To Pooped To Pop

Forgive me if I don't ramble.  It's been a long busy (thank you!) day!  And for once I'm at a loss for anything useful to say!  (ahHA!)
So here's the new goodies!!

OLD SCHOOL HARO
ONLY $105.00!!!

MONGOOSE REBEL!!
ONLY $65.00

(ANOTHER) MONGOOSE HOOP-D!
ONLY $65.00!!

NEXT BMX
ONLY $40.00!!

GORGEOUS AND FAST SCHWINN VOYAGER W/RACK & BAG
$165.00!!!

"LIKE NEW" AVALON COMFORT CRUISER
ONLY $75.00!!!

Exactly WHY Do We Send Our Kids To School?

Some fun goings on at the old Shoppe' today but I'm going to tell tales in reverse!
The end...
OK, maybe NOT so literal.
Kaleb and I worked a little later tonight as we are ONCE AGAIN cleaning and reorganizing.  With all the buying we've done lately we haven't gotten around to stripping down the parts bikes.  Needless to say it was to the point of insurmountable.  Thanks to Terry for coming late for a scrap pick up.  Also cleaned out the back hall!  WOW!  You can actually walk full frontal and not have to walk sideways, bending and contorting under various protruding metal parts in order to get to the bathroom! (I swear I heard  my colon breath a sigh of relief) We're getting prepared to the re-furb and upgrades coming to the shop in the next few weeks.  Thanks to my dad who will be helping in the design and work, as well as being the mode of pick up and delivery for the materials.
ANYWAY.
After finishing up and closing up as we were leaving I realized I had forgotten my coat.  Going back into grab it Kaleb commented that it wasn't cold, to which I responded "Yes, but it will be cold in the morning"  To this he commented "Dad, do you know why it's cold?" (this is his way of opening conversation to bestowed upon me with his youthful wisdom) my response was simply "because it's winter."  He grinned a wizened smirk as if to say "silly man" and retorted "No.  It's the winds traveling over the glaciers bringing cold air here"
WHAT?
There are times my children say things that just stop me dead in my tracks.  As if the shear weight and enormity of their words short circuit my logic centers, sending out waves of bio electric interference that momentarily impede my primary motor skills.
Now, I'm no genius nor am I a meteorologist, but I was under the assumption that the seasons had something to do with the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun.  Maybe I was wrong, so for the briefest of moments I pondered his words...
(at this moment I am remembered of all the times I have gone anywhere with this boy, and in all fairness, as much as the boy can get on my nerves, he is rather like a young Brad Pitt.  Rather handsome with an underlying "Bad Boy" image.  It never fails that regardless of where we go, he is met with a variety of young ladies who greet him, in full "sing song" voice with "Hiiiiiiiiiiii, Kaleb!" Only further reinforcing my belief that ALL women regardless of age, social position, or IQ prefer their men cute, and dumb!)
Then I returned to THIS reality, and could do nothing but shake my head in shame and disbelief.
So HOORAY for the Public Education System.  No wonder Florida ranks so low in standardized testing scores. 
And thanks to Chip for paying us a visit and dropping of the sweet Schwinn Ranger MTB in swap for the old cantilever frame.  I DEFINITELY got the sweeter end of the deal.  But then he usually lets us come out on top!  And thanks for sharing with us his tale of humility recently learned as him and the lovely Joanne were at the Largo Library book store the other day and as they were perusing the isle she came upon a copy of Chips novel "The Practical Cyclist".  Upon seeing the book, he was struck with the realization that his book had been not only discarded to the denizens of the "Store of Little Lost Books" but as it turns out it was a personalized, autographed copy he had given to a "Then" friend.  Well, after realizing this his only thought was whether he should strike his former acquaintance with a snow shovel or a bat.
He opted for an aluminum bat.  Best of both worlds.
Yes, we moved a few more rides off to new homes today, but forgive me as we were otherwise occupied with cleaning and reorganizing that Angi was running the front and I wasn't paying to good attention.  Sorry.  I will give full credit to those intrepid souls tomorrow.
We also did MORE buying as well.  Picked up a sweet Schwinn Voyager (yep another one) and two more Mongoose BMX'ers.  The Schwinn is done and out but will have to post tomorrow as, yep you guessed it, to busy!
Now that I have room to move though, I'll be pounding out some more golden oldies on the morrow!
In closing, some trepidation from various family members regarding our choice of name for our new little girl to be has given us pause to rethink (and KUDOS to my sister for being the only one so far to recognize the sci-fi fandom reference to the name "Miranda" as the "dead" planet that spawned the Reavers on "Firefly".  Yes not the most idyllic of inspiration but we liked the sound of it) At the suggestion of our son Elijah, following on the "Firefly" reference, we are now contemplating "Serenity" as a more apt second choice.
Wish I thought of it first.
Well, until tomorrow!
Night!

