Been feelin better lately and got back in my truck to do some more work on my amp rack. Been a few late nights in the garage with the resporator on laying resin, but it is comming along now.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2081149/3
I still need to do some more sanding on it, cut the center out, as well as smoothing it out withs some filler. The hard part is over now it is just alot of tedius sanding, check the fit/look, sand some more, repeat a few dozon times..............
I have been thinking about what sub I want to power with this. I have been back at the shop I do side work for again, and talking with the owner about choices and discounts, ect. I believe the amp has a clean 400 RMs @ 4 ohms on the sub side, along with a built in bass cube. I think I will be able to get maybe a little more then a cube out of the place in the consol where I want to mount it(sealed, rear facing). I would love to get a big 10" such as the W7 or diamond tdx, as the shop carries them both. Any opinions?
Replies (22)
Victor on 02/23/2006 15:53:53
its a tight comparison i guess.. both are very good subs, personal choice would play a very imp part here...
how about adding Adire, RE, Orion, Memphis, or JBL( they have some new range of sql subs 'plus one range' too ) to the list..??
Victor...
ttocs on 02/24/2006 07:49:57
i would consider others, but I can get these on discount as well. Anyone have any opinions of any that were listed. I want good SQ to go with the hex 3 ways, but want to jam it from time to time as well.
swez on 02/24/2006 11:50:33
Some nice fab work there bud. If you have the Hex 3 ways, a solid 10" sub is plenty good. Either sub noted, should be more than adequate here.
That PG amp shown, is it a 5/6 channel design or 3/4?
Swez
ttocs on 02/25/2006 07:12:00
it is a 3-4 way design. It has two zx600 ti's under it as well as a on board bass cube and stiffening caps. Did some smoothing on it yesterday, all the sanding is gonna take for ever, even with an electric sander.
I am off early for a race today. I am in the beginner class which means my heat is the 2nd of the day, 8:50. IT will take about an hour to get there, then to get warmed up and last tweeks on the bike. Just lookin to finish this one as it is the 1rst race I have made since being sick. I'm not in the shape I would like to be, but I am alot lighter SMILE
http://www.mbaa.net/content/index.php?id=21,32,0,0,1,0
swez on 02/25/2006 13:12:28
Hummm, is that the 10 mile loop?
I think that would kill me right about now. But, it does motive me to get my bike out of mothballs tweak it up and get back on it as soon as this sub-freezing weather breaks.
Give up a play-by-play update when you recover OK?
Swez
ttocs on 02/25/2006 19:35:32
I AM SOOOO TIRED....................
Went well happy to say. I just wanted to race my race and not worry about how I placed. When we hit the single track I looked back and there were only 3 people behind me, and 34 in front of me. I was happy just going alone at a slow pace, but the people at the end were going to slow. They kept using their brakes rather then letting the wheels roll. I passed a few and got into some space so that I wasn't lookin at some dudes butt while sneezing from the dust. The trail has a long slow and smooth climb, that ends up in a short and steep climb. I was able to keep my pedals turning and passed a few others in this part while not getting too winded for the steep climb. After the 1rst climb I was following a couple of others. It leads into another climb that is a bit of lung buster, but on smooth fire road rather the really big bumpy rocks like the first. After that climb there is a screamin downhill to the finish. I am hoping to have a good picture. I was following a guy down the downhill to the finish intent on passing him, as he was in my heat. I didn't see the jump on the trail and didn't set up to absorb it. I don't know how far off the ground I was but I thought I was going to land on the dude, and the photographer was right there, same place as last year.
In the end I made both of my goals. I really just wanted to finish, and preferably with out any of my own blood on me, check! The other goal was one I was prepaired not to make, I wanted to finish in the top half of the group. happy to say I made 19th out of 38 riders... Next race is a couple of weeks away, looking forward to that one.
riding will keep ya young swez. I was amazed when they were giving medals that none of the seniors (55+) looked anything over 40... Its not too late. I have been passed by seniors during a race, sad part was he started 8 mins behind me!!!!
swez on 02/25/2006 19:55:24
Well done ol boy... that jump must have had you thinkin'... "Don't kiss the guys' wheel in front of me huh"?
Yeah, I don't have a fully rigged mountain bike. It's a hybrid and better for well groomed trails or asphalt paved paths. What I do like about it, are the shock absorbing handlebars, 21 gears and 26" x 1-3/8" tires, They are not nubby, so snow and mud are out of the question here. The only thing I dislike on this bike, is the saddle. It's not one bit comfortable on longer, bumpy rides.
Yeah, I like to ride though. After a little warm up time, I like taking to the hilly stuff and really get a good cardio workout. Sounds like you had good wind today and a nice finish too.
