Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Grumblebums Corner

[rmalkow2]

GB's Small Engine Repair
If we were closer for shipping I would send you my chain saw to fix. I spent almost a whole day fixing fuel line issues and then the spark quit. It's resting (I'm mad at it.) until I can work on it again.
Nice work on your chain saw and I'm sure you will give life to that edger again.

 

[Grumblebum]

GB's Small Engine Repair
If we were closer for shipping I would send you my chain saw to fix. I spent almost a whole day fixing fuel line issues and then the spark quit. It's resting (I'm mad at it.) until I can work on it again.
Nice work on your chain saw and I'm sure you will give life to that edger again.

RM, hopefully I'll have the chainsaw running finally very soon. My plan of testing it out a few weeks ago got diverted due to waiting on a new kill switch - when it finally arrived I broke it trying to butcher the switch to fit due to being a different size. Should have another this week from a different source and I can go for take 2. Atom edger is still patiently awaiting attention which I'll need to get to as it's in full Spring time now and there will be edges needing tending to.

But yes sometimes you need to walk away from troublesome garden implements.

Been pretty busy still, sorry haven't done a lot of posts lately but have been getting some QOT in (Quality Outside Time), namely working in the backyard.

Made this potting bench up from some old timbers and a laundry tub that wifie rescued from a friend doing a laundry renovation.

View media item 75268
And finished getting it plumbed up today (couple of days off for kids school holidays), conveniently had a line from the rain water pump running along the back fence to tap into already The tap at the top of the fence will run a to-be-decided drip line/mister implement to feed the vertical planters (see below).

View media item 75269
For wifies birthday I made her some vertical planters for succulents. She has got one planted up and I finished the remaining ones yesterday.

View media item 75270
View media item 75271
They need to sit horizontal for about 6 weeks for the roots to take hold before I mount them up vertically.

All made from old pallets and I cut the front frames from the old fence pailings from the fence I just replaced.

Also have moved the chicken coop around and hopefully will get time to work on the expansion of it over the next few days. Basically just doubling the capacity so they have a bit more room to peck about.

Hope everyone is well, still catching up on everyone's threads.

Cheers GB

 

[Grizz1963]

Love the planters and sink area.

I had a used sink stashed to make Nicola a potting table too. But it never happened as she lost interest in the garden, leaving it to me.

 

[rmalkow2]

GB,
Nice work on the potting bench and sink. The wire screen top surface is something I honestly have never seen before but a great idea for working with dirt in that space.

Bob

 

[HOTFR8]

That sink is a very clever set up with the way you have added the taps etc.

 

[Grumblebum]

Love the planters and sink area.

I had a used sink stashed to make Nicola a potting table too. But it never happened as she lost interest in the garden, leaving it to me.

Thanks Rian, we've had this idea for a while now, only just happened to get to the part of execution since I finally got around to fixing up that side fence.

GB,
Nice work on the potting bench and sink. The wire screen top surface is something I honestly have never seen before but a great idea for working with dirt in that space.

Bob

Cheers Bob, the wire mesh is cut from a 6' x 4' section (squares are 4") that I've used a bit for keeping chickens in etc. I'll pave the ground area just under the bench so that we can just sweep up any stray mix and the rest I'll turf (sod?)

That sink is a very clever set up with the way you have added the taps etc.

Thanks Simon, I have a 1" poly feed coming from the rainwater pump which is in my little under house room. (we only have rainwater tanks plumbed up for gardens/laundry). Ran the feed down along the back fence a few years ago when the backyard was dug up during the extension, so was easy just to add a tee junction in.

Another good garden day today, wifie is finally able to work on some of her projects.

Got some tool time in first up and made some brackets from galvanised steel sheet, the little lamp I rescued from the skip bin at the office works a treat for the small drill press.

View media item 75353
Mounted them up to this pallet planter I made wifie a few weeks ago from a timber pallet. She then got it planted out. Will see how it goes, might make a few more.

I just used 2" gal tek screws to screw the strap to the pallet then to the fence to secure it. It hooks over the top of the fence.

View media item 75354
It's trying real hard to rain at the moment, really need it. Have just done the first lawn mow for the season and it is so dry.

Still a bit more day light will see what else I can get done, back to participating in the rat race again tomorrow

GB.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Looking great GB, that reminds me its time to throw in the odd tomato plant..

Regards

 

[HOTFR8]

Rain water tanks and pumps are a valuable asset.

 

[hewey]

Vertical planters look great, nice work.

