I have talked with Cuz, he tells me that we have been asked to provide pictures of my LeTour and the serial number.
I have sent four pictures to document where the frame failed, and to show that it is indeed a Schwinn LeTour.
I will add the photos to this blog.
This is step #1 and I am sure that this will not be a speedy process over all. I am hopeful to have my bike up and running again by spring tome.
Check back for updates.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thanksgiving ride
It was a warmer than average Thanksgiving morning and Bro and I had decided to get together for a ride to Ma and Pa's. We took what we would describe as a regular route with a slight difference, we rode along the service road on the south side of Highway 55 until we reached the bike path just east of County Road 61.
It was a fairly uneventful ride, except, we both noticed how hard we were working and we were not going very fast. By the time we got to within about 1/2 mile from our destination, Bro made note of our average speed, 10.5 MPH. A fairly slow pace, but, we should be able to keep it close to that over that last 1/2 mile we would have thought. Well we turned west and straight into a head wind and when we got to Mom and Dads we looked again at the average speed and we were surprised to see that we had lost 1/2 a mile per hour and finished our ride at an average speed of 10.0 MPH.
No complaints, any day I can get out with my Bro for a ride is a good day. As we chatted over a beer, I wondered how much extra weight I had been carrying with me. We figured the extra weight played a big part in our slower pace foe the day, I weighed the clothes that I wore on the bike ride and it all weighed it at 14 lbs. Add that to the heavier bike, since my Schwinn is broken I am riding a Trek 720 that probably weighs at least ten pounds more than my Schwinn.
Now if this weather could only hold out for us maybe we can ride to Ma and Pa's on a Sunday during December.
It was a fairly uneventful ride, except, we both noticed how hard we were working and we were not going very fast. By the time we got to within about 1/2 mile from our destination, Bro made note of our average speed, 10.5 MPH. A fairly slow pace, but, we should be able to keep it close to that over that last 1/2 mile we would have thought. Well we turned west and straight into a head wind and when we got to Mom and Dads we looked again at the average speed and we were surprised to see that we had lost 1/2 a mile per hour and finished our ride at an average speed of 10.0 MPH.
No complaints, any day I can get out with my Bro for a ride is a good day. As we chatted over a beer, I wondered how much extra weight I had been carrying with me. We figured the extra weight played a big part in our slower pace foe the day, I weighed the clothes that I wore on the bike ride and it all weighed it at 14 lbs. Add that to the heavier bike, since my Schwinn is broken I am riding a Trek 720 that probably weighs at least ten pounds more than my Schwinn.
Now if this weather could only hold out for us maybe we can ride to Ma and Pa's on a Sunday during December.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Dude, my Schwinn broke!
Thursday, October 30 my Bro and I planned for a ride to Town Hall. It was a beautiful sunny day and a blessing for this late in October. I got my Schwinn ready to ride, checked the air in the tires and the like, I reached down a gave the rear tire a squeeze and I felt a strange movement in the rear of my Schwinn. After some further investigation, I came to the conclusion that the frame is broken, what a bummer! I'll get back to my Schwinn later.
In order to still capitalize on our opportunity for a ride, Bro got out his Specialized Rock Hopper for me to ride to Town Hall. It was so great that my Bro had an extra bike that I could ride. We got onto the Cedar Lake Trail and headed into Minneapolis. Man, I tell you, what a difference between my Schwinn LeTour and the Specialized Rock Hopper. Fatter and softer tires, heavier frame(I believe it is a steel frame), some suspension on the front fork. My LeTour on the other hand is an all aluminum frame with a carbon fiber fork and carbon fiber seat stays, 700X28 tires. This Rock Hopper has a much higher rolling resistance, you stop pedaling and you stop rolling. A different ride, more effort involved to travel along the bike path.
Any way, we got to Town Hall and enjoyed a Cask IPA and then a pitcher of IPA. We purchased a growler of the IPA to take home with us. As we headed home we decided to stop in and visit out younger sister Jenni at LunaLux. We had the chance to see McGuire, he's a dog that hangs out at LunaLux. We stayed a bit longer than we should have and ended up riding home in the dark, no lights. We took it slow and rang our bells as we rode to avoid collisions. We made it home safely, what a great experience this ride was.
Back to my broken Schwinn..the joint between the aluminum frame and the carbon fiber seat stay is where there was what appears to be an adhesive failure. I will be adding photos and I will be chronicling my experience with getting my Schwinn back up and rolling. Stay Tuned.