My goals are to get back the flex and strength in my arthritic right knee, lose 15 lbs and get the old cardio-vascular system up to snuff. This winter has been mild, but long and too many ice patches. I've gone to the pavement a few times, just being foolish. Don't need it... don't like it either... hehe
Again, well done and happy cycling, CLAP
Swez
ttocs on 02/26/2006 10:52:11
I didn't see the jump at all and hit it full speed. It didn't launch me that far but it seemed really high as I was lookin down on the guy all of a sudden.
I spent a bit on the bike I currently own/ride but it is full suspension with 5 inches of travel front and rear, and I can lock out the rear shock for climbing. I try to get out 3-4 times a week when I am feeling well. After 2 yrs of use/abuse I am starting to see things wear out. I am willing to bet I have put close to 2k miles on it now, it has lasted well and will have to continue to last... Seats are not meant to be comfortable, just there to rest yer butt on..
swez on 02/26/2006 11:55:50
Yeah, this seat is just for looks and to avoid getting reamed by the seat stem. This is clear from experience. I guess the general idea is not like driving a car or riding "on" a motorcycle huh?
As an avid bike rider, I guess the plan is to "rest on the seat" when needed, but like ridiing a horse, the rider becomes an active part of the ridee. It's more about legs for support as springs, the weight and balance are shared across the frame and handlebars. Is that the general idea?
You ride a lot huh? How long does a premium bike last, in the style of riding you are involved in?
Swez
ttocs on 02/26/2006 14:58:27
I spent $2k on mine. I would hope to get a few more years out of it, but the trails here are perty rough. you either have sand(great at getting into the componants) small rocks(great for shaking the sand into the componants), or big rocks(great at shaking you and the bike). There are no branchs to dodge of avoid, but there are plenty of cactus.. They are rougher then most other trails I have ridden and I could not imagine not having full suspension out here. I have a link at home a bunch of local trails that a guy has taped. None of the stuff looks nearly as narly as it does in person though....
You rarely get to sit when mountain biking with the exception of climbing. Any other time you have to use your body to get the bike to go where and how you want it to. You can have the stongest legs in the world but if you can't keep your balence when things get hard, they will do no good. Since I have been sick I was working on alot of slow speed balence stuff(track stands and tight turns), which is as important if not more important then being able to go fast.
swez on 02/26/2006 17:29:02
I getting a picture of this... not quiet my cup of tea w/o the right gear, some training and a good insurance policy. hehe...
I've been blessed with good balance and strong legs since before high school. Was into basketball, swimming, football, baseball and then golf, many years later. My hope is to get back more flex/strength in my right leg & knee joint. It's been deteriorating for 25 years, since a motorcycle crash. Chronic pain all winter and stairs, climbing and hills just kill the knee joint for days after. Had the knee scoped twice already. The 2nd one did NO good at all.
We have a long parkway near my place with plenty of paved and graded trails. Some are hilly and give a good workout for the many cyclists that go there. (weather permitting) There's more than 30 miles of paved paths and even more dirt paths.
OK Mr. Trainer, how do I start the season off right, but not create more knee problems? I don't care about races, speed or competing. Just a good cardio workout, lose 10-15 lbs before June and have a stronger CV system?
What say you?
Swez
PS Have a good bike, but it's a hybrid. The tires and suspension are not made for heavy ground pounding. (and frankly, neither am I) SMILE
ttocs on 02/26/2006 23:42:13
I can't tell ya what or how to do, your body will do that for you. I had an acl replacement about 4 yrs ago. I remember they were amazed that I could make a full rotation on the bike the first day of therapy. I progressed quicker then normal from what I understand and on alot of days it feels better then my other (bad) knee. I enjoy skiing as well but with a really cool donjoy brace. Thank god for really good insurance....
Start slowly but if you keep at it you will probably be suprised how much it helps. Of course check with the dr but from what I understand biking was always good low impact exersize for knees(with mountain biking probably being the exception), like I said it was the first thing I did in therapy...... You can also check out getting a bicycle trainer for your bike. It is a small piece that goes under the back wheel of the bike that allows you to make your bike a stationary bike. From what I understand your saying, you have more rainy days then I do here SMILE.........
swez on 02/27/2006 10:32:47
Yeah, the body is the best feed back one can have. My first scope was an ACL repair. I was in therapy and moved through it very well and ahead of schedule.
The 2nd scope was more of a clean out of loose fragments and arthritic calcium build up. That one took more time. The first day of therapy, I tried to be too aggressive and ripped my stiches out. Blood was nice and red though... it was all over my pant leg and well into my sock... hehe
On better days, I get good flex and a good work out. On the days where swelling and inflamation are present, I can barely manage full rotations for the first 3-5 minutes. That means short and light workouts, until the swelling goes down.