 

[taumac]

GB, that’s potting bench is ingenious. Hey, I got a idea for sink. What about a drain or a pipe to the ground so water does splash onto the dirt and get shoes all wet? I like that pallet planter too.

 

[jon72vega]

Grumblebum,
Good job on the potting bench!
I like the vertical planters as well..... very clever!

 

[Grumblebum]

Looking great GB, that reminds me its time to throw in the odd tomato plant..

Regards

Thanks 1/2 cup, I did see the tomato planting added on your list to do. We did plant a cherry tomato type one the other day which is starting to get some flowers on it.

Rain water tanks and pumps are a valuable asset.

HOTFR8, I have 2 under house tanks at 2000L and 2 other normal poly corrugated tanks at 2200L (although I have taken one out as I needed some room) unfortunately it's been so dry that they are all empty at present

Vertical planters look great, nice work.

Thanks Hewey

GB, that’s potting bench is ingenious. Hey, I got a idea for sink. What about a drain or a pipe to the ground so water does splash onto the dirt and get shoes all wet? I like that pallet planter too.

Thanks Taumac, currently we just use a bucket under the drain hole which can then be poured onto the garden. Might extend a short bit of pipe down though. Got the from wifie as she has done some potting already.

Grumblebum,
Good job on the potting bench!
I like the vertical planters as well..... very clever!

Thanks Jon, I think I'll see if the first vertical planter can go vertical this weekend.

Chicken coop expansion

All, still been fiddling around as one does, and on the weekend I ripped down some odd timbers that have been sitting around such to start expanding the chicken coop so the girls have a bit more room.

Since some of the timbers have twists and bows in them the table saw was not going to cut it (pun?) without jamming up, so slow and steady with the circular saw was the go but first fitted a new blade which was actually the spare blade that came with the saw.

Guess the first one has done some work....

View media item 75680
Anyway if you can imagine some ripped timber which was then cut to the correct lengths on the mitre saw (sorry no more pics of that bit) I was then able to assemble the rough frame tonight after kidlets were off to sleep.

View media item 75679
I'll do a rough test fit tomorrow morning then tomorrow night I'll tack on the mesh. Will make a small door on the side to lock the kids - sorry chickens in.

The roof will be mesh but then covered in shade cloth as we are starting to warm up a bit leading into summer before long.

Will post some more pics of how it sits probably on the weekend.

Those with a keen eye will notice the insulation has fallen from the panel door on the section that I still need to get the extra brace for. I must spend an evening before it gets too warm and finish taping all the seams.

Thanks for stopping in.

Cheers GB.

 

[oldironfarmer]

I really like your pallet planters

Nice idea, cage for kids. We usually just stuff them in the stock trailer. It's pretty secure.

 

[drivesitfar]

GB: so it's legal to lock up the kids down under? nice work

i love the half a pallet made into a planter. i bet that might last a few years and even if you have to replace it with a new one we can get pallets cheap or free around here or making that out of scraps would work too. good thinking

 

[Grizz1963]

It hooks over the top of the fence.

View media item 75354

Love these.

Whenever I drive around and see a chest of drawers or just random drawers on the side of the road, I pick them up and use some thin wood to create a planting section, paint them pretty and then they go on the fences seasonally with seasonal draping plants.

Cheap and makes people comment.

Think I need to do some Pallet based ones.

 

[Terrick down Under]

Next thing we know is that you will have your own home gardening show. That would eat into you QST.

 

[Grumblebum]

I really like your pallet planters

Nice idea, cage for kids. We usually just stuff them in the stock trailer. It's pretty secure.

Andy they would like it in the stock trailer. At least when it's attached to a tractor.

GB: so it's legal to lock up the kids down under? nice work

i love the half a pallet made into a planter. i bet that might last a few years and even if you have to replace it with a new one we can get pallets cheap or free around here or making that out of scraps would work too. good thinking

Hey drives good to see you about. There are plenty of pallets about for free if you drive around here. I figure we'll probably end up with a couple if this one works out, they are easy to make.

Thanks for dropping in.

It hooks over the top of the fence.

View media item 75354
Love these.

Whenever I drive around and see a chest of drawers or just random drawers on the side of the road, I pick them up and use some thin wood to create a planting section, paint them pretty and then they go on the fences seasonally with seasonal draping plants.

Cheap and makes people comment.

Think I need to do some Pallet based ones.

Thanks Grizz, yep you will be able to fit a few pallets in the grizz mobile I dare say. The one I made I didn't even have to tap into my stock of screws, I was able to recycle the nails. Just used a punch and punched them all in a bit more. Hopefully the strawberries will start to grow over the front and look a bit more like a "shrubbery".

