Peace and Quiet… I’m Confused… Plus My TEOTWAWKI Bicycle

70 thoughts on “Peace and Quiet… I’m Confused… Plus My TEOTWAWKI Bicycle”

1. Re: Bike seats…the big fluff looks appetizing, but long term, go find a bike shop and have your seat bones measured. A good saddle that’s made to support what God gave ya–even if it feels rock hard–will do ya millions better in the long run than the Wallyworld fluff.

   1. > A good saddle that’s made to support what God gave ya–even if it feels rock hard–will do ya millions better in the long run than the Wallyworld fluff.

      IMNHO the analogy to insoles seems appropriate; Dr Scholl’s may feel comfy but you actually need orthopedic support. I’ve had that argument round and round with people over the years.

      1. There’s a reason why guys who ride (horses) for a living almost always have a hard seat saddle. Proper fit trumps padding every single time.

2. Replacing a window motor is a piece of cake. Youtube can be helpful with particulars.

3. Aortic Aneurysm?

   1. Also you never told us what you wound up paying for the Glock. I would keep the mags. Cheap enough and it gives you spares if one goes bad.
      I had a buddy who was a city cop and he carried the exact same piece, even Austrian made! He loved it.
      Gratz on the car….and the peace and quiet.
      If you ever need the aorta fixed it is much better for it to be done through the groin rather than having your chest cracked open like in the old days. Much shorter healing time.

      1. $349 plus S&H but S&H was free as it was (at the time) one of the free shipping PSA Daily deals… GAH I love and hate those let me tell ya)
         Not a bad deal…

         1. That’s a sweet deal.

      2. But then he has to endure the constant hard pressure against his deep femoral artery in his groin by a nurse or surg tech for 45 minutes up to a couple of hours while the plug material hardens to seal the artery. Beats open chest surgery. He will be limited to how much Billy can lift and carry and bending over, if the plug fails, he would bleed out faster than he could imagine. If is in an aortic aneurysm that is nothing to fool around with, it could burst and our host would be in the same problem as before.

         1. Tried to call you bro
            Gimme a shout at some point on the telephone!

      3. Yup, they’ll go in put in a stent and call it done.

   2. DAT WUZ IT!
      Mongo brainium has too many dings in it.
      Got mistaken for a Marine the other day…
      Had to explain it was pepper flakes in my toofuses, not crayon 😉

      1. And you HAVE to admit… THAT was FUNNY

         1. It was funny.
            Although YOU have to admit that it was a Marine who knew what you were talking about with “Aortic WTF do you call it”.

   3. Sounds like it.

      1. Meaning sounds like an aortic aneurysm.

4. If you ever get a hankering to take a pistol class with the Grok, 7 mags lets you shoot longer before you have to stuff mags. I’d get more, personally, but that’s up to you. Magpul makes a serviceable Grok mag, and they are marginal cheaper than OEM, so if money is tight,

   I have over a dozen of every mag type in my inventory, Para-Ordnance included. I hate stuffing mags during class, I prefer to do it after the day is over. So, I have enough in loaded mags to keep me through the day, and stuff them again after class.

5. one. keep the extra magazines, you will want spares. I have close to a dozen for each handgun here.
   you can stash a few in your new ride. I keep 3-4 magazines in the truck. just in case like.
   trade in cop guns are a steal at times. I got a like new Sig 220 for 350 once. I got to pick it out of a dozen or more there. I knew the shop owner. it helps ! they also had a bunch of 226s and I should have grabbed at least one of them. he had a big box of magazines 8 bucks a pop. if the springs seem “iffy” get new ones from Wolf gunsprings . for a carry weapon, you know the cops will keep if you ever have to use it. YES/ even with a good shooting. the damn cops keep your weapon ! also find out what ammo they use as well. this little bit helps a lot when you end up in court. don’t ask me how I know this. and YES. life is a lot easier without the drama bullshit.
   NOW. about the aortic problem. yes. get it fixed as soon as you can. with Sapper near by to watch over your ass is a smart/great idea. him you trust right ? so. do it before he leaves your AO.
   have a bike myself, but I don’t see me using it to go anywhere if shit hits the fan. too broken down for the road shall we say. things are looking up for ya. good. we all told you it would.
   later.