Good insurance? What's that? It's been 100% out of pocket since 2001. That means... don't try risky stuff huh?
Am thinking about fabricating a trainer device for the rear wheel. A tripod type thing to lift the tire off the ground, and maybe a variable resistance roller to simulate pavement/load variables.
How's that sound?
Swez
PS You grew up in Indiana right? Well, SE Michigan has similar patterns in weather, but it does get colder and winter stays a bit longer here as well. We've had a brief cool spell here the past 10 days. It has been below freezing almost everyday, all day of late and expected to continue for about 4-5 more days. YUCK... getting cabin fever now.
ttocs on 02/27/2006 11:44:44
If I didn't have the insurance that I had, the last year would have just killed me.............. I was in the hospital 5 times between june and january for a few days each....
I don't miss the midwest weather and having to watch the weather channel to see what I can do. It is almost always sunny here.
swez on 02/27/2006 23:57:55
Hey, don't rub it in OK? LOL... You and Mr. B. can talk all you like about sun, warmth and such and all... wannaful... just wannaful.
My day went like this... my brother calls, "Hey, I have a few jobs in Toledo and Detroit today. Care to tag along"? Sure, why not...
Out we go by 1:00 PM, it's 25 degrees, wind of 10-15 MPH and real feel is like 17 degrees by 2:00 PM. (Our first stop)
Job #1: Up to the roof and on ladders, pulling speakers, amps and a receiver at a local Sprint sales store in the wrong part of town. The store is jammed with a bunch of peeps that cannot afford a decent car, but they all want fancy phones... which they can barely afford.
Most of the cars I observed coming and going to this site, were recent model cars that looked like they have been bought at the Rent-a-Wreck. "Scratch and dent sales". Get outta Dodge and move along.
Job # 2: Toledo, OH. (Yes, Jammie Farr's home digs... MASH's Cpl Klinger) The SatNet system is messed up (SNAFU) and we have a 2 hour job on the roof to fix it. Wrong sat dish installed and we cannot get signals from the Sat feed. The roof is flat, it's now snowing and blowing and a windchill of maybe 10 degrees. Dang.... it's cold up here.
The roof has beautiful membrane sealing system. Great for leak elimination, but it's like an ice skating rink up there with snow and ice. We took out the old dish, assembled a new one and had to figure out how to mount it for maximum signal gain. This is fun... cold as it gets too.
Well, we had to drill a new mount into cement blocks. No problem on a warm day... but today, the hammer drill batteries are at about 30% of normal power. So, we drill 1 pilot hole, 1/2" deep and the battery pack craps out. We need 1.25" per hole. (4 of them) We keep swapping battery packs off the charger until all 4 holes are good. Now, we can mount the dish and look for a signal.
I work on the roof while Bro works inside on the distribution system. After confirming all alignment coordinates, I start searching for the "eye in the sky". A few minutes later, we lock on to a good signal. I lock in the hardware and finish me tweaks... it's getting dark, colder and very slippery up here. (Should have bought my ice creepers)
Now, it's time to clear the roof of gear... but the loading rope is pretty much a frozen rod... "Oh, this is fun " Our work light is not like wire anymore either. It's more like the frozen rope too. OK, gear and old dish are back in the ground.
All went as well as can be expected, but 1.5 hours in sub freezing, on an ice skating pond, is not what I had invisioned today.
Job #3: This one is an inside job... Yippie!!! The food ordering microphone from the servers to kitchen staff is not working. This mike is mounted on a stainless steel overhang, under the IR heating elements. The wires are exposed, the goose neck has been stripped and bare wires are shorting out on the steel mounting bracket. Hummm, wonder how all this happened... a closer look reveals the answer...
Someone got rough with the goose neck and stripped the threaded flange mount. They release the goose neck and hang it over a near by ordering monitor. (How nice) Then they hang bag cutter tools on the mike wire. It looks like "shredded tweet". Now what? We had to cut a larger hole in the S-steel plate, fish fresh signal wires, splice and test the new connections. Viola, it's good. Reinstall the flange, refit the goose neck and all is working just as new... Except for Dale's forearm... he cooked it under the IR heating elements. (Break out the burn saave)
Beer and smoke break.... very soon I hope.
A 1 hour drive back to home base, a hot meal and now, I am home, safe and sound, but very tired and chilled to the bone. It's time to get off this stupid computer, take out the "Mayor's Lunch" (Trash night here) and get some shut eye.