Next thing we know is that you will have your own home gardening show. That would eat into you QST.

Lol, Terrick the garden stuff has been on the list for a while but is slowly coming together now that I got the last of the old fence sections sorted. It's good when you can go and pull a meal from your own backyard, although it doesn't happen often enough just yet.

So tonight I stapled on the wire mesh and finished screwing the sections together. Test fit was good this morning.

View media item 75712
Tomorrow night I'll finish the roof section and then by the weekend I'll get the young bloke to help me make a door. Then I'm sure we'll be ready for them to try out their new digs (the chickens that is not the kids )

Just need to do a cutout to mate it up to the existing coop for them to access through and add a couple of perches.

Cheers GB.

 

[rmalkow2]

Nice work on all your recent projects. I'm sure the chickens will love there new home and I'm borrowing that pallet planter to send the idea to my daughter and SIL. They love making things out of old pallets and also love gardening. Should be a perfect fit.

 

[Terrick down Under]

Well, your veggies should be getting a good soaking now, or very shortly.

 

[Grumblebum]

Nice work on all your recent projects. I'm sure the chickens will love there new home and I'm borrowing that pallet planter to send the idea to my daughter and SIL. They love making things out of old pallets and also love gardening. Should be a perfect fit.

RM, thanks they really are easy to make. I can't take credit entirely we just borrowed the idea from a book I got wifie a while ago.

Be sure to post back here if you like if they do make one. I'd be interested to see how it turns out. Only thing I'd recommend is consider how one will hang it and incorporate that hardware into the build at the appropriate point as a pallet full of soil becomes rather heavy.

All, in the last couple of months I've been fixing up the old mountain bike so that it's more fit for riding to work when the schedule allows. Hope to build this up to 2 or 3 days a week.

Anyway today I rode in and since it was such a nice morning I pulled up about midway on the bike track and took a pic. This is looking south towards the city of Wollongong.

View media item 75754
The commute is just over 7kms each way. By car it's about 6kms. Ride time to the office takes about 25 mins, home is just under 30 mins now (more uphill on the way back).

The old Dunlop bike was a box store special that I got after watching the cycling events during the 2000 olympics but it never really did much. It is heavy but I figure if I can keep a regular commute going I'll look at investing into something more appropriate. There's a lot of new terms in bicycle land that exist now than there did we we were kids on the old BMX bikes so I've been reading a fair bit to learn what is what these days.

Today I was sporting a new set of maxxis overdrive tyres instead of the old knobbly Mountain bike tires. They are certainly smoother and I felt quicker, but that was likely just in my head however I do notice now that the rims need truing up and it will need some new ball bearings in the hubs as they were a bit ordinary when I repacked them the other week. I.e., flat spots on some of them.

At some point I'll have to keep an eye out for some cone wrenches too since I never needed them ever before until I went to grease it up and remembered that regular wrenches don't fit

Each km that I can ride vs drive saves me $0.40 (yes it's sad I've run the numbers) so a round trip home to work saves me $4.80.

Anyway that was a longish waffle. If anyone has any opinions or experience commuting please sing out. I'm interested in what bikes people are riding. There is an awesome thread here on GJ called 44 bikes, have a look to see some beautiful bikes and welding. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112578

Oh and this shouldn't be written, but according to the iPhone app I'm using, each round trip burns off 4 beers (mid strength for me these days) worth of calories.

GB

 

[shortykorte]

Awhile back I followed 44 Bikes. Very nice craftsmanship. A guy that works across the street from my shop has an E-bike. I believe its his only transportation.
So the real question how many beers can you buy for $4.80? lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Grumblebum]

Awhile back I followed 44 Bikes. Very nice craftsmanship. A guy that works across the street from my shop has an E-bike. I believe its his only transportation.
So the real question how many beers can you buy for $4.80? lol

It's a cool thread for sure shorty. Over here you couldn't buy a "schooner" of beer (425ml / 15 fl oz) for that money any more.

It would just buy me a gallon of diesel though.

Just finished adding the roof mesh to the coop expansion tonight, so it's pretty much ready to go and get attached to the existing coop and have a door made.

View media item 75755
Cheers GB.

 

[Bob Heine]

...I rode in and since it was such a nice morning I pulled up about midway on the bike track and took a pic. This is looking south towards the city of Wollongong.

View media item 75754
Each km that I can ride vs drive saves me $0.40 (yes it's sad I've run the numbers) so a round trip home to work saves me $4.80.

