Bike Building

John's been busy building bikes this fall and winter. This bike is based on a Lightning P-38 and is supposed to be lighter and faster than our previous bikes. It didn't turn out to be as light as desired, but it appears to be faster! It is the seventh bike John has built and he will be the rider.

Next he decided to build me a short wheel base bicycle. The aluminum frame began its life as a kid's BMX bike. It took a number of fittings and adjustments to get it to fit Marilyn's short legs! It is not quite complete but is ride-able. We rode Sunday afternoon, giving it the first test beyond circle and figure eights on the campus commons. We found a few things to tweak but it was a fun ride. I felt like I got more power out of each stroke than on my compact wheelbase bike. It doesn't flex like a steel bike and the seat is harder so I feel all the bumps! The handle bars were a bit far forward so I couldn't practice the more laid back position.

It looks like I am all curled up in a ball. It doesn't feel that way. These photos just remind me that I am really short! Oh, Gromit didn't get to ride today. Maybe next time...

Today we went to Lincoln for a medical appointment. John likes to plan a mid-afternoon appointment so he can visit The Used Bike Shop where the owner is also a recumbent bike builder. (And I want to have time for a nice lunch. Today it was at the Great Harvest Bakery!) He bought some new handlebars, a new bike computer, and some other parts that aren't nearly as exciting. He ordered another part which we will pick up when we go down for the spring UNL volleyball game in a couple of weeks. Look for more photos when he gets the new handlebars installed!

Spring is here!

Sunday afternoon was nice will a bit of sun and very little wind. After a bike ride I spent some time in the garden, turning the soil and removing pesky clumps of grass from the flowerbeds. I discovered that the oregano survived the winter... maybe being buried under several feet of snow was just enough insulation. The snow in that area of the yard didn't melt until the nighttime temperatures moderated into the 30s.

Here is one of my rose bushes. All of the roses were damaged from the drifts, so I trimmed them way back. That action gave me the opportunity to get rid of lots of dead canes. I think the roses are glad for the cleansing. If you look carefully, you can see green leaves and red shoots beginning to appear!

Here is the ONE flower in my yard as of today. It is the only bud in this clump of daffodil greens. There are more buds in some other clumps so I am hoping for more color in a week or so, depending on the weather.

The greens in the background are lilies, commonly known as Magic Lilies, Surprise Lilies, and Naked Ladies. The leaves are the first to come up in the spring. They are full, large clumps. However, no flowers are to be seen. The leaves die back by early summer and are gone by August when suddenly single stalks shoot up out of the seemingly barren earth. Then, lovely pale pink lilies blossom for a week or two.