Zizzo Liberte - folding bike adventures

[A2022]

Hey, what about loading a bike in your plane and going like Hell? Let your airplane and bike make you active and healthy.





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A nice find today. An old scratched up steel Redline Conquest Classic. The price was right. The brakes are shot.

[A2022]

Lunken Airport to Loveland, Ohio – a 40-mile round trip. Lunken Airport, located on Cincinnati's east side, is conveniently situated next to the Little Miami Bike Trail, allowing for easy access. Be aware that there's significant airport construction underway. However, parking is free on the terminal ramp, but you'll need to exit through the Signature FBO since the terminal gate is closed.

It was a beautiful day for riding and flying. The temperature started at -2°C but warmed to 10°C with no wind in the afternoon, and the sun was shining. The Little Miami Bike Trail was gorgeous, and Loveland boasts a fantastic food scene. I enjoyed a meal at Tano's, followed by fish tacos from a food truck, Greaters ice cream, and coffee at 42 Miles Coffee Shop. It felt like I spent two hours purely eating, but I was done for the day after that! It was a perfect day, with many people out and enjoying the weather.

I lost a bike road shoe but found it as I had it strapped to the bike and it became loose. I was walking around the town in house slippers when I lost it

The rivers are big this time of year.

[A2022]

Breathing new life into an old scratched up Redline Conquest Classic.... My frame size is 56 but this is a 54. Getting the handle bars up for the old retired guy.






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I've installed new brakes and brake rotors, tires (32mm), and a seat. I'm currently looking into the Redshift Shockstop system, as it seems like it could be beneficial for older riders.






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I cleaned the Ultegra shift mechanisms and flushed out a good amount of grime. They are now smooth and working well. I'm preparing to install new cables and a new Deore derailer, while leaving enough cable slack to pull the fork and stow the handlebar on the frame for easy loading to the RV baggage area. Also, note the quick release pedals for slimline loading. Buying a cheap project bike allows you to affordably equip it to your liking, resulting in a perfectly fitted bike without breaking the bank.

[A2022]

The weather in Ohio was great today, and it felt like I truly earned my meal. I saw deer and turkey in the woods and a huge pileated woodpecker.

[A2022]

I approached Columbus, Ohio from the southwest, starting at Bolton Field. It was a new bike route for me, and I hadn't been to Bolton Field in a while. The ride was a mix of two-lane roads, bike trails, and urban riding, which I enjoyed. I visited the Orton Geological Museum, which had many Ohio minerals and fossils. No dinosaurs have been found in Ohio due to erosion from the Appalachian Mountain uplift, but there are plenty of older fossils, dating back 400 million years. The North Market food court was very nice and busy, with everything imaginable available. The weather was perfect, and it was a glorious day. The aircraft engine oil still looks good at 80 hours; I'll change it at 100.

Round bike trip = 30 miles. Seatback set to middle hinge, thick seats, stick full aft, plenty of room. OMAD can do that for you. It just works!

A stock Zizzo Liberté is well-suited for urban environments, with good tires and quick handling.

[A2022]

A warm and windy day meant holding the stick between my knees to prevent banging. I decided to head for the mountain bike trails in the woods to escape the wind. I spent the entire afternoon on the trails, riding them end-to-end and all around. Those trails provide good exercise and work on balance and coordination. They also allow for complete focus, as you're too busy dodging roots and rocks, searching for the best line, and looking for some big air to think about anything else. The cafe's outdoor seating was open, and the weather was pleasant there in the late afternoon. I saw the cutest small Trek bike I've ever seen, with worn-out Bontrager tires; it looked good to me, and I wish I'd met the kid riding it. Maybe they could have offered some pointers. When leaving the cafe, a lady told me a guy had mistaken my bike for his, ridden off with it, and then brought it back. Upon filling up for departure, I noticed AVgas prices had increased by $1.30 per gallon to $6.68, but I'll need the fuel in a couple of days. The fuel drains have the 13-year-old Viton seals, and they're still working fine. It was a really nice day!

Winds were perpendicular to the aircraft today at 20g30kt, but one nose wheel chock held it securely. The chock rotated with the wheel as designed. Engine operating temperatures are nominal. I really like it when everything works as intended.

