Finally, a product for the suicidal-academic-cyclist (that was actually my second choice when naming this blog). For $15 you can have the Performance Book Caddy. I suggest wearing a helmet. Clearly, it's not actually intended for your ride into work, but damn -- somebody is going to use it on their ride into work. I guess it's more for the stationary-excercycle-person-who-doesn't-own-a-tv-or-stereo (third choice.)
The 3 people who read this might have noticed that I didn’t write anything new for about the last month, but it’s the winter and I, sadly, wasn’t riding a bike.
Heavy snow and salt-slushed roads are the largest natural enemy to steel road bikes – chunky, frozen snow along the sides of just about every road turn everywhere a bike would normally roam into somewhere a bike should really avoid. It’s like along the curbs, somebody laid 3 streetcar rails that entwine and randomly end. It’s like you’re falling the whole time, but you don’t – but you’re sure you will. I never did, but that feeling kept me off of it. Also, I love my frame so taking it out to get salted? No thanks.
Last month, I found out that going bikeless wasn’t an option. If I could ride my road bike, but I still needed to ride – the solution was clear.
I was going to have to get a new bike.
Foresaw this problem back in November, as the dread of winter creeping up on my cycle-love only got more intense as it got colder. I scoured Craigslist, because I do anyway, looking for a beater to fix up. And I did. $30 for a piece of shit, it had wheels and tires, and the spin. The problem was that it’s derailer needed to be replaced. Ok, so not TOO big of a problem, it’s something I should practice because it’s something I’ve never done. What the real problem is, is that I’m lazy busy. That bike hasn’t moved since I locked it up out back the day I got it. I suspect I’ll resell it.
I talked to my dad. A few years ago, the first bike I rode around downtown with on a regular basis was his old mountain bike. A 1992(ish) Raleigh Serengeti. I stopped using it because the frame was too small, but it’s small because it’s a mountain bike. It’s made for balancing and driving hard, but not for the city. Rather, not for the city in the summer. It’s perfect for winter, perfect enough. I’ll only use 3 of the 27 available speeds, but that’s ok with me. I just need to fix it up a little – the shifting doesn’t work and the brakes sing like… like brakes that don’t work (hey, I’m out of practice).
I didn’t write, because I didn’t ride.
I’m back on the road, rubber side down and the wind at my back. That cold, cold wind.
I'm here so you don't feel so stupid about not knowing the difference between a gear cassette and an audio cassette. You can watch me learn how to do everything to a bike, and I'd like to help you do the same.
When I get to be the greatest bicycle mechanic ever, I'll look back at all of this and laugh, but never forget that we all have to start somewhere when we're doing something new.
Keep on peddling,
the BedRoom Cyclist