Oh and this shouldn't be written, but according to the iPhone app I'm using, each round trip burns off 4 beers (mid strength for me these days) worth of calories.

GB

Rod, first of all how can you stand to take that route to work. All that urban blight must ruin your day.

Second, you are saving way more than $4.80 by riding your bike after having four mid-strength beers. That could give your a BAC of 0.08, which means a $2,200 fine and automatic 12-month suspension for a first offense.

Back in 1990 Australia (and especially New South Wales) was clamping down on drunk driving. I cleared a few random breath tests while living down under so it was no joke. I just checked the current rules and saw that it's much stricter now:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In NSW there are five categories of drink driving offences. These include:

• the novice range (0.00 to 0.019) [automatic suspension of 6 months, and a maximum fine of $1,100]
• the special range (0.02 to 0.049) [automatic suspension of 6 months, and a maximum fine of $1,100]
• low range (0.05 to 0.079) [automatic suspension of 6 months, and a maximum fine of $1,100]
• mid range (0.08 to 0.149) [automatic suspension period of 12 months, and a maximum fine of $2,200]
• high range (0.15 and higher) [automatic suspension period of 3 years, and a maximum fine of $3,300].

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It appears you can be fined and have your license suspended even if you haven't had a drink. Perhaps it's to give the police the flexibility to charge drivers who are cross-eyed and have one dilated pupil but don't register on the breathalyzer (that would be me).

 

[drivesitfar]

GB: with that view i might even be tempted to WALK TO WORK. GEESH an empty beach with waves coming up onto it looks AWESOME.

sure is a lot of figuring going on that i'll let all you CPA'S work on while i enjoy the view!!

 

[Grumblebum]

lol yep Mr H, the cycleway along the beach is a good way to dodge that urban blight for at least a few minutes between rat-race participation.

When are you moving back to Australia ? The dollar conversion is still in your favour at the moment. DUI is certainly not on my agenda, I'm not sure what happens these days as I believe some medications can cause readings at breath tests. Can you see better in the dark ?

Drives, thanks for dropping by. I should have taken an afternoon picture on the way home in the same spot, the weather was somewhat different being cool and overcast as a change came in. The track is very popular also with walkers and runners, along with those who ride in lycra that go past me at a rate of knots.

Yesterday's chicken coop exercise resulted in something like this:

View media item 75915
The bare spot at the front the grass will grow back through over the next few weeks, it just died off a bit as I had a pile of dirt sitting there for a bit. It may end up with a citrus tree there also - not sure yet.

Sort of trying to create an "outdoor" room, so we'll add a small bench seat or something so it becomes somewhere to sit and have a morning coffee or afternoon cool beverage.

In the small bed at the front we’ll grow something up the front end as it's west facing, so will shade from the hot afternoon summer sun.

View media item 75916
Got some turf down in the back corner, the pavers are just sitting for now they will get bedded up correctly later on when I get 5.

View media item 75917
Just a bit of shade cloth to go on the roof today and that will be that for now.

View media item 75918
Cheers GB.

 

[rmalkow2]

Pretty nice condominium complex there for your chickens! Well done.

 

[Bob Heine]

When are you moving back to Australia ? The dollar conversion is still in your favour at the moment...

...Can you see better in the dark ?

Rod, I moved back a while ago. I was hanging from a para-sail on the edge of the cliff at Long Reef Beach (NSW), about to jump into the updraft when my wife poked me and asked if I would take the dog out. I have many pleasant visits that all come to the same abrupt end when I wake up. I sometimes get thirsty at night and my favorite drink of water comes from a little spring on the side of the road leading to the top of Mount Wellington, overlooking Hobart (TAS). You have no idea how disappointing waking to a glass of lukewarm tap-water is.

I do see better in the dark but street lights and headlights are a real ****** when I'm out walking (or more rarely when I'm driving). I tried those yellow glasses but they just make the glare yellow.

 

[Bob Heine]

Your chicken coop is wonderful. Did I mention that I love chicken coops, even most of the smells.

 

[oldironfarmer]

I remember when we were kids Bob lost his gum in the chicken coop. Thought he found it five times.

Mom said at least he's persistent.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Pretty nice condominium complex there for your chickens! Well done.

I think that's a hendominium...

Unless you eggaggerate, then it's a chickdominium.

 

[1/2 Cup]

GB, top job on the chook house.

I can see some very contented chooks in there.

Regards

 

[Coolabah]

RM

At some point I'll have to keep an eye out for some cone wrenches too since I never needed them ever before until I went to grease it up and remembered that regular wrenches don't fit

Each km that I can ride vs drive saves me $0.40 (yes it's sad I've run the numbers) so a round trip home to work saves me $4.80.