The Origins of "Boy's Night Out"

After three weeks we think the kiddo's have finally got the hint!  As Sunday has long since been "Family Day" and as of the first of this year now encompasses ALL in the Family, Mom and Dad promised the children that we would get out of the house and do something special.
PROVIDED!
Provided that they didn't get into trouble for the week and that they did their chores and kept the messes in the house to a minimum.  Well, it took three weeks of being denied access to the outside world and spending all day Sunday cleaning for them to get the point.  They were very good this past week and did their utmost to keep their messes at bay.  So yesterday we treated them to a day out of bowling and lunch!  AH yes, Middle America Redneck FUN!  Seriously though, they really got into it.  Momma, even though her bowling form was somewhat handicapped, slammed out a couple of strikes!  The little guys were enjoying it for a while (at least until they discovered there was a game room) But Elijah, Logan and I had a bit of competition going there. Enough so that we've decided (for the time being at least) that we are going to have a "Boy's Night Out" on Wednesday and go pound out a couple of frames.  It gives them a chance to earn a treat twice a week, and helps Mom and Dad keep them in line when they know they'll miss out.  Mom will have a Girl's Night In to boot! 
Well Saturday, although rather brisk weather wise, still panned out to be a productive day!  Thanks to Jim and his bride for picking out the Trek 830 to explore with. Christine (although initially put off by our "scary" family photo at the top of the blog) came in and picked up the ladies DBS!  Chris and his family took home the sweet Nishiki commuter as he wants to use it as...a Commuter!  YAY!! A convert!  And he brought in a weathered, but salvageable Schwinn Voyager Hybrid (see below) that once FULLY refurbed, makes a welcome addition to the sales floor!  Micheal, after an intense inspection and road test, happily went home with the Schwinn World Sport!  And as always thanks to all the re-pairs coming in to fill out this mornings dance card!
Did ALLOT of buying as well!  The newest addition to our Scrap Guard, "Chuckles" brought in a trailer full!  5 count 'em FIVE three wheelers, an OLD Firestone and an OLD JC Higgins cruisers!  All of which need SERIOUS work, but welcome none the less!  Also got a GT Timberline MTB, 5 more BMX'er's, and assorted bangers, to numerous to count!
So I have a VERY BUSY day today, as well as meeting with my Dad to help in the "Coming Soon" renovations to the shop!
So with that, Hope to see you soon!!

"DAILY BANGER SPECIAL"
ONLY $65.00!!

SCWINN VOYAGER HYBRID
ONLY $145.00!!!

LADIES 10 SPEED CRUISER
ONLY $70.00!!!

The Envelope Please...and the Winner Is...

Well yesterday was the day!  Friday the Thirteenth brought no misfortune or bad omens but rather was the day Angi and I had her ultra sound done and found out what color to get for clothing....
It's a...
But first...
I hesitate to mention this as I've been told that defending oneself to bad press may seem like your trying to deny a truth.  HOWEVER, I've always felt that to remain silent in the face of slander is to only invite speculation.  And as has been quoted by other more learned folk, "A person is more likely to tell of a bad experience then a good one".  Occasionally I check out our listing online, updating when necessary, and on Google and yahoo they allow space for customers comments.  A useful tool, as it gives us direct input as to where we may make improvements or continue to focus on what folks like.  As google is the most commonly used we get most of our info there.  The majority of the reviews are quite glowing (Thank you very much!) but there are two recent entries that have me a tad bit stumped.
They are as follows..

Nice enough people but dishonest, unorganized and irresponsible. The owner wrote down and charged me for ordering new parts from his catalog and labor (before he even began work). Two weeks later (I had to call him, he never called when it was finished) he tells me its ready but of course it wasn't, come to find out he used old cheap parts in his shop rather than ordering the parts I paid for.. and he never refunded me. I gave him another week and paid more to finish the work only to end up with the same scenario.. twice! His excuse was he forgot what we had discussed and which parts we ordered (even though he wrote it down twice) ... he refused to refund me. I ended up paying over 200 bucks for old rusty parts and a simple repair!! I will have to order the rest of the parts from Amazon and install them myself. RE-cycle is a decent place to buy a cheap used walmart bike that may or may not work.. but for anything else expect to be ripped off.
AND...

A racket! I bought a bike from them and discovered I liked riding. So, 2 months later we took the bike in to see if they would make us an offer to buy it back so I could upgrade. The guy told me the wheels were warped. Well, if they were he sold it to me like that. What a jerk! I went and bought a new bike from a REPUTABLE bike shop!

It took me a while to figure out who the first one was, and I will mention no names, but he was the only one to have work similar to what was described done.  And I can't figure out the harsh words as he was quite excited when he picked up his bike.  I'll address the concerns in order.  Yes, whenever ordering parts we collect the cost of the parts up front as we have to pay in advance, and should a customer change their mind it is quite difficult (and costly) to return the items. he paid for the remainder of the work in advance of his own volition.  The bike was brought in for a full refurb, and modifications.  He had ordered a new seat and grips but was informed that the handle bars, kickstand, and brake and shifters would be re-furbed in order to save him money (remember our name is RE-Cycle, because that's what we do) In regards to the second time?  as far as the not calling?  We have since changed policies, but then when work was done we would call a customer and in most cases be forced to leave messages.  He did not respond to the message until a week later. When he did come in, his only concern voiced to us was that he decided he wanted fenders (which was only discussed initially in passing, never collected for) He wanted brown fenders to match his bike, but I had to inform him that our supplier only carried black and chrome, and that we could order black and paint them.  He stated that he could get them online himself.  So I have no idea why a refund would apply.  The total of his bill was $140.00.  That's for a new seat, grips, replacement handle bars, shifters, brake levers, new cables and housings, new tires, new tubes, a full tear down, part's clean, reassembly, re grease all bearings and a tune up. Obviously NOT a simple re-pair.  I did it for cost, plus labor because he told me the bike had sentimental value as it had been his fathers.
As the saying goes, "No good deed goes unpunished"
As to the second entry?  Well that one is just pure vitriol.  Yes the gentleman had purchased a bike from us, He had it for a little more then four months, and considering the shape it was in, did some mighty harsh riding.  The rear wheel was bent so bad that it couldn't make a full rotation without jamming up against the brake.  He wanted full credit for what he paid for it, in cash.  I informed him that our buy back policy is 50%, which he was none to thrilled with and left angry.  Obviously he sought revenge.
Yes, I'm well aware of the ideology regarding it's business, not personal, but our family takes a great deal of pride in what we do, and put our heart and soul into this little enterprise.  So it is personal!
ANYWAY!
The temps dipped WAY below yesterday, so things were a little quiet yesterday.  Although in the early hours we do have David to thank for falling in love with the OCC chopper.  You are now officially the coolest kid in your neighborhood!! And Danny for snatching up the slick Ocean Pacific cruiser, a VERY good choice, my good sir!  And to a returning customer who up graded his ride to the Giant Chinnok, from the Huffy Rival he picked up a few months back.  Definitely an upgrade!
Managed to put out two of the highly requested ladies bikes, and am building more today!  Check out the pic'c below.
So with that I bid you a good day, and hope you wrap up real warm and come in and pay us a visit!

