation.  Someone comes in and really likes a ride but want's to "think about it" or "go check a few more places".  Sheesh. Inevitably the ones that do the later, always come back if they really want to ride, as they have gone to "other places", seen the prices, waited for the ambulance crews to restart their hearts, then rush back here.  Unfortunately, all too often, what they were looking at is already gone.  Such was the case first thing this morning.  And this time, I felt real sorry for the guy.  He'd traveled quite a distance to get here, lured by a Craigslist ad to check out the six speed cruiser we HAD.  He rode it, liked it and was thrilled with the price....but....he figured while he was in the area he'd check out a couple more shops to see what they offered. 
....six minutes later....
another gent came in with a REAL nice Schwinn Protocol, wanting not to ride the lower profile bars, and wanted something upright for tooling along the Pinellas Trail.  He snagged the cruiser right up and left a happy camper.  Then, true to course, the first gentleman came back in about an hour later, with the residual look of "oh my GOD" sticker shock on his face after viewing others wares, clutching his $75.00 ready to snag up the cruiser.  Folks, it's all I can do NOT to shrug an "I told you so" kind of shrug!  Trouble is, if I try to ever tell a new friend that they need to buy it now, I just come off like a high pressure salesman, and I can't STAND high pressure salesman!  Trouble is, we don't get in a lot of multi speed cruisers, no telling when another will come through our door.  I hated to see him go home empty handed!
All right, enough jawing from me, best get my hinester in gear!

Baby Came Home To DADDY!!!

Here we go again!  I was about to open this one with a "Beginning of a brand new week"...but it aint, it's Tuesday.  OH boy...gonna be one of those "what the heck day is it?!" kind of weeks!
Anywho! 
Yesterday was quiet....TOO quiet!  But, took advantage of the uninterrupted time and put out four newbies!  YAY!  Got a sweet six speed men's cruiser, real clean, with the full fenders and everything!  Also, a Pre-Wal-Mart Mongoose Pro, you know, back when they made them good.  As well as a classic Schwinn Highlands Trail bike we converted into a great commuter with NEW road tires AND something REALLY special!  It was "Coming Home" day for this gem on Saturday!  We built this custom cruiser almost five years ago, and I just love seeing our old rides still on the road, and running great! Originally, when I started to build her, I was going to do a custom paint, so I stripped it all the way down to bare metal, then took a step back, and realized I really liked the simplicity of the industrial looking bare metal, so I let the bike sit for a few days until it started to patina a little, then hit it with several coats of clear lacquer.  Over the ensuing years it has continued to weather nicely, so it really has an "older" ride feel to it.  That, and a custom made "suicide shifter" and some little chotskies and you get one really unique looking ride!
Today, well my normal "Monday" paperwork and bill paying takes up way to much time, but I'm going to jump now and see if I can get through some more.  I like having room to move in here!
See ya soon!!

26" MONGOOSE PRO

ONLY $95.00!!

MEN'S 26" SIX SPEED CRUISER

ONLY $75.00!!

CLASSIC SCHWINN HIGHLANDS!

ONLY $115.00!!

26" CUSTOM RAT ROD!!

ONLY $160.00!!!

Yes, we ARE here today!

Saturday was fun, y'all!  Thanks for all the visits and helping to send some more rides to new homes! Not to mention the slew of repairs! We love that you chose us to keep you on the road.  One repair really helped demonstrate the dangers of buying a ride off the pages of Craigslist, though.  Young man (baring an uncanny resemblance to Wesley Crusher of Star Trek the Next Generation) picked up an Iron Horse 29'er, which isn't an altogether bad bike (although you really have to make sure the bottom bracket was not cross threaded at the factory)  with some decent parts, but even though the body on this one was in real nice shape, it had obviously sat in the elements for some time and everything was rusted solid.  PARTS SWAP!!  Yea, we usually try and save and repair what's there, but really couldn't in this case, just to far gone.  Needless to say, this rebuild took half the day, as each part had to be soaked in rusticate then manhandled free!  WOOF! At least now he has a real solid ride!
Did manage to put one out, a pretty sharp rebuild on a lightweight Motiv mountain bike, that if someone wanted to slap a pair of road tires on, would make a real nice commuter. 
One real cool thing, was a homecoming.  We built a way cool cruiser custom about five years ago, and it came back to the fold on Saturday.  It's going back in the rack in a little bit, a few tweaks, then back out on the line.  You'll want to come back to check out the pics tomorrow!  Or, later today on Facebook.
Alrighty! With that, I best get a move on and pump out some more newbies!
See ya!

FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

S'Okay! Weird bloody week!  I don't know where my head has been at, but every day this week I have been convinced..it was another day!  I mean, yea, it happens to us all, we're working on what we think is the last day of the week, only to find out two hours before the end of shift...it's only THURSDAY!!  ARRGH!  That's a HORRIBLE feeling!  But no, it's been almost every day!  SHEESH!  Someone is way messing with my internal clock!  BUT... got a real "out of the blue" shock yesterday at the plant.  I'd just started shift and was doing my forklift inspection, when the two big bosses, Phil and Ron came up to me and uttered the ominous words "Steven....we have to talk".  It's that bloody pause after your name that starts the mind racing with the question "OH HELL!  What did I do?!"  Then.... Ron looked at Phil and asked "....should we do it here, or somewhere private"  AH DAMN!  I am in trouble! 
Then they informed me...I was getting a promotion and a raise! 
HAHAHA!! Very Funny!  Give a guy a heart attack!  They dead panned it awesome!  Had me going for a few moments!  But seriously, they are moving me out of shipping and they're going to have me trained to run the metal and pipe molding department, 2nd shift!  WOWZERS!!  See kids!  Hard work DOES pay off!  Not to mention they asked me to train my replacement.  I know, doesn't seem like a huge deal, but it does make you feel proud of yourself that they recognize your desire to work. 
So anywho, on to the bike biz!  This week, as with most weeks leading up to a holiday, has been quiet.  I have embraced this relative solitude to nap...I mean...work (ok, nap a wee bit) on some newbies!  Well, those and repairs.  Managed to put out three today and MAN are a couple of them SAH-WEEEEET!  No, not knocking the third one, but it's  standard DAILY BANGER SPECIAL, and although it's a chromium, with the sharp green paint, the other two outshine it.  First, is a classic Schwinn trail bike.  I love these old rides that competed with the makes of Giants and Specialized for dominance in their time, and even though Wal-Mart has totally screwed up the name of Schwinn today, these ones were built WELL!  And, little industry secrets...same components as their temporaries...but at a lower cost!  This one is extra clean with a NEW set of road tires to make it a real cherry commuter.  The other is a consignment piece with hardly any road time on it!  A GORGEOUS Jamis sports hybrid (2014) and in EXCELLENT shape! Check out the pics below!
Also, today, finally found a home for the TomCat built in the USA ride that has been here for far to long considering it's quality and low price, as well as bringing in a few more repairs!  Thanks to all the folks for their trust, not to mention all the other folks that referred them to us!  You are so SWEET!
Worked late tonight trying to clear a path through all the debris in the back so as to make some room to work!  Not to mention tearing down a couple more rides to get built up tomorrow!  I have a long weekend from the plant so I'll have plenty of time to get through a lot of the rides that have been stacking up! 
Alrighty!  Now, time to lie me head down and get some rest!  See y'all in the A of M!

2014 JAMIS SPORTS HYBRID

ONLY $340.00!!

CLASSIC SCHWINN TRAIL BIKE

ONLY $105.00!!

26" "DAILY BANGER SPECIAL"

ONLY $65.00!!!

Days Don't Get Much Better Than This!