Anyway that was a longish waffle. If anyone has any opinions or experience commuting please sing out. I'm interested in what bikes people are riding. There is an awesome thread here on GJ called 44 bikes, have a look to see some beautiful bikes and welding. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112578

Oh and this shouldn't be written, but according to the iPhone app I'm using, each round trip burns off 4 beers (mid strength for me these days) worth of calories.

GB

Don't forget , apparently you are saving society $21 per commute
http://www.smh.com.au/national/bike-riders-save-economy-21-on-each-commute-20130730-2qxdg.html
Rode my bike to work just a little further than your commute for a couple of years and it was so much fun. Get a bike with disc brakes if you can !

 

[hewey]

Chicken coop looks great - nice work in fabricating that up

If anyone has any opinions or experience commuting please sing out. I'm interested in what bikes people are riding.

I don’t commute, but have done the Thirroul to Gong bike path on a beach cruiser, so know the general riding conditions and terrain you’ve got, and have done plenty of similar trails too.

Hardtail mt bike (only front suspension). Pros: Light, efficient, fun, able to do things like ride off gutters, can always throw on some knobby tyres and hit a fire trail. Cons: Not as fast as a road bike.
Full suspension mt bike: Over the top for your riding. For the same price you can buy a hardtail that’s lighter with better components. Plus can be hard to mount racks on.

Flatbar roadbike: Basically a road bike with regular handlebars. Pros: Super light and super efficient. Cons: Far more sketchy when you’ve got to go off the path to pass some walkers.
Regular roadbike: The hunched over aero position isn’t great for dodging walkers, overkill for your riding.

Hybrid/comfort bike: The upright riding position of a mountain bike combined with road bike like running gear. Pros: Designed for what you’re doing. Cons: Not as fast as a road bike, not as fun as a mountain bike, tend to be ugly.
Beach cruiser: They look really cool, but aren’t as efficient as a hybrid or flat bar roadie.

Other things to look for: mounting tabs for rear racks, water bottle mounts, a decent horn, cheap LED lights to keep you legal and visible for getting home on the cusp of dusk.

What you get is up to you and what you want. Flat bar roadie and hybrids are the most efficient, hardtail mountain bike gives you more flexibility in terms of riding over different terrains and passing people off the path. To be honest almost anything is going to be better than your current bike – they weigh a tonne, aren’t well put together, and have poor quality parts. Aldi recently sold a hardtail mt bike, however they’d all be sold out now.

One to keep an eye out for are bikes where people have bought them and never used them, but selling really cheap. On the flip side down your way be cautious of anything left outside to corrode in the sea air.

 

[Terrick down Under]

GB, getting very close to JBLNUT, how many fans are you putting in?

 

[Coolabah]

Chicken coop looks great - nice work in fabricating that up



I don’t commute, but have done the Thirroul to Gong bike path on a beach cruiser, so know the general riding conditions and terrain you’ve got, and have done plenty of similar trails too.

Hardtail mt bike (only front suspension). Pros: Light, efficient, fun, able to do things like ride off gutters, can always throw on some knobby tyres and hit a fire trail. Cons: Not as fast as a road bike.
Full suspension mt bike: Over the top for your riding. For the same price you can buy a hardtail that’s lighter with better components. Plus can be hard to mount racks on.

Flatbar roadbike: Basically a road bike with regular handlebars. Pros: Super light and super efficient. Cons: Far more sketchy when you’ve got to go off the path to pass some walkers.
Regular roadbike: The hunched over aero position isn’t great for dodging walkers, overkill for your riding.

Hybrid/comfort bike: The upright riding position of a mountain bike combined with road bike like running gear. Pros: Designed for what you’re doing. Cons: Not as fast as a road bike, not as fun as a mountain bike, tend to be ugly.
Beach cruiser: They look really cool, but aren’t as efficient as a hybrid or flat bar roadie.

Other things to look for: mounting tabs for rear racks, water bottle mounts, a decent horn, cheap LED lights to keep you legal and visible for getting home on the cusp of dusk.

What you get is up to you and what you want. Flat bar roadie and hybrids are the most efficient, hardtail mountain bike gives you more flexibility in terms of riding over different terrains and passing people off the path. To be honest almost anything is going to be better than your current bike – they weigh a tonne, aren’t well put together, and have poor quality parts. Aldi recently sold a hardtail mt bike, however they’d all be sold out now.