Now what is it that I'm forgetting.....
Oh yes!
Her name is Miranda.

"DAILY BANGER SPECIAL"
ONLY $45.00!!!

"DAILY BANGER SPECIAL"!!!
ONLY $50.00!!

BE THE FIRST KID ON YOUR BLOCK TO HAVE ONE!!!!

IT'S HERE!! 
The Ultra Collectible, SUPER RARE, UBER FANTASTIC!!!
...WARTS AND ALL MINI-COMIC!!

Yes kiddo's, THAT'S RIGHT!  Be part of the few, super special, lucky elite enjoying MINUTES of comic strip FUN!  In This ULTRA-DELUXE, HIGH QUALITY hand bound volume you will find the first 20 or so strips of the HILARIOUS HYJINX of the RE-Cycle family collected in this NEVER BEFORE, HAND COLLATED FORM!
And as an ADDED BONUS, be one of the lucky FEW to find the PHANTASMAGORICALLY  RARE. RANDOMLY INSERTED "Greasy Fingerprint" additions!!!!
THAT"S RIGHT!!
And That's STILL not all!!!!

well....um....no....I guess that's it.

ANYWAY....
Currently limited to ONLY 20 copies!  Hurry in to our shop and grab up your copy BEFORE THEY'RE ALL GONE!!

At which point....we'll print up more...

BMX Wendsday!! or Post Christmas Bikealanche!!

Yes, as has become the after holiday tradition last years Christmas bikes come out of the wood works as everyone makes room for the new goodies Santa left in his wake.  And Boy HOWDY we got us some Be-You-Tee's! 
Today  allot of folks escaping the rain stopped in to check things out, and we were more then happy to accommodate!   And I did SO keep busy with 7 more re-furbs.  Also got many new goodies to pound away on!  You'll forgive the brevity of my entry tonight as I am Pooped!  But will be back at it again tomorrow with a vengeance! 
NIGHT!
Oh, and there's ALLOT listed below but don't forget, I couldn't load up pics yesterday.  Only 7 were from today!


REDLINEHAROGOOSE!
ONLY $85.00



OCC CHOPPER!
ONLY $80.00

TREK 830 AWESOME SHAPE!!
$140.00

LIKE NEW MENS CRUISER!
ONLY $85.00

LADIES 24" 5-SPEED CRUISER
SOLD

SCHWINN WORLD SPORT "AWESOME SHAPE"!
ONLY $150.00!!!

MONGOOSE "OUTER LIMITS"
ONLY $50.00!!

24" VERTICAL MTB
$45.00

MONGOOSE
HOOP 'D
ONLY $45.00

MONGOOSE "BMX"
ONLY $45.00!!



MONGOOSE "OUTER LIMITS"
(YEP, IT'S ANOTHER ONE)
ONLY $65.00!!



"FREAKIN SWEET" EASTERN BMX "LIKE NEW"
ONLY $160.00!!

NEXT CHAOS BMX
ONLY $45.00

GORGEOUS NISHIKI 10 SPEED COMMUTER!
ONLY $135.00!!

The Boys Are Back At It Again!

Well it's been a couple of months but Paco has finally sent me a new rough!  YES!  Have no fear the comic strip IS NOT DEAD!  e has been VERY busy with a book there producing throughout South America, but is currently on hiatus from it for a few weeks, and reasserting himself back into "Warts...and all"! 
Hope to have new finished strips to show off REAL soon!  Also, when visiting us in the next few days be on the look out for our first FREE mini-comic!  Sure to be a "Must Have" for the educated connoisseur of fine comic strips everywhere!
(I'll show you the rough of the newest one to wet your appetite!)
Today was a blurr of activity and we managed to put out FIVE new goodies to help fill up the show room again!
Check 'em out below!!!
And thanks to all the folks bringing in their re-pairs and extending their understanding and patience! 
Now, I gotta call it a night and chill for tomorrow is sure to be another full day!

PS>  Sorry, for some reason the damn computer won't let me upload photo's!  I'll try again tomorrow!

Our First Official Blogger RETRACTION!!!

In the interest of truth and fair play I feel compelled to update some incomplete info I gave in a previous blog (see "She did WHAT?!" Jan 5, 2012).  Seems that Mrs. Erin, Tiger Woods ex, was not all of the frivolous uber-rich spoiled brat that I had thought she was.  The demolition of the 12 Million dollar mansion in North Palm beach was, after all necessary.  Seems the gorgeous 20's mansion was in fact infested with termites and severely damaged.  As well as being out of date with current hurricane standards.  She will however rebuild a spread very close in appearance to the original.  And Further kudos to her, as she had given thirty days to Habitat For Humanity to come in and take out whatever they could use, before demolishing it.
So good on you, Erin!
(or to your PR Spin Doctors!)
Whichever.

