5/24/2018 The Wheel
When you're on the road for long periods of time, the ability to perform your own bike maintenance really comes in handy. I've certainly had to adjust my derailleurs and brakes a fair amount of times, changed more than a few flats, replaced some broken spokes and spent more time than I'd like truing a wheel that just wouldn't stay true. More recently I can add building a whole new rear wheel and derailleur installation to that list.
Building a bicycle wheel is no small task that requires a good amount of patience and, when you're out in the sticks, a little improvisation. Now you might be wondering why someone in my situation would go about such a task in the first place, so perhaps a little backstory is in order. The stock rear wheel on my bike has had almost daily problems since we first set out. Our first night out I found the bike perilously unstable, but didn't have time to look into it and just assumed it was a complication of riding with a lot of gear. After over a week of riding like that, I discovered that several spokes had worked their way out of their nipples leaving the wheel unsupported in some areas. This left the wheel permanently bent and almost impossible to true.
5/6/2018 S'mores Pie
Things don't always have to be simple and slapped together while you're camping. This extremely sweet dessert, inspired by classic campfire s'mores, can add something special to the evening if you have the time and resources to make it. It's more complicated than the typical "roast marshmallow, smoosh between two crackers" fare, but it's not quite as complex as you might think. It uses the same ingredients as s'mores with a few additions, and the bit of added effort makes a mighty difference. You just might feel fancy enough to put on your least dirty clothes and eat it with your pinky up.
Regarding the egg: I know it's sometimes hard to keep eggs while you're travelling and camping. I have substituted a mashed banana with great success, but if you don't have a banana (or the egg) (or the milk, powdered or otherwise) on hand, you're better off just having regular old s'mores. The filling ends up being taffy-like, and while delicious, it's hard to get a clean and simple spoonful. |
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February 2024
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