I Know, I know, I know...It's been almost a week!  I've just had SO little to show!  Not that we haven't been busy, oh HEAVENS no!  But it has been almost exclusively repairs!  And NO, we are NOT complaining!  We absolutely LOVE to know we are getting folks back up and out on the road!  We have built a few, mind you, but they have all been special orders right out of bone row! Seriously...I'm not telling stories!  I have had the same Schwinn Hybrid in my rack for five days now, that no sooner do I get back to work on it, does a slew of repairs come rolling through the door!  AND, here at RE-Cycle, repairs ALWAYS come first!  We don't want ANYONE to have an excuse to have to rely on the old, outdated transportation....CARS!  ICK!!
Saturday and Sunday, my usual "catch up on the week" day both started with me opening the doors to folks loading their wounded rides off the cars bike rack (YUCK! Cars again!) and both days saw a steady stream.  Had a guy from my other job come in today, and picked a comfort cruiser out, and we banged it out in about thirty minuets as he waited, so...not even a pic!  BUT, we do have a cornucopia of material to choose from as the flow of newbies has continued, unabated.  I could have worked way on into the evening tonight, but WAY NO!  Today was my "Daddy's Day" and I was SO looking forward to taking the brood out for some FUN! We hit the Countryside Mall (yea... that was the noise you heard) in waves.  Elijah took the girls via cab, as me and the boys rode over!  Yes,  I had an allterior motive to that, as we were going to hang with the wee ones until closing and have some fun!  And MAN, was I sad to have such little time as they were a HOOT to hang with!  I took Miranda and Izzy on the train that goes around the mall, and hung with them in the playplace.  The older kids wandered a bit then took a shot at the Bungee jump!  I was so proud of Logan and Rozy as they overcame their trepidations, and gave it a whirl! Then we hit the food court, and of course, given the choice between food or ice cream, can you guess what the majority choose?  Yea...no brainer!  Logan, always the considerate one, only wanted a drink, and being overly concerned with finance, ask for just a small!  I hadn't eaten so I grab some Thai, and I like it SPICY!  Of course, Elijah helped me eat it, but showing her true Daddy gut, Rozy snagged up some of the Chipotle Chicken and scarfed it down without so much as a bead of sweat!  THAT'S my girl! Once the Mall "officially" closed we wandered a bit around the closed shops, then the kiddos wanted to play on the escalator...who am I to deny!  Well, it was fun for about three tries until security came over.  *SIGH*  Every party needs a pooper!
On our way out to wait for a cab for the girls we stopped by one of those "Picture Booths" (YEA!  They still have them!) and got us a memento!  Six kids crammed in a phone booth! HILARIOUS!  Pictures are now adorning the counter at the shop!  Can't take my eyes off them!
Once Elijah brought the girls home, he grabbed his bike and headed back as me and the other boys awaited OUR viewing of Captain America!
OH.....MY....GAWD!
LOOOOOOOOOOVED IT!!
No, no movie review!  Suffice to say...FREAKING PERFECT!! They got EVERYONE of the newbies PERFECT!!  I LOVED the Black Panther, his fighting style, how he landed from a high leap!  Oh....Fanboy HEAVEN!  And, Spiderman..the NEW one...I didn't think I was going to appreciate it (I still like the Toby Maguire trilogy...Okay, not so much number three) but, well...darn it...he was awesome!  AND we got to see Antman become (SHOOT:  SPOILER ALERT) Giant Man!  YES!!!!!!!   okay...Just one more give away, it's funny, but as Marvel made the WISE choice of casting Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange it begged the question: "any time a production company hires one of the two leads of Sherlock, are they obligated, by contract, to hire the other one?  Yep...Martin Freeman (Watson) seems to have gotten himself into THIS Marvel movie! HAHAHA!!  No complaint AT ALL, I love them both!
Well, when the movie was over me and my boys took a detour into the malls pub/restaurant and sat about outside discussing the flick!  Of course, Elijah, our families DIEHARD DC fan, was trying his VERY best to NOT admit to how good it was! LOL! and of course, Logan, our Magic fan, was debating on how easily it would be for wielders of magic to vanquish all of them! Me? I just sat there grinning from ear to ear SO proud at these young men, and the fact that I helped breed the next generation of Fanboys! No matter WHAT fandom they love!
Oh my heavens what a GLORIOUS day!  I will be floating on these smiles ALL week!
Tomorrow, with all repairs caught up, I am going to do my damndest to try and get out some fresh pickings!  Here's hoping!
You all have an absolutely MAGNIFICENT evening!  Look forward to seeing you soon!