One to keep an eye out for are bikes where people have bought them and never used them, but selling really cheap. On the flip side down your way be cautious of anything left outside to corrode in the sea air.

Awesome post Hewey. I currently own 6 bikes and although I do not commute to work anymore ( I do not have any bikepath from a to b but used to respectfully use some footpaths..., gave up after a few too many close calls with cars on the roads, ducked more than one thrown beercan, and to clarify the whole thing in my mind I was told off by the boys in blue for riding on a footpath [ slowly , with no pedestrians in sight ]
As a commuter , your options sorta condense to some priority issues :
If you are going to ride rain, hail or shine , as long as you are warm in your torso and can change at work , all good. Hot shower would be loooxooory....
I started off with a Giant "city bike" but after 10 months bought a cyclocross bike-
advantages : disc brakes- saved my **** more than a few times in the wet. What do you do when a car pulls out from a parking space roadside right in front of you , you are doing 60 km/h downhill....
If you are commuting , you definitely do not want anything resembling a mountain bike. I have never needed to go commando/special forces jungle training to avoid pedestrians . Just stop for 10 seconds and say hi ??

 

[bj383ss]

GB that corner of your yard is looking really good.

Bret

 

[shortykorte]

....or you could go with my choice of bikes, Valkyrie 6cyl.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Grumblebum]

Pretty nice condominium complex there for your chickens! Well done.

Thanks RM. They seem happy so far. Still a couple of small things to finish over the next few weekends. Just keeping the water up to the new grass area at the moment until it takes.

Rod, I moved back a while ago. I was hanging from a para-sail on the edge of the cliff at Long Reef Beach (NSW), about to jump into the updraft when my wife poked me and asked if I would take the dog out. I have many pleasant visits that all come to the same abrupt end when I wake up. I sometimes get thirsty at night and my favorite drink of water comes from a little spring on the side of the road leading to the top of Mount Wellington, overlooking Hobart (TAS). You have no idea how disappointing waking to a glass of lukewarm tap-water is.

I do see better in the dark but street lights and headlights are a real ****** when I'm out walking (or more rarely when I'm driving). I tried those yellow glasses but they just make the glare yellow.

Bob, haven't been to the top of Mount Wellington yet, it was covered in cloud the few days we were there a couple of years ago.

Ah yes bright light (that was the Gremlins movie wasn't it?) - that is a bit of a ****** also. Do you think the new(er) fancy-pants, uber-bright headlights most cars have these days makes it worse when you are on the receiving end ? I remember trying to see the road at all in the old VW driving home at night with it's little generator powering things.

Your chicken coop is wonderful. Did I mention that I love chicken coops, even most of the smells.

That's a great photo. I know I get a bit crazy when mine climb the big olive tree out the back, but then I need to remember that kids need to be out doing that - I sure did.

I remember when we were kids Bob lost his gum in the chicken coop. Thought he found it five times.

Mom said at least he's persistent.

A few that had lost their chew hey ?

I think that's a hendominium...

Unless you eggaggerate, then it's a chickdominium.

There is a guinea fowl in there too (anyone want a guinea fowl ? - comes with lead in his pencil). Noisy ******, good for getting ticks off cattle on farms I hear. Wonder if I know anyone ?

GB, top job on the chook house.

I can see some very contented chooks in there.

Regards

Thanks 1/2 Cup. They seem happy so far, but i'm yet to correlate that to increased egg production

Don't forget , apparently you are saving society $21 per commute
http://www.smh.com.au/national/bike-riders-save-economy-21-on-each-commute-20130730-2qxdg.html
Rode my bike to work just a little further than your commute for a couple of years and it was so much fun. Get a bike with disc brakes if you can !

Coolabah, that would be a nice thing to get a tax credit for. Although that article was a few years old I wonder what they estimate the going rate for km is now for bicycle track ? Next bike will definitely be disc brakes, see next post.

GB, getting very close to JBLNUT, how many fans are you putting in?

You have lost me Terrick, I'll have to go read JBLNUT's thread perhaps ?

GB that corner of your yard is looking really good.

Bret

Thanks Bret, slooooowly coming together.

....or you could go with my choice of bikes, Valkyrie 6cyl.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Now I know what a valkyrie is Shorty . You going to ride that to the next Hooters meet up ?

I want to see pics if you do

All thanks for stopping in.

 

[Grumblebum]

Chicken coop looks great - nice work in fabricating that up

I don’t commute, but have done the Thirroul to Gong bike path on a beach cruiser, so know the general riding conditions and terrain you’ve got, and have done plenty of similar trails too.