Personal Touch

No, we're not that kind of bike shop.
Forgive me if I ramble but I am still in recovery.  No, not from injury but from the whimsy of a 19 month old little girl.  Throughout recorded history tales of lycanthropy lent  folkloric credence to the idea that certain people were susceptible to the gravatic pull of the lunar cycle.  Modern science, in it's steadfast all-knowing-ness, informs us that there is no hard proof that there is any validity to these claims.
Well they need to spend a night with Izzy when the moon is full. 
Now we have seen no claws or fangs, nor has she grown the body hair of a smarmy Mediterranean, BUT she refuses to sleep, paces about room to room (and God FORBID you refuse her access to any room) making sure, by grabbing your finger that you accompany her, at times she will stand at the front door pointing, which informs you she wishes to go "Walkies" at which point she walks up and down the sidewalk quickly, staring at the moon.
hmmmm?
All I can say is if she starts baying, I'm SO gone!
Needless to say the last couple nights Mom and Dad have had less the minimum sleepy time!
ANYWAY!
Got a couple of very flattering compliments yesterday, and egotism insists I share!  First off, had a gent from Ontario, Canada visit on Saturday, dropping off a repair (yes the DO say "ay" allot!) and when he came back in yesterday to pick up, he had informed me that when they were planning their vacation to Florida, they're son had checked out the bike shops in the area for the convenience and recommended us to his dad.  Said "we sound like good people" Well sir, I am VERY honored you choose us and that you have such discerning taste!
haHA!
Second.  Another gent from points North called the other day inquiring about vacation rentals, and repairs to his wife's bike they'll be bringing down.  What struck him as surprising was first, that after calling several other bike shops in the area, and being transferred through several departments (with the occasional stop over in voice mail limbo) that here he was not only talking to a real live person from the jump, but that that person would be assisting him in his rental AND servicing there bikes.  A very "Personal Touch" (you like how we integrated the text with the title?  Nice hunh?)
Let me 'splain!
Years ago, when I was ten (OK....DECADES!) I used to rush home from school in Brentwood, NH.  We lived about a mile and a half from RT 111-A on Pick Pocket Road.  Back then the bus would dump the few kids that lived out in the boonies, there and you then trudged home.  Well I sprinted as I had about 15 minutes to get home so that I could watch my (then) FAVORITE show "T.H.U.N.D.E.R Birds"

A brilliant British classic, comprised of marionettes and models.  Pure adrenalin fancy for a young boy (OK...I still watch my collection from time to time HOORAY for DVD's!) An ultra wealthy ex-astronaut and his sons, (along with Parker, Ms. Penelope, Brains and Tin Tin) operate an International rescue from their hidden base on their private Island. 
I loved the show, and remember this was before video recorders and the like so you were a slave to the networks.
Well on one particular afternoon as I burst through the front door, grabbed my snack and  clicked on the set I was met by something wholly unexpected.  NOT my show!  For a moment I checked the station...then the time!  (was I LATE?  Was I early?) Nope.  Everything else within my little corner of reality was right...just no show! 
I am not so insecure with my masculinity that I won't admit to crying.  I did.  My mother, alarmed tried to comfort me.  In her wisdom she suggested I write a letter to the station asking them why.  I had no idea you could do that, but she found the address and I wrote what a ten year old would consider a scathing diatribe chastising them for their inconsiderate and completely unbelievable removal of Gods gift to ten year old boys!
I sent the letter off, and began my mourning period.  It took some time to go through the five steps of grief.  While I was wallowing in "denial" a couple weeks later my mother had a letter waiting for me on my snack tray when I got home from school.  It was from the program director of Channel 25 in Boston, Ma. (WAY before it was a Fox affiliate).  I can remember a rush of excitement as in my youthful exuberance I was sure it was a letter of apology, and in their remorse for destroying my young life were going to immediately reinstate the show.
It was not.
At the time the well thought out letter that did not condescend, but rather gently explained such things as demographics, and syndication guidelines in such a way as to soften the blow of my shows cancellation.  Never once did the gentleman dismiss my concerns as inconsequential.
It was a very personalized communication, that did not read like a form letter.  Perhaps it was penned by a Secretary merely passing it on for his signature.  But, this man, who I'm sure had better more important things to attend to took the time to address the woes of a heartbroken ten year old, trying honorably to ease my misery.
Eventually I emerged from the darkness and went on with my life (the eventual discovery of the whole series on VHS helped) but that letter stuck in my head.
In an age of voice mail, online "help", cell phones that no one answers, telecommunication assistance in India, and employees with NO clue we hold true to the old fashioned ways of direct contact!  Nothing beats getting "face time" with the person you are doing business with. 
ANYWAY!
The origin 8 was quite a crowd pleaser and got many calls once it listed.  The lucky winner was a gent from South Saint Pete making the journey up.  And good timing too, as he came in about ten seconds before the young man from Palm Harbor came in.  As is our way THANKS for all the re-pairs and the trust you put in us!  Picked up some more sweet gems as well!  The young lady who picked up the vintage Schwinn for her college bound daughter brought us two primo pretties!  A classic Schwinn World Sport road bike, and a Nishiki RB as well!  Got a Trek 830, and OCC Chopper on consignment, as well as a few more bangers, a 5 speed ladies cruiser, and a couple BMX'ers!  Needless to say i have a busy day!
So "Have at you, Dartanian!"
PEACE!