Daredevil and Elektra (sorry, once you read it..you'll get it!)

Often times I will degrade into a self righteous rant in regards to the carelessness and danger of the car driver, but today I even the playing fields by recognizing and admonishing the actions of some fool hearty cyclists. 
Unfortunately, I do see, from time to time, cyclists taking far to many unnecessary risks, and due to some unknown sense of entitlement, perhaps as there mode of transportation is somewhat more maneuverable than a car, end up breaking simple traffic laws.  Such actions as ignoring traffic signals, cutting through intersections, or crossing the street diagonally without the use of a crosswalk all could result in fatalities, which they don't seem to recognize could be THEIR fatality!  Let's face it, even if you're sitting at the crosswalk waiting on the signal and once you get it...just cross without so much as a backward glance to check for cars making a right hand turn.  Oooo.  I've seen my fair share of clips and crashes because the bike rider couldn't be bothered to glance over his shoulder at the quickly oncoming right hand turn.  Look, fellow cyclists, doesn't matter IF you had the right of way, IF you get smacked by 2000+ pounds of fun?  Well...you do the math! 
The reason I squawk about this, is this morning on the way to work I was at the dreaded intersection of Union and Patricia waiting for the light.  At that moment a car traveling North turned into the Right Hand turning lane wait to "Right on Red".  My cross signal came on, but being neighborly a waved the young woman to take her turn before I crossed.  As she was just starting to move a cyclist I didn't hear flew up from behind me, and even though I was CLEARLY waiting at the light for some reason, he veered around me. launch off the edge of the median with an impressive bunny hop and flew into the intersection without so much as a head twitch from right to left!  The young lady panicked and slammed on her breaks, and even though her infant was securely nestled in his car seat, the sudden head slam startle him and started him crying!  Seriously folks, is there ANYWHERE you need to be SO BAD that paying with your life would be worth it?
Let's get it together, and look out for each other!
Okay, public service announcement over!
Thanks to everyone for coming out and paying us a visit yesterday, and as has been the case this week, didn't put out anything new, as I was doing repairs all day.  NOT that there's anything wrong with that!  We DID, however get in a SWEET consignment piece!  The ever popular, HIGLY sought after (but tough to find) Townie Elektra pedal forward cruiser!  OH YES!!  and this one is CHERRY!!  Bought less than a year ago and rode three times!  nIIIIIIIIIIIce!  Check it out below!
I have one more repair for today, then I am hoping with fingers crossed, that I can get on to some of these newbies!
SO, better stop yappin' and get at it!
SEE YA!

2016 TOWNIE ELEKTRA!!

ONLY $240.00!!!!!

casual greetings

Well, I definitely wouldn't call it slacking off. Had every intention in the world to get started back up on the newbies, but ended up getting in a bunch of repairs today which had me jumping all day! A real big old shout out and thanks to all the folks for bringing in their rides for repairs and have absolutely no problem dedicating my day to keep them focused on the road.
But, unless there's a bunch of stuff waiting for me when I get there in the morning I'll get jumping back on the newbies as I have that hybrid commuter just sitting there looking at me, waiting!
Logan finished the day off pretty strong. Not sure if he sent any bikes to new homes or if it was all repair pickups but I'll find out in the morning. We still have quite a few to go through to get some more new stuff out. Took one long look at that me cruiser I got in that might just be a prime candidate for the road bike Cruiser hybrid that I want to come up with. But that may have to wait for a full day such as Friday as it's going to take some serious work but I may just end up tearing it down tomorrow to get started.
Definitely want to thank all the folks who kept the phone jumping today as well as it seems that a lot more folks are finding out about us lately. Whether they're coming in from out of state or they're just locals discovering, whichever works.
Well, tonight at the warehouse definitely kept me busy as I'm running on short steam. Gonna go ahead and sign off and take a shower and hit the sack.  I hope to see you all tomorrow!