   1. They usually won’t do a repair on one until it gets to a certain level because there is always the risk of death on the table so they don’t take the procedure lightly.
      Him getting all the extra stress out of his life has probably dropped his risk factor of it popping by a couple numbers.
      And hell, someone else could sit by his bedside post op if needed. Like me. I promise that the pillow would be on his face no longer than a minute.

      1. yeah. you right about losing all the stress. didn’t think about that part of it.
         I like Marines. always did. it the getting on ships that I didn’t like. my uncle Jack was a Marine.
         he served with Chesty in WW2. from the “canel” to Pelieu. which he said was the worse he ever saw.
         he liked flamethrowers too. one time when I was a kid and my parents went there. I got to see all of the pictures on his wall. him and Chesty, a few old one during it and a lot afterwards at reunions.
         I asked him who it was , and he said sit down I and tell you about one of the greatest Marines that ever lived. after Pelieu, he was sent stateside to train the marines that went into Iwo.
         he passed on going to Korea as he had enough of war.

      2. If I were Country I’d follow the vascular surgeon’s recommendation. Not too soon, not too late. Just make sure if you do ever have symptoms of dissection you go to an ED of a hospital that HAS A VASCULAR SURGEON. It can be really hard to transfer out, especially in the winter when everyone’s over capacity.
         Oh, and the “groin” approach? No worries; it’s got nothing to do with your crotch. Just a femoral/iliac artery approach, which is way mo betta than doing it open. Those are difficult recoveries with all the fluid shifts.

6. https://m3.gab.com/media_attachments/6e/f8/55/6ef8556e6526268046bd192ee3a37314.jpeg?width=568

   1. Okay, that’s funny and I stole it.

7. You think it’s kinda weird not getting where are you calls and constant stress from the old cheese – just wait until you have a new FWB. After being in a relation-shit for 8 years, the first few casual shags positively felt like I was doing something terrible and wrong, like actually cheating on my ex. Despite the fact that SHE broke it off due to not being “happy” – we all know that’s code for she was already getting her back blown out by a series of new “fellas” and thought she could “do better” than me. That’s how I got over that rose fertiliser real quick – I knew she had already slept with at least ten new men by now, so all that love and commitment from my side was just so much worthless delusion. NEVER again.

8. I “good” bike that you can rely on in a SHTF situation is going to start at around $600.00 and go up from there. Mind you – things may have changed in the 35 years that have elapsed since my days in the saddle. Most mountain bikes like that are 21 speed but sometimes you’ll see more or less. The critical components on a bicycle are in the derailleur group. In my day it was high end Shimano and I *think* the first Deore groups were hitting the market. BC – if I were serious about using it and staking my life on it – I’d test it. Most bikes from the big department stores are fine for the occasional ight rider. If you are going to put serious miles on, in adverse conditions…? That’s when the preppers get separated from the poseurs. A real life test is also a great excuse for some serious fun. It would make for some great blogging too! Just sayin’.

   I personally have 8 mags for all my serious guns. I know it’s overkill but whatever, it’s just peace of mind for me.

   1. Mags are like firearms.
      One is none…more is gooder.

9. New bike computers are gps, don’t have to mess with sender units and magnets. Inexpensive ones are around $40. Keep the mags, like Dave I have about a dozen per gun.

10. Have an uncle who rode a touring style bike to work almost every day of the week except for incliment weather or too cold/ice warnings. Helped him stay fit and in great shape all those years. I’d say keep riding as much as possible or as safe as it can be.

11. Personally, I like it when my wife goes out and I get the house to myself. And I’m sure she likes it when my annoying self is gone.
    I just now realized I’ve never been with a controlling woman. Dunno why? Maybe cuz my mom was always trying to control me. Mannnnn did I ever rebel hard and bad against that. Didn’t even see or talk to my parents the first 18 months or so of my enlistment.
    I’ve ALWAYS and still do HATE it when anyone tries to manipulate me (which blew my RN mind during COVID).
    Returned to my parents as a man.
    Rant over.

    1. So you are one of the fold? I did 32 years as an ICU RN before retiring. How long have you been in the cycle of madness?