BORNS - Electric Love (TWINSICK Remix)
https://youtu.be/Ktwm-Nm68-A?si=m_SUkHujrDrBWryw

[A2022]

I visited Mount Vernon, Centerburg, Gambier, and Howard, Ohio today—Johnny Appleseed country. Nothing remarkable except the weather, which was perfect at 26°C with light winds. I cruised around on my bike, met some folks, and grabbed a bite to eat. The ride felt great on the Zizzo Speedster—I really like that bike! I chocked all the airplane wheels since the tarmac slopes, and slopes make me uneasy after once seeing a Cessna roll away years ago. Engine operating parameters are nominal, and the oil is still clean at 80 hours.

Total bike route = 55 miles

[A2022]

Just a normal run to the mountain bike trails, but I found some memorials in the forest. One was in good shape, while the other was in extreme decay.

80+ hours on this oil. It looks OK.

[A2022]

The old, scratched-up Redline Conquest Classic is coming along nicely. A 5-mile test ride was good. The new Avid BB7 brakes are marginal but may improve. A couple of gears are hunting, so I'm adding a new cassette to match the new Deore derailleur. Overall, I'm really happy with this bike. It rides like a nimble wheelbarrow.

[A2022]

Newark Ohio... I liked it. Licking airport has an old mail route beacon in nice shape.

Newark has some beautiful downtown murals. The ride back included about 20 miles of medium to light rain, which cleared just as I was departing. Leaving me only slightly soaked to the bone. The bike trails and infrastructure were excellent. Bellstores offers bike racks, shaded outdoor tables, and free water from the fountain. I could have spent four hours at the Heisey Glass Museum; it was that good. It doesn't get much better than this!

I recommend Morning Harvest Cafe in Newark, Ohio.
https://morningharvestcafe.com/

The oil looks OK at 85+ hours.

Joan Osborne - One Of Us
https://youtu.be/aDdOnl0bHO4?si=MpRH60-r_8cK_0t8

[A2022]

Oxford Ohio and Hueston Woods State Park....

It was my first time riding the mountain bike trails at Hueston Woods State Park. The weather started cloudy but cleared up to be very nice, with a high of 22°C and winds at 8 kts. The 9-mile ride to the park was mostly on two-lane roads, but I found a shortcut. The trails had steeper gradients and were more technical than John Bryan State Park, which I enjoyed. I met a guy on a $12,000 Specialized full-size mountain bike and left him in the dust on the climbs. It just goes to show you don't need an expensive bike to have fun. I broke another mirror, so I removed the stub for a smoother grip. I save the parts when they break and insert a 0.125" steel pin into the ball joint to use them again later. I got hot, so I shed some clothes. Layering is best for these activities. Saigon restaurant was perfect, with a well-deserved 4.9 rating on Google Maps. I talked to the hostess about eating one meal a day, and she said her father tried it but had to stop because he got dizzy and fell. If you get dizzy, eat something; it's better than falling and breaking something. I topped off the tanks at $5.90/gallon. As I departed, I flew over the State Park; it's a beautiful place. This was a very good day with good food and exercise! Note: Five printers were running while I was out, and the parts will be ready to ship tomorrow, Monday.


Tinlicker - Sleepwalker
https://youtu.be/aJyr9cAlaBs?si=xreAs4f8sIwEMpco

[A2022]

I received my Aviation Trail water bottle for riding to see all the sights. You are eligible if you hike, run, or bike to these locations and record your total mileage on the form. My mileage was 82 miles for this water bottle. It's a stainless steel, double-walled bottle in a nice blue... and not everyone has these. I was thinking is was going to be a simple plastic bottle. Nope. This will look sweet in the aircraft. Prestige!

[A2022]

A nice, relaxing bike mechanic day... I installed a second set of aerobars on a Zizzo Liberte and replaced the gear group set on the Redline to correct a gear-hunting issue. It's all good now. I'm working on the Redline bar tape. This one will have palm cushions. Working on a bike at a leisurely pace is pleasant.

[A2022]

Nothing exceptional about this trip, but the weather was great. After a couple of days of rain, a cool front pushed through, and the air and ground were both fresh. I rode the John Bryan State Park mountain bike trails and had a meal. I saw a 1970s Batavus bike, made in Holland, with what appeared to be a front drum brake, still going strong. I had a snack on the riser above my bike, and a couple of ladies walking past felt the urge to turn off the red blinking tail light. It took them about two minutes to understand how to do it. I just sat, watched, and smiled. It turns off automatically after 5 minutes. Not much air traffic today and I had the entire mountain bike trail system to myself. It doesn't get much better than today.