Good night nurse... all is well, no major injuries and all plan "A" jobs were done in a timely fashion. "YIPPIE SLIPPY" This is the saga of one day in the life of Sat-Net Installer, in the Midwest.
Say good night Gracy... Good night to one and all,
Swez
PS It was good to get so much done today, under such adverse conditions. Will Spring please come soon?
ttocs on 02/28/2006 10:53:31
oh, not lookin forward to spring myself. That is when the thermostat goes from beautifull to broil here....
swez on 02/28/2006 11:11:05
Oh yes, PT Teal told me a good deal about the sweat box conditions you guys get there from what... April til October?
Swez
PS Sorry for the long story... just felt like journaling the days events. Wow, am I sore today.
ttocs on 03/15/2006 20:17:38
Looking forward to a good weekend. I took today off as there is was a group rmountain bike ride that was going on not far from my house. We rode about 8-10 miles in a leasurly 2-3 hrs, should have worn sunscreen......
Afterward I had my neighbor help me hold the amprack so I could cut the center out and see what it looks like back in the truck.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2081149/3
I may be able to work on it some more on saterday, if I am still alive or walking. tommorow the group goes to tucson for a great trial there(another 12-15 miles of riding), friday the are Riding another trial here in phoenix(10-12 TOUGH miles). Saterday they may be here in town if the snow is too bad in the mountains still. we are expecting more rain saterday(our 2nd storm in 140 some days) which means they will be getting more snow up north. They shut down the ski loadge that we like a few weeks back, but have recieved +2ft in the last week and re-opened again. I had not made it out on my skiis this year, would love to make a day trip up. So if none of that happens, I might do some more work on the amp saterday...... I am gonna limp back to work sunday one way or another.....
swez on 03/15/2006 22:23:48
Nice work on the rear speaker plates and "tupperware" enclosure. May I suggest a trick to get more MB from them?
Drill a 1" hole in the side or bottom of the tupperware baffle and install some polyfill (2" deep) as well. This trick allows the MB (6.5") to breath better and will give more low end extension as well. You may have to glue the fill into the baffle if there are cooling vents in the rear part of the magnet.
Test my theory by doing only 1 side with hole and the other side sealed and no polyfill. Then hook them up to an amplifier and stand back and hear the difference. I think you will be surprised at what you see and hear with this little mod. Watch the cone movements on both and tell us if you hear a difference in MB performance as well.
Swez
ttocs on 03/17/2006 09:09:47
I'll try it when I get that far, the kicks and front speakers would probably be my next project. Only thing that gets in the way of that is the parking brake will nead to be moved/modified. I have an idea of replacing the pedal with the old toyota style pull hand crank(pull and twist). will need to make a run to the junkyard....
not as sore as I thought I would be today, strainged my achillis a little bit. Had 2 flat tires(on the bike), broke my chain, took a ride over the bars, and was stung by a bee as well as just being ripped apart by all the thorny stuff around tucson. Every bit of that place wanted to draw blood, still had a great time............
Had to do some more tweeking on the bike this morning. I was gonna do it last night but fell asleep at 8:30. Getting ready to head out in a couple of hours for the 3rd day of riding. Its back in town if phoenix on a trail that was ranked in the top 3 for biking in the nation.
http://www.petefagerlin.com/video_gallery.htm#
The three videos at the bottom of the list named "arizona" is where I/we are going if you want an idea of Az mountain biking.
swez on 03/17/2006 09:53:05
Quote: "not as sore as I thought I would be today, strainged my achillis a little bit. Had 2 flat tires(on the bike), broke my chain, took a ride over the bars, and was stung by a bee as well as just being ripped apart by all the thorny stuff around tucson. Every bit of that place wanted to draw blood, still had a great time".....
If that's what you call a great time, I'd hate to be around when you have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. SMILE
That idea about moving the parking break or refitting sounds like a good plan. Have always liked how imports have a hand levered brake in the center console or under the dash, but away from foot area.
Good luck,
Swez
ttocs on 03/19/2006 10:46:30
my great ride continued into friday. My bike had been shifting like crap thurs and friday and I was not able to figure out why until my rear derailer went out. I looked back and it had been bent 90 degrees the wrong way....... I started looking around online to see what the best deal I could get was. The best price I could find for and xtr was $120. We went to a local large bike retailer and was really excited when he pulled a derailer that was last years xtr model, and found a $70 price tag on it....
I have some small cuts and bruises from 3 days of non-stop riding, and alot of good pics. I should be in great shape for next weekends race, only 8 miles on my favorit trail!
IT was easy to have a good time with all that went wrong as it was just too nice of a day(s) to be inside. My worst days there(hopefully that was them) are still better then most good days at work......
