Author Archives: Rich Freggiaro

A high quality road bike that is well maintained should be nearly silent. You might hear a swishing sound of tires on smooth pavement, and a kind of ‘whrrr’ as the clean and well lubricated chain rotates and meshes with the chainrings and cassettes. Shifts are smooth and precise with no irritating rattling or chainContinue reading “The Case of the Creaking Seat Post”

My cell phone rang on Monday morning, and it wasn’t a robot selling me something or asking me to donate to some cause. It was my friend and riding buddy Paul, aka ‘G-Man’. “Rich can you come to lunch? It’s on me!” he said in a voice that sounded really upbeat and excited. Actually G-ManContinue reading “Flush with Funds”

I’m back on the bike after a long layoff due to the flap fracas. My first ride was on February 9, and I’ve done 400 miles so far. That’s including 66 miles yesterday on the Pedaling Paths to Independence Ride to support the Community Center For the Blind. On Thursday, our ride coordinator posted thisContinue reading “Make Mine a Metric”

Until recently I had never even heard of a culinary concoction called ‘chicken and waffles’. Then my friend Dave posted a picture of himself eating this at a bar/restaurant in Memphis. He was on a road trip to see Iowa State play in the Liberty Bowl. That is ‘liberty’, as in ‘freedom’, a concept GoogleContinue reading “Eat This, Don’t Eat That…”

This photo appeared on a friend’s Facebook page. Apparently one of his favorite restaurants had to close because of a skunk under their building. As they say in poker “I’ll see your skunk and raise you a dozen…” Stoker and I love our quiet home on Brumby Road, but living in the country poses aContinue reading “I Smell a Rat”

But un-able to cycle for at least another week. I just had the un-flapping surgery. It was scheduled for 30 minutes but ended up taking almost an hour. Lots of needles, pressure, cutting, cauterization, and discomfort. A very unpleasant process. After it was over I asked about exercise and the dermatologist said to wait atContinue reading “Un-Flap-Able…”

I had the pedicle flap procedure on December 28. It detached on January 9. Why it detached is anyone’s guess. The doctor is not taking responsibility, so that leaves me. I was as careful as I could be but it just came loose. I could suspect a faulty first flap fusion, but I have noContinue reading “Sisyphean Flap Fix”

Today Diane and I mark forty years of marriage. On January 13, 1983 we said our nuptials in our rented condo in Des Moines, Iowa. There were 7 guests. We catered our own wedding feast: Korbel Brut for an aperitif, a prime rib roast with all the timings accompanied by BV Private Reserve cabernet sauvignon,Continue reading “Cutting to the Chase”

Have I mentioned that I can’t ride my bike? In fact any exercise more strenuous that walking Luke the Dog is verboten. After Monday’s flap fail, I’m not taking any chances with the reattachment. I don’t have to bandage it if I’m inside the house, so I stay inside the house. I don’t think theContinue reading “Field of Study”

On Monday I was concerned enough about the state of my flap to call the doctor’s office The nurse gave me a script for antibiotics over the phone. But I decided if it really was infected it should be looked at and maybe have a culture taken. The doctor said everything was normal and thereContinue reading “Flap Fiasco”