       1. Oh dude, 22 years 4 months of mainly ICUs. Now I’m a Transfer RN. I do not miss the abuse… Still sux to see our healthcare system taken over by Pharma. I could go on…
          Wow u went from the Corps to a RN, what a change.
          It was weird for me going from working with nearly all guys (Puddle Jumper) to almost all women. Kinda isolating though, since I was married I couldn’t go out after work with those DROP DEAD beautiful newer RNs after work. Man was I surrounded LOL. Seems to be a trend of younger RNs going to ED, since Hollyweird glamorized it so much, and they’re kinda arrogant pricks. The newer ones who go to ICU aren’t; they were very friendly. There’s no Hollyweirdo glamour in ICU, eh?
          Seemed like no one ever knew who we were. We were ghosts. By the time patients were better (and -alert), they’d moved out.
          BTW, I have tremendous respect for you Corps guys. Did you see my post on Country’s last post about a couple Marines who helped my wife? They were honorable to her.

          1. I had a family to support. Totally different MOS but I was good at it. I was the one you wanted to be there during the code. I didn’t freak out. Yes it was a change from taking lives to saving them.
             I respect you for being one of the few.
             Yeah I saw the thing about your wife. Not surprised actually. We have a strong code we live by overall.
             I was married to either the first one or the second during most of my time. Don’t regret not sampling the younglings.
             From my Boomer attitude they are mostly annoying.

             1. My peers liked my code blues, too (and Rapid Responses). Very quiet and calm, and the Hospital Supervisor was the Bouncer. They wouldn’t allow too many people into the room.
                I taught the newer ICU Charge RNs that time slows down, things that seem to be taking forever really aren’t. So chilll out, and it’ll be ok. Also, things get done soooooo much faster if the codes are calm and quiet, and everyone stays on the same page. I imaging that is true for combat too, but I’m not a combat vet, so dunno…
                I stayed as the code team leader even after the ED MD arrived. I just requested they intubate, and usually a hospitalist would arrive, and I would ask them to do the H’s and T’s by them jumping into the chart. It was hard to run the algorithm militantly, and figure out the H’s and T’s at the same time otherwise.
                Oh, I worked with a dude who was a Vietnam veteran, reg Army. Very chill when challenges arose. Anyways, helo he was in got shot down, and he found himself in a tree. He laughed while telling me his story, and always had a good sense of humor.
                Doug, retired to home state of Texas.

             2. yes, to the “code” Honor is not just another word to Marines. just about every one I got to know was a stand up guy all around. I learned a bit about it from my uncle Jack.
                then too my Dad was a lot like that himself even if he was a sailor.
                he changed his last name and joined the Navy because he didn’t like wearing a tie.
                no shit. weird right ? anyway. we need more of that in this country.

          2. Not a nurse but a lifetime in the trenches and the ICU nurses were the ones we looked up to. Them and battle-axes, I loved working with battle-axes. Maybe I should have watched more tv.

12. Keep the mags. Stuff like that I never get rid of.
    You’re prolly better off with the Ford. Older Volvos are a crap shoot. When they go bad, they go bad hard and nearly all the parts and fluids are volvo specific. Can be spendy. I believe a naval-gazer is basically an F150. If I’m wrong, then it’s a Ranger. Again, ubiquitous parts.

    Fords are ubiquitous and parts are plentiful and cheap. That’s why I got the Excursion I have. It’s essentially an F250. If the motor or tranny goes, I can get any number of them as a replacement. The door motor is easy. Make sure it isn’t something stupid like a switch.

    As each of my kids graduated college, I’d wax romantic and tell them that the time from when I got out of school and started working to the getting married were the happiest times of my life. I had money in my pocket, time on my hands. Life was simpler. So enjoy it.

    After the divorce, I find myself in that same state. First thing I noticed, other than dealing with lawyers, was peace. And even then, I had a decent lawyer who handled things for a flat fee. The next thing I noticed was that I had money. My checking account seemed to have way more dough on average than usual. It was because it wasn’t being depleted by Herself. The car payment – hers. The insurance, donations to the church, I handled all the bills and these were cut in half. Think of all the money you blew dealing with the in-laws and DC drama.

    It’s nice. Hell, after your conundrum with a carry piece needing to be lighter, I got a S&W bodyguard in .380. Why? Because I can now. Fits in my shorts pockets when I walk the dogs.

