Friday, December 26, 2014

Work 'n' me

Work 'n' me
After getting thru a local state college while working part-time as a grocery-store clerk, I became a longhair carpenter for twelve years, with a couple years of auto-body repair and regular unemployment (including self-unemployment) mixed in. Then a family member offered to take me on as an accounting trainee in my mid-thirties. So, thinking I might not get another such shot at a regular gig, I came in from the cold.

In due course I became the three-letter variety of accountant. I think I am more suited to work with words, but numbers, tho I labor at them, have paid the bills.
However, after thirteen years of it, and resorting to SSRIs to get thru the boom-bust income-tax work cycles, I realized public accounting was not for me, got out, then found my way into business-casual corporate accounting. This turned out to be a better fit. I am not much of a button-down guy.

After going thru a couple stints followed by downsizings in the fast-changing computer tech industry, I was sent by a temp agency to a nearby (bike-commutable) automobile-related company. Before my temp year was up, a permanent accounting position came open there, and being a known quantity at that point, I was hired.

The company is a stable one that is doing well and treats its people well.  After ten years there as a foot soldier (non-manager), I am sixty-five and retirement is on the near horizon.
I consider myself fortunate to have wound up in this position, in good health (having been born with the constitution of a goat) and having friends and bikes to play with now and in the years ahead. Onward, ever onward.
Knees in the breeze, ride safe, watch your six.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Five three one

I have bought about a half-dozen used bikes in the last couple years, but, alas, I am not much of a savvy bike trader.

For example, for several years I had heard so many good things about the desirability of Reynolds 531 tubing (my alarm clock even is set to go off at 5:31 during the work week!) that recently I looked on Craigslist for a vintage bike with a frame made of 531.

I soon found and settled on a 1974 Raleigh Super Course Mk II, a model I learned has a devoted following on bike forums, partly due to the 531 (along with the alloy rims and Brooks saddle) and nice ride quality. The photo of the bike on CL looked pretty good; alas, up close the bike itself looked pretty tired, even forlorn.

But it was my size and I'd had it in mind that I was going to buy the bike, and I just could not walk away from the deal. Like I said above, not much of a savvy bike trader.

So, half-heartedly I offered the owner, a likeable low-key guy, 80% of his asking price, which was my plan before I saw the bike. He refused, I felt relieved, and found it humorous that my true feeling about the bike revealed itself to me this way.

While I happily was carrying his bike back to his basement, he came back with a split-the-difference 90% of asking price. I felt honor-bound to do the gentlemanly thing and accept, so I did. Hopefully I learn from this; I've got to be able to walk away!
The good news is, the bike cleaned up very nicely, it rides well, and I really like it. It truly is a keeper, a classic vintage bike.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Ride 11.16.14, same again

I was invited along on a group ride by a friend of a friend, so I went.

There were about 15 of us, and, sure enough, 2 cyclists consistently did not make way for cars that came up behind us, despite calls from the rear of "Car back!" Aaargh!
Same as it ever was. I was reminded why I don't often do group rides unless I know the other riders.

I later found out that one of the 2 miscreants is a sometime ride leader!

-Knees to the breeze,  ride safe, and watch your six.