If I can't use the pull brake, I am also considering a linear actuator to pull the brake...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2081149/3
I still need to do some more sanding on it, cut the center out, as well as smoothing it out withs some filler. The hard part is over now it is just alot of tedius sanding, check the fit/look, sand some more, repeat a few dozon times..............
I have been thinking about what sub I want to power with this. I have been back at the shop I do side work for again, and talking with the owner about choices and discounts, ect. I believe the amp has a clean 400 RMs @ 4 ohms on the sub side, along with a built in bass cube. I think I will be able to get maybe a little more then a cube out of the place in the consol where I want to mount it(sealed, rear facing). I would love to get a big 10" such as the W7 or diamond tdx, as the shop carries them both. Any opinions?
Replies (22)
Victor on 02/23/2006 15:53:53
its a tight comparison i guess.. both are very good subs, personal choice would play a very imp part here...
how about adding Adire, RE, Orion, Memphis, or JBL( they have some new range of sql subs 'plus one range' too ) to the list..??
Victor...
ttocs on 02/24/2006 07:49:57
i would consider others, but I can get these on discount as well. Anyone have any opinions of any that were listed. I want good SQ to go with the hex 3 ways, but want to jam it from time to time as well.
swez on 02/24/2006 11:50:33
Some nice fab work there bud. If you have the Hex 3 ways, a solid 10" sub is plenty good. Either sub noted, should be more than adequate here.
That PG amp shown, is it a 5/6 channel design or 3/4?
Swez
ttocs on 02/25/2006 07:12:00
it is a 3-4 way design. It has two zx600 ti's under it as well as a on board bass cube and stiffening caps. Did some smoothing on it yesterday, all the sanding is gonna take for ever, even with an electric sander.
I am off early for a race today. I am in the beginner class which means my heat is the 2nd of the day, 8:50. IT will take about an hour to get there, then to get warmed up and last tweeks on the bike. Just lookin to finish this one as it is the 1rst race I have made since being sick. I'm not in the shape I would like to be, but I am alot lighter SMILE
http://www.mbaa.net/content/index.php?id=21,32,0,0,1,0
swez on 02/25/2006 13:12:28
Hummm, is that the 10 mile loop?
I think that would kill me right about now. But, it does motive me to get my bike out of mothballs tweak it up and get back on it as soon as this sub-freezing weather breaks.
Give up a play-by-play update when you recover OK?
Swez
ttocs on 02/25/2006 19:35:32
I AM SOOOO TIRED....................
Went well happy to say. I just wanted to race my race and not worry about how I placed. When we hit the single track I looked back and there were only 3 people behind me, and 34 in front of me. I was happy just going alone at a slow pace, but the people at the end were going to slow. They kept using their brakes rather then letting the wheels roll. I passed a few and got into some space so that I wasn't lookin at some dudes butt while sneezing from the dust. The trail has a long slow and smooth climb, that ends up in a short and steep climb. I was able to keep my pedals turning and passed a few others in this part while not getting too winded for the steep climb. After the 1rst climb I was following a couple of others. It leads into another climb that is a bit of lung buster, but on smooth fire road rather the really big bumpy rocks like the first. After that climb there is a screamin downhill to the finish. I am hoping to have a good picture. I was following a guy down the downhill to the finish intent on passing him, as he was in my heat. I didn't see the jump on the trail and didn't set up to absorb it. I don't know how far off the ground I was but I thought I was going to land on the dude, and the photographer was right there, same place as last year.
In the end I made both of my goals. I really just wanted to finish, and preferably with out any of my own blood on me, check! The other goal was one I was prepaired not to make, I wanted to finish in the top half of the group. happy to say I made 19th out of 38 riders... Next race is a couple of weeks away, looking forward to that one.
riding will keep ya young swez. I was amazed when they were giving medals that none of the seniors (55+) looked anything over 40... Its not too late. I have been passed by seniors during a race, sad part was he started 8 mins behind me!!!!
swez on 02/25/2006 19:55:24
Well done ol boy... that jump must have had you thinkin'... "Don't kiss the guys' wheel in front of me huh"?
Yeah, I don't have a fully rigged mountain bike. It's a hybrid and better for well groomed trails or asphalt paved paths. What I do like about it, are the shock absorbing handlebars, 21 gears and 26" x 1-3/8" tires, They are not nubby, so snow and mud are out of the question here. The only thing I dislike on this bike, is the saddle. It's not one bit comfortable on longer, bumpy rides.
Yeah, I like to ride though. After a little warm up time, I like taking to the hilly stuff and really get a good cardio workout. Sounds like you had good wind today and a nice finish too.