....WHOA! Week Got Away From Us There!

(Earlier this week!)
Well hello there. Today was very interesting. Ended up spending half my morning trying to deal with the whole phone snafu. Seems like it was a phone theft after all. The gentleman who came in last night and utilize the phone just before closing came in this morning to check on his bike. I inquired as to whether or not he may have picked up the phone accidentally and he recalled that his friend that was with him may have picked it up off of the counter thinking that it was his. He left the shop to go to his friends house to retrieve the phone. When he returned he brought back an entirely different phone. He had no idea where it came from nor does his friend. The question that stuck in my mind is how many phones do they have on their possession. Needless to say it would appear as if I'm going to have to pick up another phone, again. In the meantime I switched the shop number to the house phone so that I don't miss anybody's call.
So after the time spent dealing with the phone company I was able to get a couple of hours in on repairs and newbies. Tore down two to get ready to go and one of them will make an excellent before and after. The other which is a 26-inch men's dual shock mountain bike did not require all too much effort. That one currently is occupying the space in my rack so that I may finish it up tomorrow. Pretty nice little Daily Banger (Heh, heh, heh!  Before I did my proof read, predictive spelling wrote that as "Deli Bangor"  We suddenly are selling kosher meats in Maine!! LOL!!) special that will keep somebody rolling on the roads for quite some time.
Lots of folks have been wanting to sell and or trade bikes, lately. We are obviously, during the summer time, having to be a little selective. With so much to choose from the still sitting outside on bone row we are in no short supply of material to work with. But we're always looking out for that special something that may walk through the door. I must admit, skeptical as I was in regards to spending a lot of time online through Facebook and such, it seems to have had some good effect. Had two folks come in today to grab new rides brought here specifically from our listing on FB. The men's 6-speed Cruiser we threw together the other day left right quick. As well as the 24-inch Schwinn Dual Shock mountain bike that we had just put out the night before. This was picked up by a dad looking to upgrade his son from his current 20 inch. He was quite enamored with our efforts and expressed his joy in what we do and how we do it. We always love to hear those kudos to let us know that we are on the right track. Hope you get plenty of use out of that 24 before he sprouts and you have to come back in for a 26-inch. But remember we always do trades so that'll take a few bucks off of your next upgrade.

Tomorrow looks to be more of the same with quite a few newbies that I need to be working on. Keep an eye out on the  Facebook Page and Twitter for all the goodies we'll be putting out for you folks again and again and again. LOL!
All right, with that I best get my Tushie in gear and go and get a shower and some rest. Y'all have a good night talk to you soon!

Fast Forward to Saturday!
The first part was from Tuesday, and things have been a little busy, although I have to take some responsibility for not updating here sooner.  As is often the case when I embark on a new path (IE: FB and Twitter) I have a tendency to neglect or forget other things.  Yes, maintaining and updating our other pages can be time consuming, not to mention the fact that I linked up with a few "Community Pages" on FB, pertaining too (oooo big surprise here) MST3K! 
Yes, a group of over 5000 like minded "Misties" who, among other things, try and best each other, in light hearted fashion, at "Out-Riffing" each other.  Explain?  That's where we quote quips from the show, and try and be as exacting a possible, in order to relate the lines that were spoken in the original show.
Yes....I have no life.
BUT, I have not been beaten yet! Hee, hee
ANYWAY, they are REAL good folk and I have been cross posting our shop site and the number of view has increased dramatically!
The end result is...I gotta get organized! 
It hasn't kept me from keeping busy though, as far as repairs and newbies go! Oh, Nay, Nay!  I have been averaging two newbies a day this week, and will post pics below of the ones that remain. 
Today, has been a slew of repairs coming in, and we have been kept entertained by several of the nice folk who have patiently waited for me to get them on the road.  Thanks to all for coming in to see us and You can come keep us company too...if ya wanna?
OKAY!  So, today, gonna get the repairs that remain, banged out and try and get through the mountain of goodies we have picked up this week, either torn down for parts or rebuilt!
HERE'S HOPING!
See ya soon!

