Average Speed: 68.2 mph!

I recently had a birthday - not an "age-group significant" one, i.e. one divisible by 5 or 10. Let's just say this was one of 24 prime number birthdays that accrue to people who reach the age of 89. I received thoughtful gifts, cards, and greetings. Among the gifts was a new TREK bicycle, and accessories including a small wireless bike computer. This device displays current, average, and max speed; trip distance and odometer; clock and trip timer; and several other mysterious functions.

I took my third ride on the new bike this morning. But before I took off, I puzzled over the pictures that illustrated how to attach the computer and sensor, and how to set it up. I had wanted to leave home at 8am, but the installation wasn't going smoothly. I wanted a thousand words, not the picture instructions included in the clear plastic packaging. It was 8:30 when I uttered my final WTF! and left the kitchen (bike work area today) and headed out the front door carrying the bike with newly installed computer that registered 68.2 mph. Something's not right.

Today's route included a stop at the bike shop for help. When I got there, it wasn't open yet. No matter...I'll stop on the way back. I had a good ride in beautiful weather, going east on the bike trail toward Vienna VA. Destination: Whole Foods for coffee and a blueberry scone. En route, I met a group of my running friends who were on a long trudge. Got my coffee and scone and sat at one of the bolted-down metal picnic tables outside the store. I leaned my bike against one of the several large wall paintings. Sitting there is pleasant because it's interesting to watch the bike traffic on the trail, and the comings and goings of people. Birds looking for handouts hop close to the tables.

I retraced my route back to the bike store that appeared to be open since the display bikes were sitting outside. The automatic doors opened and I stepped into a dark store that the worker was in the process of opening. He fiddled with the sensor attached to a spoke, moved the transmitter attached to the fork, but the computer still registered 68.2 mph. He needed the directions. Other customers were entering the store, so I cut my visit short.

This afternoon I set up my work area on the front porch, studied the picture directions more carefully, and discovered I had attached the sensor and transmitter to the wrong side of the fork. The sensor was not being sensed, thus the transmitter had nothing to communicate to the computer. I made the switch and all is well. A neat gift. Now I can spend time figuring out its mysterious functions.