Self-propelled until the snow falls
Last weeks I bought myself a few new toys: Shimano PD-M324 SPD pedals and SH-M038 shoes. That's jargon for cool bicycle equipment. (Sorry, no links, I can't seem to be able to access Shimano's site right now.) The shoes attach to the pedals using a clever locking mechanism, thanks to which one can pull upwards as well as pressing downwards while pedaling. You release your foot by twisting your heel to the side, something which is wise to practice before you start riding.
The whole sheebang cost me 133 euros, thanks to which I had to promise my wife to take the bike to work until winter hits. Actually I already did that last summer, so I should be good to go. I only hope my bike won't fall apart before fall... For summer 2005 I hope to get a new bike. Maybe. If we can afford it.
The whole bike upgrade procedure was rather eventful though. After getting the pedals I noticed that some arsehole had stolen part of my rear brake. Fortunately the bike shop let me dig their used parts box for spares free of charge. I eventually got my bike into riding condition yesterday. Unfortunately, while working on my wife's bike, I found that her bike is missing parts too. The worst part is that since our bikes are kept in a common storeroom which is in use by everyone in the building it's rather impossible to prevent these things. I couldn't even install a security camera if I paid for it myself, as the law doesn't allow them in common areas. Not that I'm a security camera fan, but it would be the only realistic way to prevent people from dismantling their neigbours' bikes in the privacy of the night.
Baby-watch
Last week's announcement seems to have been anticipated by a few people. Antti/Geek Savant wrote an entry about my ascension into parenthood, and I got some congratulative mails too. It's sort of scary-cool that people actually read this stuff.