"REDLINEHAROGOOSE"!
ONLY $85.00!!

"TOP-NOTCH" CONDITION OCC CHOPPER!
ONLY $80.00!!!

VERY FINE TREK 830!
ONLY $140.00!!

Pooping in for a Moment...

Or is it spelt popping?
heres two new goodies thought you might like to check out...

LIKE "BLOODY" NEW!!!!
LAST YEARS SCHWINN SIDEWINDER BARELY RIDDEN!
ONLY $135.00!!

ORIGIN 8 CUTLER SINGLE SPEED URBAN COMMUTER!
ONLY $125.00!!!

Excuse me Sir. Do You Need Help Removing That Broomstick From Your...?

Sometimes thE "intensity" of individuals is beyond me.  Not to mention some peoples tendency to provide unsolicited opinions at inappropriate venues.  And yes I do understand that that statement may appear somewhat hypocritical as all I do is voice my opinion, BUT point in fact, by reading these ramblings, the reader is in effect soliciting my opinion, concluding that it is in fact, warranted.
Moving on to further self righteousness, As I sat here this morning doing some much needed updating to our Craigslisting, and blog, intermittently visiting with customers and fielding phone calls, a rather unsettling man stepped into the shop and oblivious to the fact that I was working with another customer at the time rudely interrupted and asked "Are there price tags on your bikes?"  excusing myself from my other customer, I responded no, but I can let you know how much for the one you are interested in.
(pause)
(yes, i realize it would be best to put tags on them, but as the batch I currently have were put out yesterday, I hadn't gotten around to it yet, sorry)
(play)
instead of waiting or furthering the discussion he turned on his heels and as he was walking out stated "Then you're pricing the customer and not the bike!" and left.
Wow.
Now I'm no psychologist and I'm sure that with allot of "me" time on a couch maybe this gentleman could come to grips with whatever past event that has eroded his interpersonal skills, and draw out the decent, kind, loving individual that I'm sure is lurking beneath...
HOWEVER!
I was brought up with a certain creed (although laced with a tad bit of Yankee sarcasm) Extend respect and courtesy to everyone until they may prove unworthy.
I also learned allot more from my folks...hence my personality and peccadillo's.
Where the heck was I.....?
Oh yes, had he stuck around I would have mentioned that when we finish working on a bike we post it on Craigslist and list it in the blog with the price! And as all this info is available and dated, it would be hard for us to "price the customer".  But then sometimes common sense can be a reach for some folk.
ANYWAY!
Has been a busy day all ready, and half of what I listed this morning is already gone.  I will show the pics below just to prove that regardless of what my wife may say about my Scrabble fetish...
I do work!
And have already bought and/or traded a bevy of new beauties!  The pick of the litter being a GORGEOUS Schwinn Sidewinder, I think last years model.  Now's the time of year when those receiving new bikes for Christmas get rid of the old ones!  GOODY!  It will be going out post haste!

DIAMONDBACK DELIGHT!
DIDN'T LAST AN HOUR!

Well I'd like to thank all the folks for coming in yesterday and letting us serve their re-pair needs.  Also I'd like to thank two individuals Hector and Micheal for proving once again that their are MANY people in this world that are blessed with integrity.  From time to time folks come in, who need help but are a little short and in order to keep them riding we extend house credit, based solely on trust and a handshake.  Some may be pessimistic about trust where money is concerned by we look at it this way, if we put our faith in someone it's not on us if they break that trust.  Karma is always watching, if we fail to help someone who needs it, bad on us. Hector has been bringing in a couple bucks each day over the last few weeks, and paid it off yesterday, while Mike had some trouble coming up with the cash but made a deposit yesterday, and we could tell he was really trying to do right. 
Also would like to thank Bob for making another "tired of walking" purchase on the FS Elite.  Now he's riding in style! 
All right, Now I gotta get to work!  Got an Origin 8 single speed on my rack almost done, and want to get onto more...we're getting light again!
PEACE!

She did WHAT?!

As a fellow Floridian, a Human, and a person obsessed with the dark and twisted side of human avress I am APPALLED by the news I picked up on today.  Mind you, I don't pay to much heed to the tabloids, and aside from the occasional tidbits I catch from the headlines on the rags in the check out isle, I don't delve to deeply into the personal goings on of the various celebrity leches and self  aggrandizing publicity hounds (although I am vaguely aware of Kim's fake "Photo-op" wedding).
HOWEVER!
I found myself reading in full the news blurb on my homepage regarding the travesty committed in North Palm Beach Florida recently.  Apparently Elin Nordegren, ex-wife of Tiger Woods fresh off her financially lucrative divorce proceedings had recently made a substantial real estate purchase for twelve million.
(I will pause for a moment to point out something I'm sure many folks have rattled around in their brain.  Did it come to ANYONE as a surprise that an incredibly famous incredibly RICH twenty something MALE was NOT faithful to his wife?  I mean, come on!  An unknown incredibly poor working class twenty something male with fifty bucks in his pocket probably wouldn't be faithful if given a seconds chance!  Either that or she had dollar signs in her eyes.)
ANYWAY!
Seems our young miss Elin with her newly found windfall of 100 million (yea, you read that right) had, apparently on a whim, found a lovely, spacious 6 bedroom mansion over looking the ocean.  A beautiful affair with a wonderful view of the ocean.  Here's the charming little bungalow...