    1. Have the same 380 ACP for summer clothes. Surprising how well it goes bang, since it’s soooo small. Not used to such a small caliber, so I keep rounds in it that have some sorta plastic in the hollow point that makes them more effective somehow. It’s been so long I can’t remember how the plastic works, and I don’t know much about bang bangs beyond the basics of each type (they’re just tools to me).

       1. Plastic plug in the hollow point often makes for better feeding (no opening to snag on things), better ballistic performance from better aerodynamics (not a big deal at most pistol range), better penetration through thick clothing, and finally it is supposed to act as a wedge and help the expansion especially of a lighter projectile

          1. Coelacanth
             Amazing the plastic gives better penetration AND expansion. I never would’ve thought you could get the best of both worlds.
             Thx.

    2. yeah. I know that feeling. after the divorce and I paid all the bills and bought a ton of food, still had cash left over (???) never had that before the divorce. it was then I went out and got myself a case of good Dutch beer and a bottle of scotch. amazing how that works ?
       and after I left uncle Sam and got paid good money for my skills, life got even better.
       bought my first NEW car even. everything before was always used.
       as BC will find out he going to have a lot more “spare cash” than before. after he pays off the lawyers
       and shit that is. it is a win-win really.

       1. I didn’t realize I made so much money until after the divorce. I went from paycheck to paycheck to being able to put a bunch away. I was even able to take a week long ski vacation to Lake Tahoe that first winter and come back with money still in my bank account. The kids went with me, since they, as teens, chose to stay with me – so, no court mandated child support. They were as disgusted by their mother’s behavior as I was and wanted nothing to do with her.

13. 7 mags per gat is true and proper

    1. Yep. One loaded with warshot in gun, 2-3 loaded with warshot for backup, the rest loaded with range ammo for the range (or when you need non-expanding bullets.)

       Heck, I know people who have 7-10 mags preloaded with range ammo on top of 3-5 loaded for bear. Per gun. Even if they have 2 guns that take the same mags. Because it sucks being stuck loading when you want to be shooting.

14. Never will understand what men see in demanding women. So often my husband’s friends couldn’t do ‘x’ or commit to ‘y’ because they had ‘family commitments’ – i.e. her family was visiting and his constant presence was required. When our son began seeing his now wife, every time he stopped by to see us, for any reason/length of time, she’d call within 10 minutes asking when he’d be home. (No, she still doesn’t like us.) I have never, ever begrudged my husband time for hobbies and/or with friends – when you love someone you want them to be happy. As for extended family responsibilities, we settled that at the beginning – there were none – ever – as well as minimal contact on my end from the get-go. A marriage is supposed to be a joyful union, not a cage.

    1. The sort of relationship I have with my wife. Very liberating. I don’t begrudge her and she doesn’t to me. However, we still prefer each others company over anyone else.

       1. Yes, this exactly.

    2. Amen to this!

    3. I like this. My lovely lady trusted me to not cheat on her, which I wouldn’t do, and let me go on long motorcycle rides with my friends. In return, I was glad to let her go on long trips to see her family. 30 years together. Much trust.

15. Look in to Liberty Ammuniton Civil Defense rounds or ultralite and I’ll see what I can do to get some to you for testing.

    I played around with them a good deal before deciding to stock them on the shelf and customers like them a lot especially for carry guns as it shaves a suprising amount of weight off, has nasty impact downrange, and less recoil. Makes my 29 a joy to shoot and carry and the 42/43x a dream.

    What do you think of the Smith and Wesson CSX or Khars by the by.

16. Ahh peace and quiet after you broke up, you probably feel like you just were released from prison.

    My first wife was like that, she tried to control my life constantly and the minute that I came home, her mouth was running at me. As a funny aside, loverboy who was the guy she was cheating on me with who post divorce became her husband, after 14 years with her loves being with her so much that he has taken a traveling job where he is out of town 3 weeks out of the month.

    As 3g4me said, there are good women who are NOT like that. My wife now never tries to control me and never runs her mouth at me. She’s awesome and my life is peaceful and calm with no BS.