Hardtail mt bike (only front suspension). Pros: Light, efficient, fun, able to do things like ride off gutters, can always throw on some knobby tyres and hit a fire trail. Cons: Not as fast as a road bike.
Full suspension mt bike: Over the top for your riding. For the same price you can buy a hardtail that’s lighter with better components. Plus can be hard to mount racks on.

Flatbar roadbike: Basically a road bike with regular handlebars. Pros: Super light and super efficient. Cons: Far more sketchy when you’ve got to go off the path to pass some walkers.
Regular roadbike: The hunched over aero position isn’t great for dodging walkers, overkill for your riding.

Hybrid/comfort bike: The upright riding position of a mountain bike combined with road bike like running gear. Pros: Designed for what you’re doing. Cons: Not as fast as a road bike, not as fun as a mountain bike, tend to be ugly.
Beach cruiser: They look really cool, but aren’t as efficient as a hybrid or flat bar roadie.

Other things to look for: mounting tabs for rear racks, water bottle mounts, a decent horn, cheap LED lights to keep you legal and visible for getting home on the cusp of dusk.

What you get is up to you and what you want. Flat bar roadie and hybrids are the most efficient, hardtail mountain bike gives you more flexibility in terms of riding over different terrains and passing people off the path. To be honest almost anything is going to be better than your current bike – they weigh a tonne, aren’t well put together, and have poor quality parts. Aldi recently sold a hardtail mt bike, however they’d all be sold out now.

One to keep an eye out for are bikes where people have bought them and never used them, but selling really cheap. On the flip side down your way be cautious of anything left outside to corrode in the sea air.

Hewey, thanks for posting. I think that some form of hybrid is the likely candidate for the next bike.

You are right the old dunlop bike is heavy before you add anything on it. I've got the Axiom rear rack on it now that I must have got around 2009 when I last had a crack at riding to work, although I just had a milk crate cable tied to it then. It was difficult finding one to fit the suspension frame and it's still a bit ****.

The milk crate has been replaced with a Topeak pannier bag with the fold out sides that are pretty cool, enough room for clothes/laptop/lunch and other bits and bobs that I keep on me.

View media item 76032
Other things I've recently changed are the tyres going from the old knobby
(26" x 1.95") ones to the Maxxis overdrive (26" x 1.75") - that has helped I think as the ride is a bit smoother on the 30 odd kms they have on them now.

View media item 76033
Also picked up a cygolite combo from Amazon, usb charged led. They seem pretty good but I have only ridden in dusk so far before DST started.

View media item 76031
So that's all I've done so far, I don't see the point putting any more money into this bike, all the accessories should be transferrable onto anything else in theory.

So last few nights I've been looking at what is new, and it seems everyone has their 2018 line ups out now and I've found a few that I think look pretty good.

These are all 24 speed disc brake versions.

2018 Giant cross city 2 disc equipped

View media item 75991
2018 Trek Fx2 disc

View media item 75990
2018 Apollo Trace 20

View media item 75989
The cross city 2 seems to have the internal cabling runs which I like (really didn't know it was a thing until I read the 44 bikes thread) and it's complete in terms of guards and rack. The others I would need to add those components onto.

Perhaps hitting up some stores now is the next step to look at them in the flesh, there are dealers for Giant and Trek in Wollongong and Apollo up at Narellan. Wifie has a nice Giant Upland hardtail MTB from around 2004 which is nice and light.

Appreciate the post thanks.

Awesome post Hewey. I currently own 6 bikes and although I do not commute to work anymore ( I do not have any bikepath from a to b but used to respectfully use some footpaths..., gave up after a few too many close calls with cars on the roads, ducked more than one thrown beercan, and to clarify the whole thing in my mind I was told off by the boys in blue for riding on a footpath [ slowly , with no pedestrians in sight ]
As a commuter , your options sorta condense to some priority issues :
If you are going to ride rain, hail or shine , as long as you are warm in your torso and can change at work , all good. Hot shower would be loooxooory....
I started off with a Giant "city bike" but after 10 months bought a cyclocross bike-
advantages : disc brakes- saved my **** more than a few times in the wet. What do you do when a car pulls out from a parking space roadside right in front of you , you are doing 60 km/h downhill....
If you are commuting , you definitely do not want anything resembling a mountain bike. I have never needed to go commando/special forces jungle training to avoid pedestrians . Just stop for 10 seconds and say hi ??

I'm getting some confidence on some small quiet sections of road until I get to the bike track Coolabah, but we are talking maybe 1 km or so. I don't think I'll be trying any other road sections at this stage.

