Bikes and tours and fun

Pedaled over to Bike-a-Palooza Sunday Afternoon at the Train Station.

Tony Lasher was there from Lasher Automotive. He has a collection of about 80 bikes, mostly Schwinns. If you missed a chance to see it, his collection is at his garage, Lockport Road and Hyde Park Boulevard.

The event promised free tuneups, bike rides and fun

It was sponsored by Niagara Outfitters, Niagara River Greenway Commission and Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

Wheels for Workers 716 was there as well. Blue Hannon and another volunteer were busy fixing bikes.

Outside, a woman took a 1970s Schwinn, ready to ride for a spin. They had $50 bikes for sale. A volunteer offered to deliver it if she decided it was affordable. Fascinating, such restored, quality bikes are available when you could spend $185 at Walmart for a piece of junk that will be in the landfill long before the Schwinn is done.

Inside, Libby Broderick of Niagara Outfitters was repping her business which offers kayak and bike rentals. She helped organize the event but said a press release brought limited media coverage and visitors were limited. www.niagaraoutfitters.com is her website. You can rent a bike, a canoe or kayak or even a tour.

After Libby and I chatted I went back and watched Blue working on a bike. I wish I had taken a photo. He was working on a Wheels-for-Workers bike.

I stood by but didn’t want to interrupt.

A well-meaning volunteer interrupted as I turned to walk way.

“I think he wants something” he said. I spun around. Blue approached.

“How can I help?” he said.

“My e-assist bike seems to catch if I ride uphill in the fastest gear and the motor is assisting. It clunks as soon as it has to work” I said. “There are 7 screws on the derailleur and one needs a corner turn but I don’t know it.”

“You might need a chain,” he said, grabbing his measuring tool.

He used the precise instrument to determine the chain remained within tolerance.

“It seems fine,” he said. “Maybe you were right.”

He examined the derailleur, went back to his box for a screwdriver and gave a different screw than I would have guessed a ¼ turn.

“Give it a ride and see how it is,” Blue said.

I put my helmet on and thought about leading 19 visitors on a tour at 2:30. It was 1:45.

“I am going to go right on Main and up the hill. If it skips, I will be right back,” I said. “If all is good I won’t be back. Thank you.”

I did just that and the chain didn’t skip.

My tour was 19 people. A mix of folks from India, Illinois, Colorado and Utah. Some were just here for the Maid of the Mist but I had 5 for the Maid and the Cave of the Winds. All were guests of Niagara Regional Tours.

All went well with the tours and my gears didn’t skip once. It was a dank day but hey, I can’t control the weather.