Sherri

I hear what you're saying, Minx.

Yep, it's right up there, too. Prefacing a directive with that one pretty much guarantees that I won't be doing whatever you said I needed to do. Use your communication skills, people. Nice try, G-Spotter. So close.

Oompa-loompahs represent!

I was thinking along those lines, too...something constructive but not hurtful that acknowledges my discomfort but also points out that this is not the ideal phrase for facilitating dialogue. That sounded pretty sappy, didn't it? No wonder they don't want my advice.

How do you respond to someone who constantly prefaces their statements with this phrase??? Hearing it puts me on the defensive right away, and I end up not listening to the rest of their thought because I'm ruffled that they assumed that I "don't understand" before even telling me what it is that I apparently don't understand. The person is going through a REALLY hard time right now--which I do understand, at least to some extent--but this phrase is wearing on my patience. Understand?

We just got a Mac notebook this week and are in the throes of the transition process(moving all Windows files from the PC onto the Mac) and learning the language and navigation quirks--we spent forever looking for the Internet Explorer icon to get online only to learn thru a call to Apple support that Explorer is a PC program, Mac uses Safari. . Kelly was up until the wee hours of the morning last night attempting the data transfer...I haven't heard the verdict yet on how that went. I can say that our initial impression was a good one...superfast boot-up and some cool operating features.

Thanks for the clarification on the meaning of POS. I understand wanting to ride it into the ground because of the comparative cost of replacing a few components vs. replacing the bike. (I tend to do the same thing with my stuff, though not always to my economic advantage...neglecting to replace the chain sooner being a good example ) When I got the estimate(the pulleys on my rear deraileur were shot, too), I seriously weighed it out on those terms, as well. As it were, my bike is new enough(2 1/2yrs) and spendy enough that it would still be more expensive to NOT fix it. You raise a good question about a bike's life span. I hope to have this one for several more years, but when the repair bills start creeping up on it's actual value, it's going to be a hard call to make, for sure.

Careful with that saw, JayB. I got the diagnosis for mine today. Baaaaad news. Upon inspection, I could see that the chain no longer tracked in the grooves of the cogs--it rode loosely along the very tops of them, thus the skipping. When I took it into the shop to confirm the problem, the bike mechanic tried to measure the elongation but it was stretched beyond the point that his tool could even measure. He gave me a disapproving look when I told him I had 5000 on this chain(apparently, they should go for about 1000 mi before replacing them? I didn't get the memo.). So, I'm paying for that "bonus" 4000 miles of chain life by needing to replace the rear cassette and two of the three front chainrings now, along with the new chain, of course. And a few cables. Ouch.

Dibs on your spleen.

I don't like the sounds of that. I replaced the chain and the rear gear-ring set last year, so it must be the front chain ring or the deraileur(thanks! I KNEW it had a techy name). I'll do some tinkerin' and let you know.... Good luck on yours in the meantime.

My chain started doing the same thing just this month. Doesn't happen once I'm going at speed or up hills(thankfully), only when I start pedalling from a complete stop. The first crank or two I give it skips. It's a worry when I'm trying to beat traffic across an intersection and give it a good crank but go nowhere. I'll need to figure out if it's the chain or the rings that's worn, or if I need to add some tension to the gear shifter thingy on the back.(sorry, I can't remember what it's called).

Is that what they call it when people wear spandex to the mall?

I've been lucky the past two days with that...even though it's been bitterly cold, the road's been bone dry so no black ice. That sun is gorgeous, isn't it? Good on ya for getting out there in it! Careful out there!

Wow, Jens, that sucks. I sure hope you figger out what's going on and feel better soon(and in time to enjoy some of those spectacular surroundings) :kisss: .

That's great, Wayne! I like your insight about the essence of soloing: "you suck and nobody will climb with you."

I'm jealous.

I think you get the prize! At least I had sun on my multi-flat days, and my flats were spread over 30 miles of riding(got the last one on the final mile, but it was small and I was so fed up with changing flats by then that I raced it home before it was dead flat. )

Thanks, Jim, that's a great help. (I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be looking for.) Well, now that puts a whole new spin on things, doesn't it?!

Thanks for the great suggestions, all. The Continental 4000 tires I run are kevlar, and I go for several months with zero flats (replacing them about 2000-2500mi), but soon as they sand the roads...it's another story. That's why I wondered if it's something to do with the sand. Damn sharp sand, it seems. I will check the rim tape, though. (That's not something that I was aware of needing to check. ) What does worn rim tape look like, BTW?? I considered those Slime tubes, Tvash, but they didn't come with the right size valve stem for my tires. But I ordered some Slime Tire Skins and Forte tubes that said "Thorn-resistant."

What's the DOT using for sanding the roads...schrapnel?! I got three flats yesterday. Only thing worse than changing flats is trying to do it when your hands are FROZEN. Not fun.

From some of sends I've seen the cc.comer's kids do lately, I'd say they can spray all they want. Lil' rockstars, all of 'em!

Bug's job can't be all that if he's surfing cc.com at work. Oh, wait, that's true for just about all of us! Still, you're right. Wouldn't want him to lose it for our sake.

Yep, I can relate about the slate(and the beer ). Not that ceramic tile is ever perfectly square, but at least you've got a decent shot at something being straight. Did you seal your slate before grouting? If not, don't worry...you only make that mistake once. And I agree with Sobo and High. Bring back the eye-candy avatars. Dude in the current one is not my type at all.

Hey thanks, guys! And, Coulior, I'm sure your project came out great, too. Slate can drive you to distraction if you're a perfectionist...

Thanks, Thad, and good luck on your move and new business! I hope you are able to do the sort of work that inspires you. Here's one showing a little more fun-with-tile. The tile curves were cut using nothing fancier than a $100 MK 145 Tile Saw . And a lot of patience.