The small, battery-powered bike tire pump is working well. 60 psi for the road, and 20 psi front and 30 psi rear for the trails.

Automotive fuel has doubled in price over the past 2 months around here.

Listening to Mazzy Star on the riser. She moves a lot of air around the tone to create this sound. Amazing sound coming from a little girl.
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You | Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre (1994)
https://youtu.be/o4m5jQy5A2U?si=OP0AqJBKplVdbvWp



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[A2022]

I wrapped the bar with tape. It could have been better and worse. One more piece to swap on the bike to make the final adjustment and it will be done. There is nothing better than a perfectly fitting bike. I am really happy with this one so far. It's a small frame that rides big and fits in the baggage area. I don't know the best configuration for loading. I left some extra cable length on the bike to hopefully allow the bar to swing back in the frame when the fork is removed. I may need to a make plastic travel mount for that. Yeah, it is configured for the old senior citizen rider....

The bike has 32mm wide tires and I believe it is capable of 45mm. The old scratched up, forgotten about, Redline Conquest Classic bike is coming to life again!

54cm frame with 700c wheels.











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The old Redline is similar to the Surly Disc Trucker for 25% of the cost and you get the components and fit you want. They designed this Surly for Grandpa... I like it!

https://surlybikes.com/products/disc-tr ... pas-khakis

[A2022]

There are some major renovations happening along the Paint Creek Trail from Washington Court House to Chillicothe, Ohio. They’re investing a lot to improve this trail. The Hopewell Indian Mound Group is truly impressive. On my way back, a truck ended up blocking my path. :)

An all-black sheet metal house... maybe some kind of sweltering torture chamber?

Good food at The Willow restaurant.

My new 40g canopy break mount survived my landing....

Fly - Sugar Ray
https://youtu.be/I4z_KhR4sOI?si=zRLPDGU9BbJ5awXp



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[A2022]

Amazing green was the color of the day. I made it back after MAZU restaurant to score the last piece of carrot cake, and it was a winner. Nothing much to do today except find my line on the bike trail... Like the song says, just hanginaround, nothing ta do. Don't worry about wasting your life, it's already gone. It's great being a senior citizen!

5 stars for MAZU – totally different! Saw a 500-year-old tree at the park. Plenty of friendly people were out, and the MBT parking filled up gradually. There were soybeans sprouting, a change from last year's corn, which is the usual rotation in the area. Perfect temps.

I blew the bike bottom bracket bearing on the Zizzo. Time for a new bearing.

Counting Crows - Hanginaround
https://youtu.be/ARiiO_41Id8?si=wVnqZnfi99_XzJg3

[A2022]

This bike is solid and ready to ride. It's definitely not lightweight, but I really enjoy how it handles. It's very comfortable to ride, thanks to the upright riding position. You can look around instead of staring at the ground!

Redline Conquest Classic

needs a kickstand and a mirror

[A2022]

I had planned to ride to Columbus, Ohio, 100 miles east, but it was cloudy, cooler, and windy, so I headed west to the other Columbus, in Indiana. It's amazing how a 200-mile difference can improve the weather! A couple of years ago, I thought a trip around Columbus was a long way, but now I use it for a warm-up. The airport manager greeted me at the aircraft and mentioned that if I ever arrive without a bike, they have 45 in excellent condition ready to go, which is convenient because the bike trail connects directly to the airport. Columbus, Indiana, is a bike destination, as I've said before, and the town is great, with a population of 200,000. I had a small apple dessert after my one meal of the day, but don't worry; I ran a calorie deficit today. I cycled the canopy breaker hammer out of the mount five times as I do each trip.

The SPD shoes were great, but I dumped the bike over once and went down. They are one-sided, but if you forget which side you have, that can be a problem. I like my feet clipped in when I ride for better power transfer. It would have been better if I had trained with clipless pedals as a kid, because it takes longer to get a natural feel when you are older. The problem I have is that when my foot gets trapped and I am going over, I don't react to get it out, but rather just brace for impact. I need to work on that on some soft ground.

A community garden where each person gets a little plot and the ability to chat over the fence. I like that a lot.

The seatbacks stayed in position when I pulled the bike over. 3M Dual Lock latches.

The oil looks darker at 94 hours.

It doesn't get much better than today!


Nora En Pure - Economy (Original Mix)
https://youtu.be/2tNymc6QgnY?si=5SekyjUsUMAbVJIr