My goals are to get back the flex and strength in my arthritic right knee, lose 15 lbs and get the old cardio-vascular system up to snuff. This winter has been mild, but long and too many ice patches. I've gone to the pavement a few times, just being foolish. Don't need it... don't like it either... hehe
Again, well done and happy cycling, CLAP
Swez
ttocs on 02/26/2006 10:52:11
I didn't see the jump at all and hit it full speed. It didn't launch me that far but it seemed really high as I was lookin down on the guy all of a sudden.
I spent a bit on the bike I currently own/ride but it is full suspension with 5 inches of travel front and rear, and I can lock out the rear shock for climbing. I try to get out 3-4 times a week when I am feeling well. After 2 yrs of use/abuse I am starting to see things wear out. I am willing to bet I have put close to 2k miles on it now, it has lasted well and will have to continue to last... Seats are not meant to be comfortable, just there to rest yer butt on..
swez on 02/26/2006 11:55:50
Yeah, this seat is just for looks and to avoid getting reamed by the seat stem. This is clear from experience. I guess the general idea is not like driving a car or riding "on" a motorcycle huh?
As an avid bike rider, I guess the plan is to "rest on the seat" when needed, but like ridiing a horse, the rider becomes an active part of the ridee. It's more about legs for support as springs, the weight and balance are shared across the frame and handlebars. Is that the general idea?
You ride a lot huh? How long does a premium bike last, in the style of riding you are involved in?
Swez
ttocs on 02/26/2006 14:58:27
I spent $2k on mine. I would hope to get a few more years out of it, but the trails here are perty rough. you either have sand(great at getting into the componants) small rocks(great for shaking the sand into the componants), or big rocks(great at shaking you and the bike). There are no branchs to dodge of avoid, but there are plenty of cactus.. They are rougher then most other trails I have ridden and I could not imagine not having full suspension out here. I have a link at home a bunch of local trails that a guy has taped. None of the stuff looks nearly as narly as it does in person though....
You rarely get to sit when mountain biking with the exception of climbing. Any other time you have to use your body to get the bike to go where and how you want it to. You can have the stongest legs in the world but if you can't keep your balence when things get hard, they will do no good. Since I have been sick I was working on alot of slow speed balence stuff(track stands and tight turns), which is as important if not more important then being able to go fast.
swez on 02/26/2006 17:29:02
I getting a picture of this... not quiet my cup of tea w/o the right gear, some training and a good insurance policy. hehe...
I've been blessed with good balance and strong legs since before high school. Was into basketball, swimming, football, baseball and then golf, many years later. My hope is to get back more flex/strength in my right leg & knee joint. It's been deteriorating for 25 years, since a motorcycle crash. Chronic pain all winter and stairs, climbing and hills just kill the knee joint for days after. Had the knee scoped twice already. The 2nd one did NO good at all.
We have a long parkway near my place with plenty of paved and graded trails. Some are hilly and give a good workout for the many cyclists that go there. (weather permitting) There's more than 30 miles of paved paths and even more dirt paths.
OK Mr. Trainer, how do I start the season off right, but not create more knee problems? I don't care about races, speed or competing. Just a good cardio workout, lose 10-15 lbs before June and have a stronger CV system?
What say you?
Swez
PS Have a good bike, but it's a hybrid. The tires and suspension are not made for heavy ground pounding. (and frankly, neither am I) SMILE
ttocs on 02/26/2006 23:42:13
I can't tell ya what or how to do, your body will do that for you. I had an acl replacement about 4 yrs ago. I remember they were amazed that I could make a full rotation on the bike the first day of therapy. I progressed quicker then normal from what I understand and on alot of days it feels better then my other (bad) knee. I enjoy skiing as well but with a really cool donjoy brace. Thank god for really good insurance....
Start slowly but if you keep at it you will probably be suprised how much it helps. Of course check with the dr but from what I understand biking was always good low impact exersize for knees(with mountain biking probably being the exception), like I said it was the first thing I did in therapy...... You can also check out getting a bicycle trainer for your bike. It is a small piece that goes under the back wheel of the bike that allows you to make your bike a stationary bike. From what I understand your saying, you have more rainy days then I do here SMILE.........
swez on 02/27/2006 10:32:47
Yeah, the body is the best feed back one can have. My first scope was an ACL repair. I was in therapy and moved through it very well and ahead of schedule.
The 2nd scope was more of a clean out of loose fragments and arthritic calcium build up. That one took more time. The first day of therapy, I tried to be too aggressive and ripped my stiches out. Blood was nice and red though... it was all over my pant leg and well into my sock... hehe
On better days, I get good flex and a good work out. On the days where swelling and inflamation are present, I can barely manage full rotations for the first 3-5 minutes. That means short and light workouts, until the swelling goes down.