Well, as with any new owner of any new home you can't begrudge her the desire to make a few changes.  I mean perhaps the colors weren't right, or it needed fresh drapes, perhaps a remodel here or there.  Well with what I'm sure was some very rationally thought out plans she turned this other wise lovely home into this...

Sadly NOT a photo shop fake.  Yes seems she didn't like the house, but has of yet not decided what she wants in it's place. 
Is it just me, I mean am I being unreasonable to think that this was not just a TAD bit wasteful?
Really.  I think it would have been more poetic if she bought the home she lived in with Tiger.
ANYWAY!
On the work front.  As always, thanks SO MUCH to all the folks bringing in their repairs today!  Glad we could be of service.  Thanks to Paul for making the wise choice on the FS Elite.  And our best to Elizabeth as she drives off to college on the sweet 3-speed vintage Schwinn Collegiate.  Also Much thanks to the wonderful couple who were lucky enough to both find a ride in the Schwinn Ranger and low slung cruiser.  Also to Chet, riding off on the Royce Union BMX!  LOVE those "tired of walking" sales!  Also like to thank alll the calls, comments and compliments of late.  More and more folks are discovering the joys or Re-using!
Wish Elin had met us!
Managed to get out two new goodies today.  A super-clean dual shock MTB with front disc brakes.  As well as a classic 10 speed Giant Chinook cross-sport.  SWEET Big Boy ride! 
And yes, we bought a bunch more goodies today as well!  Couple more bangers, a sweet old school Schwinn BMX and a Redline BMX!  More and more to build!
Well, I must be off, as Momma took the kids to Subway for dinner and apparently Izzy snuck more then half of a couple of their soda's and is excessively wired at the moment!
NIGHT!

CLASSIC GIANT CHINOOK
ONLY $125.00!!

DUAL SHOCK WITH FRONT DISC!!
ONLY $85.00!!

Beethoven's Immortal "Ode to Joy"

 There's an old saying that goes "Life is misery, occasionally interrupted by brief moments of joy" (I'm paraphrasing of course).  I would amend that by saying that the passage of life is highlighted by moments of joy.  More often then not the hindsight brought about by nostalgia is always brighter then at the moments conception.  We have the laudable gift of being able to see the good in a situation once it has been filtered through distance and time.  An unfortunate side effect of this is the inevitable inability to see the good in any situation we find ourselves in currently.
Some may dog ear the pages of their life story with moments of success at work, or play or family moments.  the birth of a child, a promotion at work or the conquest of some sports...thing. For me, my marriage and birth(s) not withstanding, my early years happiness was seen under the spotlight of a successful end to a white knuckle D&D campaign, and the arrival of that months latest batch of my favorite comic book titles.  Later on (once I discovered girls) it was the awareness of the real difference between boys and girls. 
Today i realized just how much my "Joy" priorities have changed.
On the way to work this morning after saying my "Welcome back" to the local crossing guards I stopped by CVS to pick up some necessities for Momma.  As I wandered the isles looking for Advil I came upon the most unlikely of stimulating happiness, that otherwise held me spellbound!  OH JOY a little voice in my head proclaimed...
Dr Schoall's Gell Inserts With ULTRA SUPPORT!!!
Yes.
I kid you not.
Gleefully I shelled out the $16.79, and quickly, with excitement and uplifted spirits I rushed to the shop and eagerly tore open the package as a child at Christmas.  Working feverishly I carefully removed the excess pad to the perfect size, and upon purposefully placing them at the bottom of my new work boots, ceremoniously stood, basking in the orthopedic grandeur!
AHHHHHHHHHH!
Unfortunately, at this point I do not foresee to much time passing before I am looking for the perfect "early Bird dinner special" and sitting on a park bench talking (to no one in particular) about who has recently died.
Lord.
ANYWAY!
Today has had to have been the most bitter of cold days I've seen here in some time. Dipping to a glacial 48 degree's i was quite surprised to have seen as much traffic in the shop as we had.  Much thanks to Dale and her hubby for picking up the Marin.  I was under no disillusionment that it would last all that long.  ENJOY!  Many folks in looking for the perfect bike, and I hope to find it for them soon.  Also put together the Schwinn Ranger, which turned out quite nice (after some major overhauling) but the customer it was intended for decided on the Pacific I had gotten the night before in trade towards the Hunter.  So now she's out and available (with new tires no less!) 
Thanks to our scrapper Terry for popping in, and now on the look out for some more re-cycles lumber.  Going to be making some improvement in the shop (putting in a counter and a separate space for repairs to cut down on customer confusion) and also some new racks and shelving as in the next few weeks we will be getting in a BIG order of some much requested bicycle extras!
So with all that I bid you a fond "Good Night!"
Good Night!

21 SPEED SCHWINN RANGER
ONLY $85.00!!!

Asleep At The Wheel!