    Lesson learned is next girlfriend/relationship get a low maintenance woman.
    High maintenance women like both of our exes are a full time job trying to make them happy and it isn’t worth it, wears you down over time and makes you miserable.

17. Concerning CAT scans. I’m allergic to the iodine based dye so my Dr. prescribes some kind of steroid pills that I take the day before the scan. It helps biggly.
    Semper Fi

18. Hi BC.

    Lurker for a couple of years, found you through
    WRSA. So very very glad you decided to discard
    the boat anchor you had attached to your neck.
    How you put up with some of that shitstorm boggles
    the mind. This is the beginning of a new much less
    stressful life for you. I was married at 17 and
    divorced at 20. High school mistake. Got a good
    boy out of it though. He’s a gem, loves guns and
    invited his old crippled dad to come live at his
    place. I’ll be moving there before the year’s end.
    His wife (3rd try) is great too, he did good this
    time.

    They are conservatives with some libertarian
    leanings and hate commies. They love guns and
    shooting. He wants to put in a range for me to
    shoot on. Makes it worth putting up with his mom
    for 18 years while he grew up. She, fortunately,
    wasn’t batshit crazy like a lot of friends exes were.
    She just got “tired” of me. Sound familar?

    Neways, never remarried, GFs all the way after that.
    Was tempted to screw up twice but never proposed.
    Nancy Regan was kinda useless but I remembered her
    saying. Just. Say. No.

    Glad things are looking up and that you no longer have
    to go to the Stop and Rob naked anymore (Oh My God!)
    You got real lucky. Congrats on the Navigator that fine
    fine man is giving you as well.

    As has been noted, your health will improve with less
    stress. Hang in there buddy, you have no clue how many
    us are wishing you well. Will write you a check if I can
    when it gets a bit financially better to help with the SP.
    Can’t believe the crazy witch attacked your dog, I hope
    she rots in prison for that.

    So, signing off for now. Best wishes my friend.

    Shooter.
    Proud native Texan.

    1. Appreciate You and your commentary “Tex”
       Congrats on raising a fine lad.
       All I can say w/mine is “I tried” but unfortunately due to financial constraints, I couldn’t be there,
       As far as the health goes, it’s an Insh’Allah moment on that…As strange as it sounds, having lived there for so long, with my MA in Comparative Religion and having studied at the World Famous University of Baghdad, (which has been around since ancient times) it’s not an invocation of Islam, but more of the reality of “If God Wills It” be it Big J or The Father, Zeenu or whomever else decides is the go-to-of the moment…
       One. Day. AT. A. Time. amiright?

19. I had a similar bike that burned (along with everything else) in 2018 when the Camp Fire burned Paradise CA. to the ground. Reading your story has me heading out to get a new one. I retired and the gut got bigger and the muscle tone has gone down the shitter. Time to get back in shape.

20. Dayummm! Only thing missing on that bike is your camo bedroll and the scabbard for a the SMLE. NICE rig.
    I have a batch of pieces parts (maybe enough to complete one of those cargo frames) sitting in the garage. Wonder if it would retrofit to the front wheel? Hmmm. Would need to hang off the handlebars or turning vertical tube and the front wheel axle nuts, but if that thing has gas forks, it would get complicated and need more engineering. Nevermind! 😉

21. Might want to keeps the mags.

    https://x.com/Mrgunsngear/status/1945953673554677950?t=-PfAAOtY37RWO1E-4drqrQ&s=19

22. fyi…glock is “phasing” out everything but gen 5 guns…they will still be selling parts for 1-4 gens but won’t say for how long…they plan on still making the older gens for police and military that don’t want to change to something else but who knows how long that will last…so you may want to get some internals while you can, especially those parts that wear down the most…a firing pin, firing pin safety, a slide catch since it has that little spring on it in case you put the pins in wrong order and break/bend it…

23. Good rig for its purpose. I would suggest getting more mags. For the 2 full size guns I carry most often I purchased a MTM ammo can with an insert that holds a bunch of loaded mags, bottom up. Makes for a waterproof package you can toss in the car for a quick bugout if needed. Shit, if Florida ever goes open carry just wear a bandoleer of mags. Those ghetto boys would have cleared out of the store if you walked in strapped like that. Men do problem solving all day at work. A woman’s place is to make a peaceful and loving home for her husband. Not to dump more problems to solve in his lap. Enjoy the peace and quiet.