Good insurance? What's that? It's been 100% out of pocket since 2001. That means... don't try risky stuff huh?
Am thinking about fabricating a trainer device for the rear wheel. A tripod type thing to lift the tire off the ground, and maybe a variable resistance roller to simulate pavement/load variables.
How's that sound?
Swez
PS You grew up in Indiana right? Well, SE Michigan has similar patterns in weather, but it does get colder and winter stays a bit longer here as well. We've had a brief cool spell here the past 10 days. It has been below freezing almost everyday, all day of late and expected to continue for about 4-5 more days. YUCK... getting cabin fever now.
ttocs on 02/27/2006 11:44:44
If I didn't have the insurance that I had, the last year would have just killed me.............. I was in the hospital 5 times between june and january for a few days each....
I don't miss the midwest weather and having to watch the weather channel to see what I can do. It is almost always sunny here.
swez on 02/27/2006 23:57:55
Hey, don't rub it in OK? LOL... You and Mr. B. can talk all you like about sun, warmth and such and all... wannaful... just wannaful.
My day went like this... my brother calls, "Hey, I have a few jobs in Toledo and Detroit today. Care to tag along"? Sure, why not...
Out we go by 1:00 PM, it's 25 degrees, wind of 10-15 MPH and real feel is like 17 degrees by 2:00 PM. (Our first stop)
Job #1: Up to the roof and on ladders, pulling speakers, amps and a receiver at a local Sprint sales store in the wrong part of town. The store is jammed with a bunch of peeps that cannot afford a decent car, but they all want fancy phones... which they can barely afford.
Most of the cars I observed coming and going to this site, were recent model cars that looked like they have been bought at the Rent-a-Wreck. "Scratch and dent sales". Get outta Dodge and move along.
Job # 2: Toledo, OH. (Yes, Jammie Farr's home digs... MASH's Cpl Klinger) The SatNet system is messed up (SNAFU) and we have a 2 hour job on the roof to fix it. Wrong sat dish installed and we cannot get signals from the Sat feed. The roof is flat, it's now snowing and blowing and a windchill of maybe 10 degrees. Dang.... it's cold up here.
The roof has beautiful membrane sealing system. Great for leak elimination, but it's like an ice skating rink up there with snow and ice. We took out the old dish, assembled a new one and had to figure out how to mount it for maximum signal gain. This is fun... cold as it gets too.
Well, we had to drill a new mount into cement blocks. No problem on a warm day... but today, the hammer drill batteries are at about 30% of normal power. So, we drill 1 pilot hole, 1/2" deep and the battery pack craps out. We need 1.25" per hole. (4 of them) We keep swapping battery packs off the charger until all 4 holes are good. Now, we can mount the dish and look for a signal.
I work on the roof while Bro works inside on the distribution system. After confirming all alignment coordinates, I start searching for the "eye in the sky". A few minutes later, we lock on to a good signal. I lock in the hardware and finish me tweaks... it's getting dark, colder and very slippery up here. (Should have bought my ice creepers)
Now, it's time to clear the roof of gear... but the loading rope is pretty much a frozen rod... "Oh, this is fun " Our work light is not like wire anymore either. It's more like the frozen rope too. OK, gear and old dish are back in the ground.
All went as well as can be expected, but 1.5 hours in sub freezing, on an ice skating pond, is not what I had invisioned today.
Job #3: This one is an inside job... Yippie!!! The food ordering microphone from the servers to kitchen staff is not working. This mike is mounted on a stainless steel overhang, under the IR heating elements. The wires are exposed, the goose neck has been stripped and bare wires are shorting out on the steel mounting bracket. Hummm, wonder how all this happened... a closer look reveals the answer...
Someone got rough with the goose neck and stripped the threaded flange mount. They release the goose neck and hang it over a near by ordering monitor. (How nice) Then they hang bag cutter tools on the mike wire. It looks like "shredded tweet". Now what? We had to cut a larger hole in the S-steel plate, fish fresh signal wires, splice and test the new connections. Viola, it's good. Reinstall the flange, refit the goose neck and all is working just as new... Except for Dale's forearm... he cooked it under the IR heating elements. (Break out the burn saave)
Beer and smoke break.... very soon I hope.
A 1 hour drive back to home base, a hot meal and now, I am home, safe and sound, but very tired and chilled to the bone. It's time to get off this stupid computer, take out the "Mayor's Lunch" (Trash night here) and get some shut eye.
Good night nurse... all is well, no major injuries and all plan "A" jobs were done in a timely fashion. "YIPPIE SLIPPY" This is the saga of one day in the life of Sat-Net Installer, in the Midwest.