Well anyone reading this little self love fest of mine probably noticed that the column dedicated to "What's Still Here" is grossly out of date, and I apologize! Perhaps senility has hindered my commitment to excellence (*cough! cough!*) But I have remedied the situation. 
Today was a great start to the new year!  I thank all who contributed to the fun!  Elizabeth came in with her mom and picked out the wonderful vintage Schwinn 3-speed to return to college with.  Nostalgically it was the same kind of bike her mom road when she was a kid, color and all!  And a regular of ours came by yesterday to find out we were no longer open on Sundays but noticed the Hunter road bike I finished on Saturday and came back to trade up today.  I got a nice Pacific MTB in the deal and he got a faster ride.  thanks to Mary and her beau for bringing in the donations and the sweet DB MTB in for a full rebuild.  Sad what a few months in the elements can do to a bike!  But have no fear!  We'll have her new again in no time!  And thanks to the gent (sorry forgot his name...senility) for choosing a rebuild on the Schwinn MTB Ranger we picked up Saturday.  A friend of his has talked him into getting off his road bike for awhile and hitting the trails.  The REAL trails, for awhile. Wisely, he's not looking to invest a huge amount into the endeavor.  Smart man! And to the diminutive young lass looking for a college ride, is intrigued by the other vintage Schwinn three speed we picked up, so that one should be ready soon.
Also picked up a nice Eastern BMX and a GORGEOUS Marin Hybrid!  As well as a few more bangers!  YAY!!  Finished up the big boy Schwinn 67cm road bike, and she's a looker! 
And now a brief bit of an over done gripe.
Well the good news is my lovely wife while doing some digging the other day down at the pawn shop discovered he had gotten in a few VCR's and knowing that my pooped the bed a few months back, picked me up a couple (the second just in case) Good news for one who has a plethora of cool flicks still on VHS (YAY!  I can enjoy my MST3000 collection again!!!)
Anyway!
I pop in a copy of  "Without a Paddle" that I have never watched before earlier, then amongst other things had a showing (again) of "Second Hand Lions"  Arguably one of the best flicks ever.  At the end of the tape there's a couple of special features (that i didn't realize were on there, but the credits were rolling as I was dealing with a stubborn seat post so I didn't stop to rewind.  Turns out this magnificent film took over ten years, a few directors, a few screenwriters, and a couple of production companies before it ever saw celluloid.  And were it not for the fact that  they were selling it on the popularity of it's star Haley Joel Osmet, it may never have gotten done.  As it turns out most films made have had to go through this rigor moral to see film.  So it makes me wonder.. How does a film like "Without a Paddle" get MADE?  there's a lot of crap coming out with little to no value and yet they still get done.  It just makes me wonder how decision makers get to the level of authority they do, making these kind of judgement calls.
or does Seth Green know someone...in the Biblical sense.
Something to chew on before bedtime!
Well...see ya'll tomorrow!

MARIN HYBRID
ONLY $210.00!!

67CM SCHWINN "BIG BOY" ROAD BIKE
ONLY $145.00!!

STRIPPED DOWN EASTERN BMX
ONLY $120.00!!!

SHE SOLD BUT SHES A BEAUT!

HAPPY NEW YEARS TEXT!!

Well it's 2012!  So make the very best of the next 11 months and 20 days as that's when they have the final curtain call, turn out the house lights, and call it a night.  At least according to the Mayan Calender.  Personally i look forward to waking up December 22, having a cup of coffee, do some Christmas shopping and chuckle to myself as I read the tabloids try and explain why they were wrong.
ANYWAY!
Have you all made your new Years resolution?  Well as always I make the same one that I ALWAYS fail to full fill.  Mine is to stop being so garsh darn attractive to women!
WHOA!  Try real hard to hold down your dinner!
Well I guess the new trend nowadays is to send salutation texts as our shop cell got a bunch today.  I'll take this moment to reply (if you didn'tt send one just pick anyone as your own greetings of good fortune!) Thanks to Dan and Catherine, and to Dan thanks again for the tree! To Casper my favorite "ghost", Henry, Charles (wheelie!), Hank (shoes man SHOES!) Sam and Dean (uno mas!) Mr. Chip (see ya soon!) Paula and Judy (riding is GOOD, but better without the Harley) Cal (Hellboy), Jose' (where's the BEEF!) Timothy (that is NOT medicinal) Daredevil Mac (how many time DO we need to replace your front forks!?) Stan, Stanley, Ahmed, Mohamed, Devin, Raphael (wheres your sai?) Nina, Patrick, William, Judge Hill and our timid little groupie Bud!
Well this year looks to be a great one.  Mild weather, and lots of happy riders.  This year will herald in the birth of our newest member (we fin out Friday the thirteenth what it is...yea, yea...tell me about it!)
Today not only marks the new year but also new schedule at the shop.  In an attempt to spend more family time we will now be closed on Sundays!  We hope it cause no one inconvenience, but after five years of not having a day off together I think Angi and I have earned it.  Today we celebrated our new found freedom by doing a MASSIVE clean of the house!  MUCH NEEDED!  We purged ALOT from the kids rooms, the trash man is going to be so thrilled with us!  And Mom and dad finally cleaned up our mess of a room as well!
YAY!
Well you all enjoy the last remaining day of break, until we go back to the grind!
:See ya tomorrow!

"It's amazing what one can accomplish when one forgoes one's morning Scrabble game!"

Sometimes I regret ever discovering Pogo online games.  As a Scrabble and Domino fanatic it's rather addictive.  But last night as the four bikes i had built sold faster then I could build them, and I still managed to keep up with repairs (thanks SO much!) I swore I would dedicate today THE WHOLE DAY to building  up more stock.  And by gum, I held to it!  (will wonders never cease?) Managed to put out eight.  Although I only have pics of six of them, as the other two sold before I could get a snap.  Sorry.
BUT!
Have another sweet men's aluminum cruiser that we pulled out of what was a real wreck!  Now she SHINES!  Also a Haro Vault in lovely lime green and pastel yellow (I have NO idea who comes out with these color combos) also a real unique looking Royce Union BMX, a nice starter Schwinn BMX, a special priced Mongoose Banger MTB, and a very very sharp like new Elite Ls.  Love the frame design on these!
And put the big boy Schwinn road bike on my rack and stripped her down for tomorrows clean and rebuild, then have many others to work.
So this is one pooped pappy, signing off.

men's 26" Mongoose "DAILY BANGER SPECIAL" SPECIAL!!
ONLY $40.00 BUCKS!