What are the other 4 bikes ? (you mention city & cyclocross). Were they just progressing up as you got better/more experience and knew more about what you were looking for ? Some of the dudes that cruise past have been on nice Giant's or Trek's.

I found that not wearing a backpack is heaps better, certainly needed a shower when I got to the office when wearing a backpack.

Thanks guys for posting. GB.

 

[Coolabah]

Hewey, thanks for posting. I think that some form of hybrid is the likely candidate for the next bike.

You are right the old dunlop bike is heavy before you add anything on it. I've got the Axiom rear rack on it now that I must have got around 2009 when I last had a crack at riding to work, although I just had a milk crate cable tied to it then. It was difficult finding one to fit the suspension frame and it's still a bit ****.

The milk crate has been replaced with a Topeak pannier bag with the fold out sides that are pretty cool, enough room for clothes/laptop/lunch and other bits and bobs that I keep on me.

View media item 76032
Other things I've recently changed are the tyres going from the old knobby
(26" x 1.95") ones to the Maxxis overdrive (26" x 1.75") - that has helped I think as the ride is a bit smoother on the 30 odd kms they have on them now.

View media item 76033
Also picked up a cygolite combo from Amazon, usb charged led. They seem pretty good but I have only ridden in dusk so far before DST started.

View media item 76031
So that's all I've done so far, I don't see the point putting any more money into this bike, all the accessories should be transferrable onto anything else in theory.

So last few nights I've been looking at what is new, and it seems everyone has their 2018 line ups out now and I've found a few that I think look pretty good.

These are all 24 speed disc brake versions.

2018 Giant cross city 2 disc equipped

View media item 75991
2018 Trek Fx2 disc

View media item 75990
2018 Apollo Trace 20

View media item 75989
The cross city 2 seems to have the internal cabling runs which I like (really didn't know it was a thing until I read the 44 bikes thread) and it's complete in terms of guards and rack. The others I would need to add those components onto.

Perhaps hitting up some stores now is the next step to look at them in the flesh, there are dealers for Giant and Trek in Wollongong and Apollo up at Narellan. Wifie has a nice Giant Upland hardtail MTB from around 2004 which is nice and light.

Appreciate the post thanks.



I'm getting some confidence on some small quiet sections of road until I get to the bike track Coolabah, but we are talking maybe 1 km or so. I don't think I'll be trying any other road sections at this stage.

What are the other 4 bikes ? (you mention city & cyclocross). Were they just progressing up as you got better/more experience and knew more about what you were looking for ? Some of the dudes that cruise past have been on nice Giant's or Trek's.

I found that not wearing a backpack is heaps better, certainly needed a shower when I got to the office when wearing a backpack.

Thanks guys for posting. GB.

I do not blame you a bit for being road-wary. Australia is on the whole really bad in its attitude to cyclists.
Firstly , in my defence, it is well known that the ideal number of bikes one should own is n+1, where n= the number of bikes you currently own.
bike 1 : I have an old aluminium frame , front suspension mountain bike that I bought 25 years ago , and I still use this in Narooma as my "shopping" bike . I have put smooth tyres on it just like you did and I love this bike as it is like the energiser bunny. I used to use it for bush bashing. Starting to need some money spent on it , have almost worn through the rims ( due to brakes)
bike 2 : bought this specifically to commute to work , probably my thought processes exactly matched yours . Giant Cross-city commuter , not disc brakes but otherwise looks like the one you are considering .Great bike , this is currently at Narooma - fishing bike and Kayak trailer hauling bike. Need those gears !
bike 3 - cyclocross bike - drop handlebars but has extra set of brake levers at the top , I hardly ever needed to use the drops. Disc brakes, light bike but built tough . Not currently using it but WILL again. Most enjoyable bike to ride , and you CAN ride it on the grass as they were designed to ride in mud.
bike 4 & 5 : Expensive road bikes with CF frames and top of the line parts , bought as "last years model" - ride both but have them set up a lot differently . I should really pick one to sell... but..
bike 6 : Weapon of choice ...foldable bike with 16" wheels. Its a riot . I can ride to the pub and ride it home. I can catch a taxi home . You can go with this , you can go with that.. Can carry 2 cases of beer on the back rack . Love it. Literally looks like a bike a clown would ride in a circus. Everyone gives you a big grin as you pass by.. They're thinking " I would not be seen DEAD riding that thing " . But , ride it I do.
Yes , do not wear anything on your back unless it is a one-off for extra stuff not fitting into your panniers ! PS I use that exact same Topeak pannier bag with the fold out sides - love it !!!