I’m in Arvada staying with Vincent. I really normally like the drive across Nevada, Utah and Colorado, but with a underlying worry that the car I’m driving could break down at any time, it was more stressful than enjoyable.
The people I bought the van from have no intention to “make it right” so I’m weighing my options now. I need to get back to Topeka before I decide exactly what I’m going to do. It’s really about principles now. The transmission is now making a low whinning noise and it is obvious that there is an expensive fix coming along soon. Thanks to all that gave me legal advice. I didn’t realize how much different laws can be state to state.
Vincent and I went for a pretty good ride yesterday. Vincent is weird riding with. He is usually either on or off. He was off yesterday, which was fine. I had a wicked headache all day. Actually, it started the two nights earlier right after I got the check engine code read and then checked into Treasure Island in Las Vegas. I wasn’t in the mood for any people watching in Vegas and went directly to the room and stayed there. I still have a remnant a headache. I’ve never had a headache this long in my life. It might be from altitude now, but I don’t really know.
Anyway, we rode up Lookout Mtn. super easy and did a lap around Genesse Park. On the way back, we stopped by Vincent’s new vintage motorcycle repair business, Old World Bikes, which is in a commercial storage condo area. The Optum Pro Cycling Team has a service course just across from Vincent’s. The door was open and there were three guys working.
I rode over and there is Bob Gregorio. He is a mechanic for Optum and was packing up bikesfor the Tour of Qatar, which starts in a little over a week. I‘ve know Bob for a long time. He was John Tomac’s personal mechanic when John was smearing all of us racing MTB. He told me he has been to over 40 countries now, mainly through the sport of cycling. He was inducted into the Mountain BIke Hall of Fame back in 2006 and is just an all around good guy. It was good catching up a little.
I‘m think I’m going to limp back to Kansas later today. Not sure if I’m going to ride first of just start driving. I’m not looking forward to it.
The drive is super scenic.
It makes you realize how big this country actually is.
I was just shooting these pictures out the van window my iPhone.
Vincent makes me a crazy great breakfast every morning.
Old World Bikes.
The Optum Service Coure.
Bob and Ben packing up bikes.
Your headache could be from stress from the car deal.
I’m not sure if you can legally do it, but you could always post the names of the people involved in the car deal……..Sometimes people are just dirt.
Damn Steve, the 1st photo w/the white truck is Mt Garfield ( named after the Prez ) in GJ and I wish you would have stopped. I am still offering you a free Ortho session!! Or at least a brew. Safe travels and it bothers me that there are some really WRONG people out there. What A Drag. You are a good man and your karma will make this right, it just might take some time. Cheers
I once gave two British climbers a ride from Yosemite to Boulder. It was their first visit to the US and they had flown into San Francisco a few weeks earlier, climbed in the Valley, and now wanted to check out the Colorado scene.
They were in awe the entire ride.
I’ve driven across a good chunk of Utah enroute from Grand Junction to the turn off to head down towards Bryce Canyon (the road took me from the Interstate down to Panguitch, UT). It was amazing to me how varied the terrain could be. Desert and scrub one minute, followed by a lush green area (due to a river or creek) – and i will never be able to forget cutting through the San Rafael Reef and running through the San Rafael Swell. Absolutely gorgeous.
Bob G is an absolutely top rate guy. I get to see, and be around, him quite a bit during the race season. A hard worker that any team would be glad to have. Good to see he is at the service course but he was talking about cutting way back on his road time this year. We’ll see if he does.
You got so much space there. Indoors. Outdoors. And even skywards. America.
Small claims court perhaps?
There is a book called “How to Sue in Small Claims Court” (or something like that) by the Nolo press.
Sounds like these folks set out to shaft someone from the get go.
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/when-should-you-sue-29900.html
Vincent has the right name for dealing with old bikes.
Does he work on Guzzis? I’ve got one in storage in Denver that will some day need to be managed.
steve, how long of a test ride did you take ?
A mechanic’s inspection would have found the reset code. Then they would have estimated how much transmission work you might be into. Then you could have gone back and re-negotiated with the sellar. Life is not difficult, we just choose to make it so. Always check to see that the tool works before leaving the rental counter. Always wear gloves when working with concrete. Always get a used car inspected by a mechanic.
That same bird appears in the top 3 photos.
Watch out Steve!!! You’re being stalked by a large black bird.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1081867&Q=&is=REG&A=details