24. With a 31 inch inseam and being 6 ft 4 inches you must have a lot of Neanderthal heritage!!

25. Best magazine is the one with “Govt – LE Use Only” ha ha ha.

    I’m reading and yeah that part for the bike is cool and yeah those bags are interesting and the I get to the end with the Bongino meme and I realized it was all worth it 😀

26. If I had a seat like that on my 90’s vintage $800 Schwinn 18 speed mountain bike, I’d probably ride it more. 6’3″ with a 32″ inseam. My bicycle preps consist of keeping Slime in the tires and having had it rebuilt by a reputable bicycle mechanic. I can definitely agree on the fender thing, too – front and rear (nothing like having muddy water splatter across your back while wearing a nice shirt).

    You never have enough mags. I have at least 10 for each one that takes them – at least. The only time you have too much ammo is if you are trying to swim a deep river or are on fire.

    1. Shit!
       I forgot to re-slime the new innertoobs! (dry rot from sitting around too long) Thanks for the reminder!

27. I’m sorry you’re having to go through all the upheaval of another divorce, but in a way I’m glad, because yes, this IS what normal life looks like. Been married to a wonderful man for 42 years. Peace 90% of the time, almost zero drama with either of us and none that’s ongoing the way you’ve been dealing with. On the rare occasion we get angry at one another, we both stfu until the anger passes and we can discuss the situation rationally like adults. That way nobody says anything we can’t take back. Maybe you’ll meet a woman whose normal life is calm sometime in the future, but right now I’m glad to see you even just getting to do guy things with Sapper and your friends. You deserve peace in your life.

    1. Lovely wish. I agree. My lovely and I don’t always agree, but we don’t argue. Out of respect for one another.

28. iirc, Glock dropped the Gen 3 for 4 because there were ejection problems with the slide body. The ejection port’s relationship to the extractor on some caused fte’s.

    Shoot the shit out of it first to make sure yours is not fubar’d.

    If there are problems changing the extractor may work. If not show it the door.

29. a)
    Get weight off your hands and wrists with a recumbent.
    For decades, I built recombent bicycles and trikes with UNDER-SEAT STEERING.
    Grips and controls are in the natural spot your hands rest, zero stress on back and shoulders.
    .
    (Some recumbents have the handlebar in front of the rider, requiring constant muscle tension to maintain position.
    In a wreck, that steel and aluminum is right in your face.)
    .
    On a traditional diamond-frame, the most power you can put to the pedals is a fraction of your body weight.
    On a recumbent, you can put hundreds of pounds on those same pedals.
    Imagine doing squats at the gym, same concept.
    .
    b)
    I am 6’3″ 220#, extremely low body-fat.
    I fit best in mens 32/36 Carhartt bib-overhauls.
    .
    c)
    Your first bicycle photograph shows a small-frame.
    In a traditional diamond-frame bicycle, the distance from the bottom tube to the top tube is engineered for different heights of riders.
    .
    On your bicycle frame, the stem-tube has almost no height at the top-tube/bottom-tube junction, suggesting that particular frame is designed for a smaller rider.

    1. ALL bikes are made for a stinking puny hoomon.
       I have to adapt to your puny world unfortunately and I don’t have “Fuck You” levels of $$$ to get what would fit me

30. Long time reader, but comments from me are short. 20 year Jarhead starting in the late 70’s and a farm raised Iowan. Hey Country, love the bike but it’s like all preps. Are you proficient at it? Can you pump out 5 grisly miles in a hurry? I’m a young 66 with minimal pain (or I have reached a high threshold for it over the years) and picked up a Trek 8500 like new at auction for $40 bucks. Figured I’d hop on and give that thing a ride. Nice bike but it kicked my ass and still is. Been through your predicament 2x. Married a good Filipina 27 yrs ago and one of the best decisions ever made in my crazy life. Keep on truckin.

31. Oh, and another experience. Watch the alcohol intake. Gets real easy to pop the top as a single guy cuz ain’t no one riding your ass especially if you’ve got a hankering for the juice like me.

32. Prepare for blowouts on that 2 wheeler.

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