Here's part of the new Spring wardrobe at the Finer Recliner.  

Blessedly I'm almost caught up with back orders...just a couple more to get out and then at least for the moment things should be quieter around here.


One of the best parts of this micro-business is when I've got a batch of finished neck rests sitting here ready to be mailed...especially the embroidered ones.  I love how they look.  If anyone's thinking about a new neck rest this would be a good time to order...before the next rush.  And as for embroidery, if I can't find a stock image you totally love we can also use your original art.  Just about anything can be embroidered so use your imagination.

Tuesday I sent out the first order for a Catrike side mount handlebar bag kit and I'm anxious to see whether folks take to those.  I really like mine...it's the perfect easily-accessible spot for snacks, maps, my phone and camera, the velcro brake strap, and until recently, my gloves.  What's especially nice is that just about any of the new handlebar bags will fit so you can choose exactly what you want.  And by using a mtb stem for a mount, the kit is adjustable up/down and in/out so each person can put it right where s/he wants it.  All the aluminum tube I've been using to this point has been unfinished.  I'm learning more about anodizing, so this may be the next addition...perhaps it might even be colored...how cool is that?


Last night Travis and I went out for his first run using the WalkyDog/Krispysteve attachment.  It was just about a perfect success.  Now I'm looking for a harness that either has a side attachment point, or could accommodate one being added, so the harness wouldn't be pulled over to the side when Travis runs.


Okay...time to head to the post office.

Well it's ready to test the new WalkyDog rig with Travis, but the weather's more suitable for an Ark.  Undoubtedly he'd be fine out running around but on a trike I'd probably have a mid to large-size puddle in my lap.  I think I'll wait a bit.  

Hopefully this will work really well.  It'll be great getting to ride with two hands again.  Stay tuned.

It's probably a strange Mothers' Day present.   

Both my sisters have said they wanted trikes, but these are tough times for luxuries (I should probably pay more attention to my own observations.)  And then yesterday I came across a listing for a Mantis on Craigslist...and it was only a few miles away in Tacoma.  Turns out it's essentially brand new and was available at a great price so now we're a 3 trike family.  True Andie and Carole are going to have to figure out how to share, but I'm sure they'll work it out.

The Mantis has a Dual Drive which I may pirate for Msafiri.  And it's a folder which is really exciting.  When I first began looking for trikes I just liked how this one looked.  It took a couple of years but now I have one...yea!  I'm looking forward to tinkering with it.  Actually the tinkering's already begun.  There are two quick releases locking the seat onto the frame.  The welded tubes the QR's go through are bigger enough than the QR bolts that it seems impossible to keep the seat solidly locked to the frame.  Tomorrow, I'll try shimming the steel tubes with brass model makers' tubing.


I took it out for a short spin - I've never used a Dual Drive before and I can quickly see how much I'm gonna like it.  It feels like a lot lower geared than my Expedition when I have the Dual Drive in its lowest gear.  And I'm thinking I can make it even lower by going to a 24 or 26 tooth granny.  Riding the trike, it feels a lot more spidery than my Catrike, and surprisingly even more spindly than Penni's GS GT3.  I'm curious to see just how solid it actually is.  

The neck rest is already in the trash...it's really just junk.  The seat back is so high that I'll just make a new neck rest from some scrap memory foam and rest it on the top of the seat with velcro...no need for any hardware to raise it higher.  And the trike needs at least a rear fender. 


I've never used twist shifters on a trike before.  I'm surprised that I kinda like them.  What I don't like is that there's no real place to rest my hands.  So I'm adding bar ends at the tops of the handlebars to use as hand rests and mirror mounts.  Now if I can just get the seat firmly locked down.  Stay tuned.