I’m a Work-Arounder: Part D’Oh!

Posted on by Victoria
Homer Simpson catching Marge doing a little maintenance on her bike.  I bet she had “time trouble”, too. 

In my last Heart of the Matter post I whined a little about my misfortune involving my spin bike – issues with the screen which hampered my workout for a few days.  I persevered – using an App on my phone and complained about hubster Paul’s painstaking approach at problem-solving.  I figured I dragged you into my woe begotten rant; the least I could do is fill you in on the conclusion.  (And hallelujah – there WAS one.  A conclusion, that is.)

Paul has new friends with the spin cycle support team.  He maneuvered past the hurdles of the bot brigade and when he snagged a tender-hearted entity with a brain, patience and a pulse…an actual human…they became fast friends.  Did it take several rounds of engagement, lunge and parry as they fenced?  Indeed…and en garde!

The dance took days.  Many more days that I would’ve withstood, fencing analogies notwithstanding.  But when you dig in, head down and determined, it’s possible that you’ll uncover mysterious clues…followed by solutions.  And resolutions. As a result, I hereby resolve:

Never again will I dare to change the clock on the spin bike monitor.  Never.

Yep.  Turns out there’s a known bug, a wonky issue which sends a virus-like marauder (I imagine a voracious Pac Man) into the software, rendering all functions kaput.  Game over.  You’re done.

I broke my bike. I dared to mess with the clock and the spin bike chrono Gods were displeased.

Dare not, madame.  Thou shalt NOT adjust time zones, be ye in Central, Mountain or what-have-ye.  Whatever the esteemed factory setting is, whilst you’re spinning, that shall be your time zone.  Forevermore.  The End.

Which made me wonder.  If this glitch is so well-known, why couldn’t the bots – the first line of defense when a customer cries for help – provide a list of “did you dare to….”. Even if it’s cranky and high falutin’?

Did thou dare to alter the time-space continuum?  Carry the shame…do it not…ever again.  Penance will be due at the next ride.  We cast out your leisurely Sunday ride-alongs…thou must perspire in perpetuity to remember and repent.  Time is…irrelevant.  Just spin.  Avert ye eyes from timepieces. Pedal harder and faster to nowhere land.

Underneath the giggle – what IS time, anyhow – I’m reminded that I ought to be grateful. On January 25, Dan Harris posted a beautiful thought on IG about self-talk during workouts, especially when he’s ready to quit and give up:

…”remind yourself to be grateful for a body healthy enough to put through the sometimes miserable act of exercising.”

I’ve let his perspective trickle in, while perspiring AND lamenting.  I’m a lucky girl to have my own spin bike and to have a dear hubster who’s willing to be Mr. Fix-It.  The least I can do is usher in gratitude.  Give thanks that I’m able to move my body, despite my complaining.  I am healthy, I am well (creaky, but well).  I’m not ready to take up fencing anytime soon, but my “Work-Arounder Part Deux” adventure ushered in a blessed blend of peace and love. 

Thanks for riding along with me. Well, with me and Marge, I suppose.

Vicki 😎

41 thoughts on “I’m a Work-Arounder: Part D’Oh!”

  2. “Creaky, but well.” This should be a new category on every medical visit intake form. Copyright it, Vicki! You will make a fortune!

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  3. Ugh! Technology can be helpful, but when it mucks up because of changing the time, when we do that twice a year? That’s frustrating. But I like your ride of a post — with Marge Simpson to fencing to Pac Man to the space-time continuum. Thanks for causing the laughs 😄😄

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  7. I can relate to the clock on your bike because of our car’s clock. The car thinks it’s smart enough to change the clock when we drive to CA to PST from Mountain time. But in Arizona, we don’t change time and the clock is always wrong.

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  8. Oh, this is hilarious from the title on down. But really – changing the time zone broke it? And you’re right, they should have that well documented! Your follow-up, humor and wonderful perspective from Dan Harris – so good!! ❤ ❤ ❤

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    2. Thanks for being the reader to point that glitch out Wynne! Something as simple as changing the time broke the spinner bike? I find that very wrong and very much want to whine about tech just because, but Vicki was trying really hard to find the positive in the whole scenario. I couldn’t bring myself to be the Debbie Downer in the comments 😉

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      1. Oh Deb, I agree that something is very wrong with that! It seems like software writing 101 – don’t provide a setting to change if it will break the whole thing!! What???

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  10. I thought I was the only one who spoke to himself in medieval speak.
    Question #1 for the fencing help desk dude: If it’s a known issue, why don’t they fix it? That’s becoming an excuse from a lot of people for a lot of things. “Oh, it’s a known issue.” Duh. Can we get away with “Sorry my for this bike bounced because I didn’t sign the check but it’s okay, it’s a known issue that if you don’t sign a check it will be returned. Sorry.”
    But keep up the medieval speak. Hilarious! 🤣

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  11. First off, kudos to Paul for navigating the troubled waters (no pun intended Simon and Garfunkel) of bike repair. Finding an actual pulse is such a thrill these days when we correspond from a distance. Many of my conversations with phone prompts end the same way with me calling out, “Customer service! Customer service!”

    Who would have known that changing the time would cause the world to collapse? 🤣 I laugh because we have this monstrosity of a clock that rests on the wall. It is a major pain to pull off and put back up. Some day, I’m sure it will rip out of the wall and come crashing to the floor. Debbie and I finally decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. It now is right six months out of the year when the time changes, but otherwise we just mentally change the time in our heads. You know what, it’s been a good tradeoff. 😊

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    1. Oh my goodness! We do the same thing with an old mantle clock that was Paul’s dad’s. Easier to change the time in our heads that deal with the touchy clock! And thank you so much for the Simon & Garfunkel reference! Too fabulous!
      😎🥰😎

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  12. The Dan Harris quote is a good reminder indeed. And Bless Paul for having the patience to stick it through. I too would not have been so patient! Enjoy many more spinning rounds ahead!

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