24" DUAL SHOCK MTB!

ONLY $45.00!!

MEN'S 26" DUAL SHOCK MTB!!

ONLY $85.00

20" MONGOOSE BMX!!

ONLY $55.00!!

WHY We Do It!

So, yea...every now and then, there is that little nagging voice in the back of my mind, that I always end up dismissing but there is that briefest of moments where i sometimes ponder: "hmmmmmm?"  Most often that voice chimes in right after a long slew of "Daddy Language" usually in accompaniment to hard wrenching on some tired piece of steel, that just doesn't want to give up the grave!  Sacrilegious expressions such as "It's just a Huffy!  SCRAP IT!"  or "What a USELESS piece of SH......winn!" have a tendency to jettison from the evil, vitriol spewing demon seed, obviously spawned from some unholy coupling of a "Boutique" Bike shop employee and a conservative radio talk show host!
*shudder*  (visualize THAT! some wafer thin, arrogant, wormy guy in a Khaki shirt with the mouth the size of Rush Limbaugh!  AHHHHHHHHH!!!)
BUT, the Self-righteously indignant side of me, ignores it's caterwauling and just keeps on going!  For, I can tell you, a bike has to be SERIOUSLY gone (like "frame damage" gone) for us to give up on it, regardless of what the graphics on it's sides denote it to be!  We'd rather an old piece of steel get a second life, than become imbedded in a landfill somewhere! 
It's with that very "Mission Statement" stuck firmly in my craw, did I persevere through the below pictured Huffy.  She was pretty rough when I pulled her from the pile, but like all rides, they need a second chance to shine!  So, check out the before and after and I'm gonna get started on the other goodies we snagged up yesterday!
See ya soon!

"YEP!  ALL THAT WORK, ALL THOSE PARTS AND IT'S ONLY...

$85.00!!

MOTHERS DAY SALE!!!! OPEN TODAY 9AM-3PM!!! 10% OFF EVERYTHING!!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, Y'ALL!!!
If all goes according to plan the mother of my children is being pampered right now by the simple act of being allowed to sleep in.  The kiddo's have their gifts all made up (hand made ones are always the best) but they're letting her get some much needed rest, first.  And hopefully, my Mom is planning a good day up North and get's some pampering, as well!  Me? I got up early to open up shop for a special, seat of our pant's. last minute, relatively unplanned and poorly promoted "Mother's Day, "Day-Of" One Day Sale"! (yea...you can see how much thought we put into the title!  Yeesh!)  That's right! 10% off everything in the shop!  Oh, no worries, if you're looking to buy two or more bikes, we'll cut even a better deal!   And, yes, that discount goes for any repairs as well, but get 'em in soon, as the special sale ends at 3pm!  That's when I empty the house of all kiddo's, take 'em to the park, and let mamma have some quiet time!
Yesterday was another relatively quiet one, but we did have a LOT of looky loo's!  WOOF!  I wish I had a dozen three wheelers sitting in the shop, as truly, that seems to be the ONLY thing anyone has been looking for lately.  We had a couple repair pick up's and sent one bike to a new home.  But, that ONE bike made my WHOLE week!  I'd just finished up an older men's Huffy MTB.  This one was a "Sub-DAILY BANGER SPECIAL"  or what we call, an "AS-IS SPECIAL"!  Basically, a bike that comes in that is mechanically sound, but not the prettiest of rides.  