SWEET LITTLE HARO VAULT
ONLY $110.00!!

SCHWINN BEGINNER BMX
ONLY $40.00

MENS 26" ELITE LS
SUPER CLEAN
ONLY $95.00!!

WHAT A LOOKER!
ONLY $65.00!!

ONCE A WRECK, NOW A GEM!
ONLY $60.00!!



NOW.... WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE BRING ME TO BED.





Rubber Chicken

Sad. 
Went to do a parts run yesterday, and instead of sending one of the boys decided to do the run myself.  Even braver, instead of taking a cab or the bus took my bike instead.
When I say it's been TO long since I rode, is an understatement!  For far to long my legs have to positions, locked in as I stand or bent at the knees when I sit.  The whole pistoning up and down thing?  Not so much.
Thankfully it was lunch time when I got back as I needed to rest. 
Again I say, SAD!
ANYWAY!
Thanks to the folks coming out of the whole Holiday blitz thing and coming into pick up their repairs that have been here since...well since well before the shopping season.
And again I apologize to anyone inconvenienced by our policy regarding checks and credit cards, but it's a political choice we made and stand behind.  Just remember the old adage "You'll get more flies with honey then vinegar"
Did a whole bunch of fun buying yesterday ('tis the season).  A few bangers, a gorgeous (soon to be) Schwinn road bike, a Big boy!  67cm!  And a Raleigh road bike, about the same height!  Odd to have two big boys at the same time.  Also bought a pristine Specialized Expedition that lasted about 10 minutes before it sold!  I show it's pic just because.
Put out another daily banger as that's what most folks seem to be searching for, with another on the rack almost done.  Then i move on to the great folks rides once again trusting us with their rides!  THANKS so  much!
'Till Later
PEACE!

15 SPEED "DAILY BANGER SPECIAL"
ONLY $60.00!!



LIKE I SAID, "PRISTINE"!



Hyborian Hype of the Cimmerian Barbarian

Still recovering after the Holiday festivities?
Me too.
With so much goings on in just one day I find it rather taxing to slide back into the whole "work" thing.  Needless to say yesterday saw me rather lax.  I ended up being replaced by Angela and Kaleb so i could meander about shopping at Wal-Mart.  Now before you jump me and brand me a hypocritical heretic, the grandparents sent Wal-Mart gift cards for Christmas, and as they won't allow you to cash them in...well whats a boy to do?
We asked the kiddos what they wanted to do with the cards and after much discussion (and a little coaxing from Mom and Dad) they decided to pool their money and buy one big gift for the family.  As they already have a game system they opted (with the older boys help) for a Blue ray surround system.  So I, Elijah and Owen spent the afternoon setting it up.
Well no good surround system can be properly tested unless you have something with a lot of action to bring out the boom!  Originally we wanted to get "Cowboys and Aliens" but the local Red Box was out, so we opted for the newest Conan.
Hmmm.
Well, after the annoying bout of skips (I thought Blue Ray were suppose to be skip proof!) We got into the meat of the movie.
Hmmm.
It's been close to 30 years since the Cimmerian has seen the silver screen, and while at the time (hey I was a kid) it seemed really cool, more refined tastes decry Arnold's performance as rather campy.  He was still new at the whole acting gig, and hadn't got his chops yet.  But this new one?
Hmmm.
I'm still having a bit of an issue as to whether I liked it or not.
I'll 'splain
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Truly graphic in it's depiction of gore and violence (directed by Marcus Nispel (Pathfinder, Friday the 13th remake, Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake)) it rips through the origins of Conan and his early life like a bloody scythe.  Literally "born" on the battlefield the CGI image of the enemies sword thrusting through his mothers womb sets the tone for the film, as Conan's dad (played by none other then Ron Perlman) has to finish the incision to deliver the child.  Well, I had to cover mommas eyes for that bit of celluloid gold!  The movie doesn't let up.
As the story progresses I was initially turned off as scene after scene was reminiscent of "Lord of The Rings", "300", "Batman Begins" etc. etc.
But then a little voice in the back of my head, the same boyish one that for nearly a decade revelled at the Marvel Comics exploits of Conan, said in no uncertain terms, it's not Conan that's copying them!  They copied Conan!
It's true! 
Conan was created by legendary pulp fiction author Robert Ervin Howard.  Having first appeared in Dec, 1932 in the pages of "Weird Tales" in a story entitled "The Phoenix On The Sword" it is lauded by most as the beginning of the Sword and Sorcery genre of Fiction.  Predating J.R.R Tolkiens "Hobbit" by five years.  Sadly Mr Howard committed suicide a meer 4 years later after 17 stories had been published, as he was informed his mother would succumb to Tuberculosis.  Fatefully though in March of that same year Robert in a letter to Conan fan and fiction author P. Schuyler Miller and chemist Dr. John D. Clark he outlined Conan's history, motivation (or lack thereof ) and character development concepts. They themselves had developed a map of Conan's world from Mr Howard's stories.  And as the stories were written in a first hand account they had a tendency to jump around in narrative from one time period to the next, following no defined, linear time line.  You knew what happened to him as a child and as an aged king, and a 20 something pirate, so the job of connecting the dots made for much story fodder!
 With all that in mind it made the movie much more palatable, as it truly was much more to the spirit of Mr Howard's Barbarian.