Bike rides and booby traps


Posted by Nate in Bike Commuting, Bruno.
Monday, June 9th, 2008 at 6:29 pm


20080609171021_pict0001.jpgI stayed home from work today to save time on commuting for an offsite meeting, so I got to see Karen off to work on her bike — and snap a few pics!

20080609171015_pict0002.jpgHer messenger-style bag seen here is actually pretty uncomfortable so I loaned her mine, but I think we’ll end up getting her a rack and pack to go on there.  It’s just a lot easier ride without a bulky pack on your back…

20080609171003_pict0003.jpgShe just got home after riding into the wind all the way and it sounds like it was a rough ride…  especially after working out yesterday.  But she made it, and going to go again later this week!

20080609170956_pict0004.jpgLast week we found these sweet Ikea chairs at a local garage sale and snapped them up.  Here’s a shot of one of them and Bruno sleeping next to it – where we want him to be.

20080609170948_pict0005.jpgUnfortunately, we’ve been finding dog hair on the chairs lately.  Seems Mr. Man has been climbing up there for a little nap while we’re gone…  So I built a booby trap, old-school style: a simple buzzer circuit with a gravity switch.  The circuit is completed when the nickel (attached to a thread from the top of the chair) drops between the two strips of foil, and the buzzer goes off.

20080609170933_pict0006.jpgToday I came home from my meeting to find two Bruno-sized paw indentations on the chair – but no dog hair!  Now I guess I just have to set up something for the other chair and hope eventually he stops trying…  Naughty dog!

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4 Responses to “Bike rides and booby traps”

  1. Mary Jo Says:

    Way to go Karen–you look pretty good there–but it seems to me that a pair of Keens on your feet is really not the recommended footware for a bike ride, is it? Now how long did it take you to get to work–and more important how long did it take you to get home riding into the wind? I’m tired just reading about it.
    Poor Bruno, bet it scared the daylights out of him when your buzzer went off–but you can’t blame him for wanting to climb up on a nice soft chair in the sun for a nap, can you? Do they have anything like “doggie chairs” anywhere?

  2. Marianne Says:

    Go Karen! It’s so cool that you ride your bike to work, altho all the way home against the wind sounds rough. And that bag on your back must get to feeling pretty heavy. I think the bike baskets are a great idea.

    Love the new chairs! Too bad Bruno does too. Sounds like he’s learning to think twice about jumping up on them, tho. Great booby trap!! Does Bruno have a new bed? In the pic of him NEXT to the chair, where you want him, he seems to be lying on a new bed…

  3. steve Says:

    Too exciting that the two of you are bike commuters now! Congratulations.

  4. Rick Says:

    Go Karen! It is amazing what the wind can do when you are on a bike – so much harder. And Nate, nice little booby trap invention! I wonder if he will acclimate to it or if it will really keep him off the chairs. Maybe next time you can build in a little electric shock (just kidding!).