Say good night Gracy... Good night to one and all,
Swez
PS It was good to get so much done today, under such adverse conditions. Will Spring please come soon?
ttocs on 02/28/2006 10:53:31
oh, not lookin forward to spring myself. That is when the thermostat goes from beautifull to broil here....
swez on 02/28/2006 11:11:05
Oh yes, PT Teal told me a good deal about the sweat box conditions you guys get there from what... April til October?
Swez
PS Sorry for the long story... just felt like journaling the days events. Wow, am I sore today.
ttocs on 03/15/2006 20:17:38
Looking forward to a good weekend. I took today off as there is was a group rmountain bike ride that was going on not far from my house. We rode about 8-10 miles in a leasurly 2-3 hrs, should have worn sunscreen......
Afterward I had my neighbor help me hold the amprack so I could cut the center out and see what it looks like back in the truck.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2081149/3
I may be able to work on it some more on saterday, if I am still alive or walking. tommorow the group goes to tucson for a great trial there(another 12-15 miles of riding), friday the are Riding another trial here in phoenix(10-12 TOUGH miles). Saterday they may be here in town if the snow is too bad in the mountains still. we are expecting more rain saterday(our 2nd storm in 140 some days) which means they will be getting more snow up north. They shut down the ski loadge that we like a few weeks back, but have recieved +2ft in the last week and re-opened again. I had not made it out on my skiis this year, would love to make a day trip up. So if none of that happens, I might do some more work on the amp saterday...... I am gonna limp back to work sunday one way or another.....
swez on 03/15/2006 22:23:48
Nice work on the rear speaker plates and "tupperware" enclosure. May I suggest a trick to get more MB from them?
Drill a 1" hole in the side or bottom of the tupperware baffle and install some polyfill (2" deep) as well. This trick allows the MB (6.5") to breath better and will give more low end extension as well. You may have to glue the fill into the baffle if there are cooling vents in the rear part of the magnet.
Test my theory by doing only 1 side with hole and the other side sealed and no polyfill. Then hook them up to an amplifier and stand back and hear the difference. I think you will be surprised at what you see and hear with this little mod. Watch the cone movements on both and tell us if you hear a difference in MB performance as well.
Swez
ttocs on 03/17/2006 09:09:47
I'll try it when I get that far, the kicks and front speakers would probably be my next project. Only thing that gets in the way of that is the parking brake will nead to be moved/modified. I have an idea of replacing the pedal with the old toyota style pull hand crank(pull and twist). will need to make a run to the junkyard....
not as sore as I thought I would be today, strainged my achillis a little bit. Had 2 flat tires(on the bike), broke my chain, took a ride over the bars, and was stung by a bee as well as just being ripped apart by all the thorny stuff around tucson. Every bit of that place wanted to draw blood, still had a great time............
Had to do some more tweeking on the bike this morning. I was gonna do it last night but fell asleep at 8:30. Getting ready to head out in a couple of hours for the 3rd day of riding. Its back in town if phoenix on a trail that was ranked in the top 3 for biking in the nation.
http://www.petefagerlin.com/video_gallery.htm#
The three videos at the bottom of the list named "arizona" is where I/we are going if you want an idea of Az mountain biking.
swez on 03/17/2006 09:53:05
Quote: "not as sore as I thought I would be today, strainged my achillis a little bit. Had 2 flat tires(on the bike), broke my chain, took a ride over the bars, and was stung by a bee as well as just being ripped apart by all the thorny stuff around tucson. Every bit of that place wanted to draw blood, still had a great time".....
If that's what you call a great time, I'd hate to be around when you have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. SMILE
That idea about moving the parking break or refitting sounds like a good plan. Have always liked how imports have a hand levered brake in the center console or under the dash, but away from foot area.
Good luck,
Swez
ttocs on 03/19/2006 10:46:30
my great ride continued into friday. My bike had been shifting like crap thurs and friday and I was not able to figure out why until my rear derailer went out. I looked back and it had been bent 90 degrees the wrong way....... I started looking around online to see what the best deal I could get was. The best price I could find for and xtr was $120. We went to a local large bike retailer and was really excited when he pulled a derailer that was last years xtr model, and found a $70 price tag on it....
I have some small cuts and bruises from 3 days of non-stop riding, and alot of good pics. I should be in great shape for next weekends race, only 8 miles on my favorit trail!
IT was easy to have a good time with all that went wrong as it was just too nice of a day(s) to be inside. My worst days there(hopefully that was them) are still better then most good days at work......
If I can't use the pull brake, I am also considering a linear actuator to pull the brake...
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