In order to still capitalize on our opportunity for a ride, Bro got out his Specialized Rock Hopper for me to ride to Town Hall. It was so great that my Bro had an extra bike that I could ride. We got onto the Cedar Lake Trail and headed into Minneapolis. Man, I tell you, what a difference between my Schwinn LeTour and the Specialized Rock Hopper. Fatter and softer tires, heavier frame(I believe it is a steel frame), some suspension on the front fork. My LeTour on the other hand is an all aluminum frame with a carbon fiber fork and carbon fiber seat stays, 700X28 tires. This Rock Hopper has a much higher rolling resistance, you stop pedaling and you stop rolling. A different ride, more effort involved to travel along the bike path.
Any way, we got to Town Hall and enjoyed a Cask IPA and then a pitcher of IPA. We purchased a growler of the IPA to take home with us. As we headed home we decided to stop in and visit out younger sister Jenni at LunaLux. We had the chance to see McGuire, he's a dog that hangs out at LunaLux. We stayed a bit longer than we should have and ended up riding home in the dark, no lights. We took it slow and rang our bells as we rode to avoid collisions. We made it home safely, what a great experience this ride was.
Back to my broken Schwinn..the joint between the aluminum frame and the carbon fiber seat stay is where there was what appears to be an adhesive failure. I will be adding photos and I will be chronicling my experience with getting my Schwinn back up and rolling. Stay Tuned.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sunny Sunday Ride
My Bro and I took a ride on Sunday, we packed a growler of Town Hall Fresh Hop and headed west. Our destination was Mom and Dads house but our route was to be made up as we went, I love that kind of ride.
We started out by heading to the Luce Line Regional Trail going west. On the way to the Luce Line we found a pedestrian/trail bridge in a park in Minnetonka, we will go out of our way to ride across pedestrian/trail bridges. We rode west on the Luce Line and exited near Long Lake. There is a new trail that runs along the new Highway 12 near Long Lake. Rode west along Highway 12 into Long Lake and then turned and headed east along the opposite side of Highway12. We found a pedestrian bridge and decided it would be a fine place to stop and have a drink from the growler. Standing on that bride it felt like it had to be 75 degrees in the sunshine. The beer tasted even better while we stood there in the sunshine declaring how beautiful the day had become.
After a second glass we climbed on the bikes again and headed east on the Luce Line. Exiting on Long Lake Road we rode north along the east end of Long Lake, the lake, not the town. Then we rode along the third hole at Spring Hill Golf Course, time for more beer! When the beer was gone we rode on to Mom and Dads to catch the end of the Vikings game.
In total a 24+ mile ride through St. Loius Park, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Long Lake, Plymouth, Hamel, 6 bridges and 2 tunnels on a day that turned out to be far sunnier and warmer than expected.
Oh, the places I find myself when I get on my Schwinn.
We started out by heading to the Luce Line Regional Trail going west. On the way to the Luce Line we found a pedestrian/trail bridge in a park in Minnetonka, we will go out of our way to ride across pedestrian/trail bridges. We rode west on the Luce Line and exited near Long Lake. There is a new trail that runs along the new Highway 12 near Long Lake. Rode west along Highway 12 into Long Lake and then turned and headed east along the opposite side of Highway12. We found a pedestrian bridge and decided it would be a fine place to stop and have a drink from the growler. Standing on that bride it felt like it had to be 75 degrees in the sunshine. The beer tasted even better while we stood there in the sunshine declaring how beautiful the day had become.
After a second glass we climbed on the bikes again and headed east on the Luce Line. Exiting on Long Lake Road we rode north along the east end of Long Lake, the lake, not the town. Then we rode along the third hole at Spring Hill Golf Course, time for more beer! When the beer was gone we rode on to Mom and Dads to catch the end of the Vikings game.
In total a 24+ mile ride through St. Loius Park, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Long Lake, Plymouth, Hamel, 6 bridges and 2 tunnels on a day that turned out to be far sunnier and warmer than expected.
Oh, the places I find myself when I get on my Schwinn.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
What will I be posting?
In the Spring of 2008 I bought a new bike, a Schwinn LeTour.
As a child everyone had a Schwinn, now, there are so many bikes to choose from.
I have been riding all over the Twin Cities on the trails and bike paths, I am quite often amazed where I can find myself by following the trails.
From Minneapolis to Mound to Brooklyn Center to Hamel.
Throw in the occasional stop for a beer and we find ourselves having a grand time exploring on our bikes.
My plan is to try and post on a weekly basis. Posting about rides or whatever I might find myself having to talk about in regards to me and my Schwinn
As a child everyone had a Schwinn, now, there are so many bikes to choose from.
I have been riding all over the Twin Cities on the trails and bike paths, I am quite often amazed where I can find myself by following the trails.
From Minneapolis to Mound to Brooklyn Center to Hamel.
Throw in the occasional stop for a beer and we find ourselves having a grand time exploring on our bikes.
My plan is to try and post on a weekly basis. Posting about rides or whatever I might find myself having to talk about in regards to me and my Schwinn
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