However, due to there relatively low re-sale value, taking the time to go through, clean up, rusticate, and overhaul would not increase their over all value much at all.  SOOOOO, we just make sure everything works right and put them out AS IS!  They're for folks who just need a WAY cheap mode of transportation to get around.  This one went out at $45.00 and no sooner had I put it into the line, did a nice gent and his little girl enter the shop.  His first enquiry was as to whether we purchased bikes from folks.  Now, I've been doing this long enough to recognize the inflection of that particular question.  This gent didn't have a bike to sell, but in fact recently had one stolen, and was covertly trying to see if perhaps we picked it up.  Yes, the sad side effect of buying bikes from folks is sometimes, some thieves are actually stupid enough to try and sell them to US!  Heh.  This fact has proven to be disastrous to many, as little do they know, we work quite closely with the local constabulary, and not only that, are pretty good at reading folks when it comes to who really owns what.  To date, we have recovered 87 stolen bikes, returning them to their rightful owners AND gotten eleven would be crooks into the court system! 
ANYWHO...
I let it play out and he did in fact reveal, that earlier that day his cherry Jamis Boss Cruiser had been stolen, and had we in fact seen it.  Unfortunately not.  This was clearly disheartening, as he revealed, that he only had his daughter a few days a week, and the weekends were when they enjoyed their bike ride together.  He then asked if we had any cheaper bikes for sale, so they wouldn't loose that time together.  I pointed him towards the Huffy, and he looked at the price tag, and even though he was impressed by the low price, when he opened his wallet I swear a moth flew out.  Yes, as the majority of his funds went to child support, he only had $30.00 left to spend.  Well, folks, call me an old softy but seeing the disappointment in both their faces at the thought of losing that special time together, I just said "give me what you can" and to please go and enjoy their evening.
Yes, even the most stalwart of men, bristling with masculinity can get a tad bit "misty" at a moment like that.  We enjoyed the male equivalent of a supportive, sympathetic hug in the form of a firm hand shake, and he and a very elated little girl went off to enjoy their evening!
Yes folks, I've said it before and I'll say it again THAT is the kind of thing that makes this little enterprise SOOOOOO worth all the headaches!!
Well, I also had some time to start pulling through the pile out back and getting some other goodies started.  My first victim is a six speed cruiser (as that's the second most popular bike folks are looking for right now) and given it's condition, thought it would be a nice candidate for "HOW WE DO IT!".  Yes, another pictorial representation of the transmogrifying transformation each and every piece of scrap metal goes through around here before becoming a shining beacon of Veloist purity (oh, my...THAT doesn't sound egotistically ostentatious...does it?) so check out the before pics below, and later today we should have the "REVEAL!" 
Okay, with that, I'm gonna git a crackin'!
See ya soon!

