Chaincase: Getting there
Way back in April I had written (here) that I had finally found a full chaincase to put on my old Dunelt 3-speed bicycle. Well being slow it got put in a corner awaiting me to get back to it. Today I fabricated a couple of rough brackets and did a trial fit. As you cam see in this photo it does fit.
Chaincase mounted to test fit
The following shows the front mount bracket (before trimming and painting):
Front mounting bracket
I do intend to trim them down, round the ends, and paint them black to match the bicycle. Here is a view showing the rear bracket:
Rear mounting bracket.
Besides the trim and paint, it looks like I will have to reverse the rear cog to gain an extra bit of clearance for the chain. Otherwise everything seems to fit very well. I would guess that the proper mounting bracket would be brazed onto the chaincase side of the chain stay as there is clearance that would allow that, I am pretty sure that the rear bracket would just be a strap like I fabricated. One problem is the nut on the fender stay interferes with the rear chain cover, since the mounting hole is threaded it is just a mater of getting the proper size screw. Also, there is a problem with the around the stay strap bracket on the front; it will not allow the kickstand to be mounted. Oh well, I wanted a rear mount kickstand anyway.
I need to pickup some screws before I can finish the installation, but I am pretty sure things will work just fine. So, I can say the light roadster chaincase from Yellow Jersey in Madison Wisc fits the English made bikes.
They Did It Again
“Woe on to me” seems to be my refrain lately. This time it is that wonderful free class at the university for us folks over 65. I went in yesterday (Monday August 17, 2009) to register for the course I wanted to take. Got the voucher signed by Admissions, got registered for the class by Registration, then the Cashiers office told me that the program had been done away with by the state legislature on the previous Friday.
As if they are saving lots of money by doing away with that program, apparently at Appalachian State there are less than ten of us taking advantage of the program. If they have about the same ratio 10 out of 15000 students, then the program costs pocket change. I guesstimate about $100K per year.
Being able to take a course like that serves many purposes for someone like me on Social Security/Disability. First, of course, you learn something new. Then you get to socialize a bit. It also gives a bit of structure to your life; I am able to put in about two hours a day, which is about perfect for one 4-credit course.
Of course I paid taxes for many years here in North Carolina; taxes that helped pay for that program. However, now that I am old enough to take advantage of it, they do away with it. Of course, they realize that they are only going to lose a thousand or so votes by eliminating the program, so they are not worried about it. Certainly, they are not going to cut their salaries to save money. No, just screw the poor… That certainly has historical precedence.
I do not know if I mentioned it, but my therapist took a position in another state. That means I have to find another therapist. It takes awhile for me to build trust in one. So, that leaves me hanging out there in the wind. To make matters worse, apparently New River Behavior Health, now run by the county instead of the state, no longer wants to do one on one sessions do to budget cuts. So I have to find someone in the private sector that will take Medicare/Medicaid. I talked to a CSW last week and she may work out.
Back earlier in the year, DSS reduced the mileage reimbursement for medical travel…. Due to budget cuts…. Are you seeing a pattern here?
Not writing again….
Well, I am not writing anything lately. That is because nothing interesting is happening. I spent that little windfall, and now I am back to not being able to follow up on what I was doing. I run out of semi-discretionary funds rather quickly, and then have to wait for next month’s Social Security installment.
When that happens I tend to look at this and that and by the time the money becomes available the next month, I have gotten interested in something else. This time I kind of veered from studio lighting, which I still need to spend a bit more on before I am completely set up, to digital SLR’s. I have been looking at old professional models. I think, since I cannot in any way afford a Nikon D3X, that I might like a D1X if I can find one in good shape at a very cheap price. The reviews say that a D40 is a better camera, but they cost $450 while maybe I can get a D1X for under $300. Also the D40 uses SD cards and everything I have is set up for CF. Then the viewfinder is better on the D1X, and the D1X has a PC socket. Of course the D1X also uses NiMh batteries, you can not have everything.
Of course looking at them is stupid when what I need is a working flash meter, one more flash head, and a boom stand to complete the studio flash set up. It would be nice to get one of those gray cloud painted backdrops too. Then there is the radio sync I want to get; I ordered a regular sync cord to using in the mean time.
Then the the Blazer needs a new muffler to pass its inspection next month. It also still needs the FWD fixed, and some rust work done.
I have not put the chaincase on the Dunelt yet either.
However, I did get the apartment ready in time for the annual housing authority inspection, that is my heavy annual cleaning. I do a quarterly where I do not move all the appliances and furniture, and a weekly vac and dust with occasional pick up the clutter bursts in between. I put up some “No Trespassing” signs for the landlords. And last Sunday, I entertained a couple of friends who drove up from Charlotte to visit. I also have set up an appointment with a new shrink, my old one got a better job in another state. Just reminding myself that I do not actually sit around doing nothing 
I am also thinking of taking a studio photography class at the university. It appears that regular students never ask what the class is about and try to find out if it is too basic or too advanced for them. The response to my inquiries was “Just sign up for it”.Well, I still have a couple of weeks to decide what I am going to take.