MexicanDragon

Has anyone ever bought a kids' bike? I'm in the market for Xavier, and while I'm keeping an eye on Craigslist, there's just not much out there in the area. We have been looking and he found a bike he loves, a 2013 Kona Hula. We're looking at some other stuff, but this is a bike that he rode and just didn't want to get off of. There was one a little cheaper that he liked, but didn't love. He's 8, and this is a 24" bike, which is for average 8-12 year olds. With the sloping top tube, he can get on and off it pretty well right now, and Zoe (who it 11 years old and 5'1) hopped on it, and if she had the seat up, she would still fit it. I figure 3 good years could be squeezed out of it... and I think Kona is one of the "cool" brands for the kids these days. http://2k13.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=hula He's on a Craigslist Gary Fisher now, but it needs more in maintenance than I have in the bike, and we maxed it out adjustment wise towards the end of last year, so he's pretty much outgrown it at this point, but may be a good "leave at grandma's" bike. I trust the bike in a flat, grassy yard... not so much out on the roads with traffic, or on a trail. **BRENT**

Dammit, pre-metrosexual Colin! @Dan, what I did or didn't get Colin for his alleged birthday/hatching-anniversary has been classified, and shan't be shared in the thread... that's all I can say. **BRENT**

I play stuff like this as "silly" or a "cool trick/stunt", (that was awesome!) It seems kids will play off our initial reaction, so if we panic, they get upset, which is what they think they should do, if it is more scary than actually painful. When it's a little more serious than a bump, I still try to play it cool in front of the kids and freak out in private if need be. So far, this has worked in weeding out the real pain from just being scared, at least the majority of the time the past ~11 years. **BRENT** Aside: 11 years? MAN, I'm old.

Hope you can at least get a sitter, Chris. That sucks. My work called me within 30 seconds of my alarm going off for the "delayed opening" we had today. They called it off. An extra day to frolic in the snow! Or, perhaps, catch up on all the TV/napping/drinking I missed the past few weeks of moving. **BRENT**

Before work From work (top level of our garage in foreground. If you look closely you'll see the snow angel and a message for our department) After work Home early this morning/late this evening (3am ish) Supposed to go in at ten tomorrow... Yeah, doubt we're going to even do that. I have food, power, and internet. I think that will be what I do tomorrow, unless I can get my neighbor in a 4x4 to take me to work, or at least the top of the hill. **BRENT**

Am I the only one who thought "paging Steve?" I'm waiting to see if Chattanooga and Atlanta handle things better this time around. At least schools were called off today. **BRENT**

I was let out of work at 1pm today because of the snow. We're expecting 3-5 inches, (the superstorm that shut down Atlanta a couple weeks ago was 2 inches), so I went and got a pizza myself. The kids are elsewhere, riding out the storm, so I have most of a gallon of milk, plenty of bread (I don't know why we stock up on this stuff when weather gets bad, but we did it for cereal and grilled cheese sandwiches), and most importantly... 4/5's of a bottle of bourbon. Oh! I JUST realized that since I live in a house now, I can have a grill! I've been apartment dwelling the past 5 years or so, and haven't had that luxury! /me has something else to shop for soon. **BRENT**

Slacker Welcome back, V! **BRENT**

So that's like, 32 TN miles, right? **BRENT**

Fun, isn't it? **BRENT**

So I made it out of the neighborhood finally. I got groceries, pizza, took some take out to a buddy who was snowed in without a car, and then made the journey home to risk the hill. It was still covered with snow over patches of ice... But I gave it a shot anyways. Kept sliding towards the ditch, then threw it in reverse and kept a controlled slide down the hill til it got to where I could throw it in neutral and slide a little better. Kept the momentum into the driveway. Did the victory shuffle (first time I had been parked at home in 36 hours). Less than ten minutes later, the salt truck comes by my house. Oh well, got a little practice in. Now I'm going to attempt to go to work. I've been there for 80 minutes since last week. The South during a cold snap reminds me of the Northerners during a heat wave, with no A/C. Just not prepared at all. **BRENT**

I found a mexican place open. REAL Mexicans can even make it out in this stuff in their El Caminos and Rancheros. Schools are closed tomorrow as well. On the bright side, liquor stores are open. **BRENT**

Freak "snow storm" (which is 1-1.5" around here), and the roads are horrible, I'm out of work a second day, kids are off school today, most of yesterday, and just got word about tomorrow. Moving into a new house that's at the bottom of a hill. We also didn't get to go grocery shopping before the storm hit. It took me almost 2 hours to get 5 miles, and I'm one of the lucky ones. 136 wrecks in the city alone yesterday. Fuckin' snow. **BRENT**

Jealous. **BRENT**

I've been super happy with Spotify Premium. I download at Extreme Quality and it sounds pretty bloody good for having something in the background at work. Are you sure there isn't a 5$ tier? **BRENT**

Scoot, there's some more info on that one in the video. I want that new portable... I <3 the 002s. **BRENT**

**BRENT*

Jeff, could only see that on my phone earlier. Thought it was nice. When I got home and took another look, DAMN! I'm not a guitar guy, but that's definitely what "it should be." Can't wait to see the next one. **BRENT**

Trade for headphoneses? **BRENT**

He has 6770 Di2, which I'm pretty sure it 10 speed. He may want to upgrade later (he can use the same levers, but would need a few other things). **BRENT**

Where's Justin? **BRENT**

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http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/28753134 I think this may work for reks. **BRENT**

Can you not just offload via USB? It may be slower, but it'd be faster than waiting on a new reader, no? **BRENT**

Due to big changes in the last half of the year, I didn't get to ride much, but in the first part of the year, cycling helped quite a bit with my back issues, and especially my weak ankle. After surgery for Cauda Equina Syndrome, it's still not great, even a while later, but road riding helped as a low-impact way of working out some issues. I just want to ride. I'm doing the Tour de Cure in Chattanooga in May, and I'm looking at getting Xavier a new 24" bike when it gets warmer, as he's outgrowing his old one. I'm not going to do a mileage goal this year, as it didn't really work out for me this year, but I'm just going to try to get out, have fun on the bike, maybe get an inexpensive trainer so I can at least get some cardio in when it's ridiculously cold/hot/wet/blah outside. **BRENT**