HOPEFULLY, THEY'RE OUT RIDING TOGETHER AS WE SPEAK!

HOW WE DO IT!!!!!

FIRST, DIG A WRECK OUT OF YOUR PILE...

THEN, STRIP IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FRAME (GOTTA GET ALL THE RUSTY PARTS OFF TO CLEAN OR REPLACE!)

TAKE SAID RUSTY PARTS AND PUT THEM THROUGH THE WIRE WHEEL (OR STEEL WOOL AND PB BLASTER)

AND...OOOOOOO...LOOK AT THE PRETTIES!!!

NOW...STAY TUNED 'TILL LATER AND SEE THE FINISHED (AND VERY REASONABLY PRICED) RESULTS!!

ROAD TRIP!!!

If y'all didn't get the point yesterday, today, being the weekend, should have alerted you to the inescapable conclusion that...IT'S FREAKING GORGEOUS OUTSIDE!!  If you are currently in a semi prone position, reclining or even sitting, please, GET OFF YOUR BUTT'S AND GET OUTSIDE!!!
....no, no.. not yet, finish reading first!
We had Logan open up this morning and Owen and I went and paid Bullet a visit to grab some supplies for the shop.  Loved the ride!  And Ooooooooh...If you are out and in the mood for some barbeque, there's a trailer/smoker set up just before the train tracks on North Highland whose smells will make your taste buds leap off your tongue and go a runnin'!  Had the cash I was carrying not been ear marked for bike parts...well I'd be still sitting there working on my second helping of pulled pork and collard greens!  It has WAY too long since I had a good batch of homemade collard greens! 
Oh...man...my stomach is rumbling just thinking about it!
But, yea, it is perfect weather for getting out and exploring such wonders, today!  And trust me, I don't think we have much time left to enjoy this mildly cooler weather before the sweaty indignity of summer will be upon us!  You know, the point where the only option for outside entertainment is standing inside the mall looking out the sliding glass doors, as they slowly start to melt!
Ugh.
This week has been a WAY quite one, although oddly enough, the biggest thing folks have been searching for is three wheelers?  Weird.  We haven't had anyone looking for one all during retiree season, then, the minute they head back up North, everyone wants one!
Sad Face.
Unfortunately, the only one we have gotten in the last six months was WAY to far gone and only worthy of parts.  It had an ok bolt on rear end good enough for another truck, or given the right frame coming in, possibly a home made three wheeler. We'll have to see!
Yesterday was allocated to trying to get the eBay up and running, then some much needed cleaning and organization (not to mention catching up on repairs) then on to Newbies!  I did manage to get out one sharp looking Mongoose DXR AL dual shock MTB, but the other two I put in the rack, another 26" DBS (which turned out to have a crack in the frame) and a sweet looking ladies Free Spirt 3 speed that unfortunately had  wheels so badly riddle with small dents, she needed to end up going back on the back burner until such a time as I actually get in a good enough set to replace them.  So, yea...only one newbie out after a lot of effort. 
Today though, after doing up the final repair (that needed the aforementioned parts run) I'll be back on some of the goodies from out back.  We have a couple cruisers out there, and folks are looking for them as well!
So, with that, best get my butt in gear and get some work done!
See y'all soon!

26" MONGOOSE DXR AL DUAL SHOCK MTB!!!

ONLY $85.00!!!

I'd Love To Smack The Snooze Button On THAT Wake Up Call!!!

As promised we banged out one newbie today!  Quite the chore as I discovered...i am out of 26" rear wheels!?  Yeesh! Had to lace one up from scratch.  That's gonna mean a few rides being put on the back burner but may inspire me to tweak on some of the road bike frames I got kicken around!  We'll see.
With all the rain last couple days, visitors have been sparse, so the usual flow of fresh meat has been meager...so nothing to wrench on!  Maybe time to dip into the yard stock!  Not a bad thing given I still have to weed through it.

Okay...that's as far as I got last night before the day wore me into bed...
Now...on to this morning!

Ugh.
Was awoken earlier then usual by a phone call.  Well... as of yesterday I was under the false assumption that all had been resolved with the department of revenue, and we were FINALLY on the same page.
Heh...that lasted less then 24 hours.  I received the revised amounts of the charges on our account and had talked with our Tax Specialist yesterday to set the terms for payment.  For whatever reason, ALL that was somehow jettisoned in the ensuing hours and this morning I was informed, via voicemail, that the entire amount needed to be paid...tomorrow by five!?
Let me tell you, woman is NOT as fickle as the Tax Man!
At this point my brain was starting to cramp and an all to familiar nervous twitch started in my right eye. Hurriedly I got dressed and jet into the shop to recheck the stipulations on the letter I received, only to discover this.....

Okay, so we understand each other...The letter was written and dated 5/2/16, then mailed.  In the body of the letter it states that I have to respond to this letter ON OR BEFORE 5/1/16!?  Yes...all the conspiracy theories ARE TRUE!!! Our government has been running extensive experiments in time travel, and the practice has become SO wide spread, through ALL branches of the government that they automatically assume that EVERYONE can travel backwards in time!!!!
AMAZING!!!
Yes folks...I had to respond to the letter...a day BEFORE they even thought about WRITTING IT!!! 
Oh wait...maybe the stories about government run labs dabbling in psychic powers is true as WELL!
GAWSH!!!
My cup of sarcasm runnith over!
Seriously....THIS is what I am dealing with at least three days a week!  And you wonder why I sometimes don't get a lot done? 
And what's even worse is, when I finally did get through and got the matter resolved (in effect the phone call was a scare tactic.  Apparently he gets flack from HIS superiors...and it trickles down hill) and pointed out the disparity in dates...I got a non committal verbal shrug and NO explanation, just; "you have to pay this amount..."
REALLY!?!
Thanks for clearing THAT up!
So...after that emotionally draining exchange...I'm sitting for a few, sipping my coffee, shaking my head...and then getting to work!

I leave you with this....