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I did some local shredding on the 2004-2005 (can't remember when I built it) Access 69er yesterday.


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Not much distance riding for a few months. Got out for 9.81 miles on this State 4130 on Tuesday.
 
Got this put back together after cleaning it up, changed the seat and swapped the bar ends for some bigger ones. Will be putting the originals back on next week. I'll be polishing the aluminum this weekend. Then posting it for sale. Super fun bike, but a bit to small for me and living in northern Iowa I don't really need a hardcore MTB for the occasional long slope.
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Took the Raleigh on a bit of a shakedown run this morning. I had to cut it short, not because of the bike but because my fingers and toes felt like they were going to fall off. I want warmer weather!

Got a little under 9 miles in, couple decent hill climbs (and subsequent downhill stretches, too 😁). Avg speed 13.4mph, top speed 27.3mph, 38:34 moving time.

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Sunday muddy Sunday!

Fatty Cross race at Haddam Neck Fairgrounds in East Hampton CT with my bud Matt. Good time.

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Then we went for a ten mile ride on the Airline Trail nearby with a friend who came to watch us race. Same conditions as race course, mud and ice. I had cleaned the bike before loading it in the car after the race with a pump sprayer I bought at hardware store the day before (best idea ever).

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time to clean it again:

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We've had great weather for riding the past few days but the high winds have made it unbearable.😳 I tried to get out early before the wind cranked up yesterday to get some time on my dirt jumper after a couple of adjustments. I took my Dad with me to have some fun plus the benefit of having my Guardian Angel with me. Had a couple quick errands to run along the way and decided as I was getting gas that it was waaaay too windy already & should just get some work done in the garage.😕 Well, as I started up the truck, Dad's theme song started on the radio. "Really Dad? You see how hard the wind is blowing already", I said. "Just trust me Son", I heard as I've heard a bazillion times & could see the Cheshire grin that accompanies the phrase. "What do you got to loose?"
Ok, fine! Let's go!🤓 It was so windy when we got there I could barely open the door to get out but, knowing Colorado weather, the wind sometimes calms down after the sun heats things up & just hung out with Dad listening to rock 'n roll & sipping my cappuccino & watched the guys that arrived about the same time struggle on the track. 😆😆 They lasted about 15 minutes. After about half an hour it seemed to be calming down so gathered my stuff & we went to the track.🙂 It was a bit gusty but could time laps during calm air & rest when windy to get warmed up. Had the place to ourselves & the wind calmed to a gentle breeze for about 3+ hours of fun!!😋🤪😂
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While looking for the broom to give the place a sweep I found a pencil! My first thought was "I brought my pencil. Give me something to write on, man!!" from Van Halen's Hot for Teacher. My Dad was a Teacher for about 148 years.🤔 I was wearing a Van Halen t-shirt under a long sleeve shirt.🤔🤔A bit later as I was removing the long sleeve, the channel I was listening to started talking about Van Halen, then played Hot for Teacher!!🤣🤣
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Long story, short: It was a great day hanging out with my Dad at the track! 😍 He's been popping up a lot this past week with his Birthday recently. Sure was nice having great weather for riding despite no chance for relief from the wind in the forecast. It was a great day! Thanks Dad!!❤️

(Bonus: made it home to catch the end of NASCAR in Georgia. Great race!)
 
Spent the morning making this Hiawatha sparkle on this nice sunny day. Changed bars, seat, seat post clamp.Replaced the painted chaingard with a chrome Hiawatha chaingard from a 69 Hiawatha, replaced the painted fenders with chrome ones, replaced the chain with a chrome one. And put some repop coke bottle grips on it and removed the basket. Replaced the missing valve caps with yellow hand waving pencil top erasers, I like that they fit on the valve stem tight enough that you can spin them on or push them on snd they are cheap and literally millions of options. Lol. The seat post is jammed in place. Probably going to trim it down about 3 inches. If I didn't have the tall handlebars I'd but would be level with my head. Lol. Bean riding it around town all afternoon.

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Replaced the missing valve caps with yellow hand waving pencil top erasers, I like that they fit on the valve stem tight enough that you can spin them on or push them on and they are cheap and literally millions of options.
Added that to the Tips and Tricks section. :inlove:

That's definitly an idea worth stealing sometime! :bandit:
 
Spent the morning making this Hiawatha sparkle on this nice sunny day. Changed bars, seat, seat post clamp.Replaced the painted chaingard with a chrome Hiawatha chaingard from a 69 Hiawatha, replaced the painted fenders with chrome ones, replaced the chain with a chrome one. And put some repop coke bottle grips on it and removed the basket. Replaced the missing valve caps with yellow hand waving pencil top erasers, I like that they fit on the valve stem tight enough that you can spin them on or push them on snd they are cheap and literally millions of options. Lol. The seat post is jammed in place. Probably going to trim it down about 3 inches. If I didn't have the tall handlebars I'd but would be level with my head. Lol. Bean riding it around town all afternoon.

Before.
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After
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That eraser tip should be "tip of the year!"
 
Spent the morning making this Hiawatha sparkle on this nice sunny day. Changed bars, seat, seat post clamp.Replaced the painted chaingard with a chrome Hiawatha chaingard from a 69 Hiawatha, replaced the painted fenders with chrome ones, replaced the chain with a chrome one. And put some repop coke bottle grips on it and removed the basket. Replaced the missing valve caps with yellow hand waving pencil top erasers, I like that they fit on the valve stem tight enough that you can spin them on or push them on snd they are cheap and literally millions of options. Lol. The seat post is jammed in place. Probably going to trim it down about 3 inches. If I didn't have the tall handlebars I'd but would be level with my head. Lol. Bean riding it around town all afternoon.

Before.
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After
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Now I have to get his girl all dolled up too. Have to do some more digging in the parts shed for her accessories.
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Now I have to get his girl all dolled up too. Have to do some more digging in the parts shed for her accessories.
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Got her somewhat dressed up. Didn't have a chrome chaingard I liked on her so put the Columbia one one for now. And decided to slim her down some with the 1.75" cream tires and narrower fenders from a Collegiate, upgraded the bars and stem kept the seat but took a torch and mapp gas to the post and bent it back some. And put the wheels from a newer Pacific Ocean Breeze beach cruiser. And splashed a little purple paint on her to tie in the purple wheels a bit.

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Now
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I've been wanting to ride Maurice for a while now & finally dragged it out to knock the dust off while the compressor built pressure for the 26"x4" back tire. (The only tire I use a compressor😂😂)
Met a friend for a ride on warm windy Saturday!!
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With an upright, inefficient position Maurice is not a good choice for an aero bike but sure is smooth & handles great! ☘️🍀☘️🍀Just in time for March!🤓
 
while the compressor built pressure for the 26"x4" back tire
Hahaha I can definitely relate, had to top up the tires on ThundrrrJr's Electra. I used the floor pump, felt like it took half an hour, and they're only 20x3!
Met a friend for a ride on warm windy Saturday
Cimarron looks nice, well equipped for any terrain
 

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