A few years back at a garage sale up the hill from us, an elderly couple had a couple of old mountain bikes for sale. Both of them had under 20 miles on them as they were ridden only once. Shortly after getting the bikes, they rode down the hill towards town and part of the way back. When they finally got them all the way back up the hill to their home, they sat in the garage for 25 years or so. Done in by the hill. They eventually decided to get rid of them at a garage sale. I picked up one of them for $35.
It is a Specialized Hard Rock with a few nicks on the pearl white paint from the years of storage in the back of the garage. Nothing fancy but I thought that it would be more than adequate for running around. I put new tubes inside the original tires, replaced all of the cables and housing, replaced the pedals, and replaced the cantilever brakes with a more modern set that I had laying around. It had sealed bearings in the wheels and bottom bracket. Cleaned and greased the headset, adjusted everything, trued the wheels and had essentially a new, old bicycle.
In December 2011, I picked up a set of Nokian studded tires from the Anchorage REI store and finally replaced the cracked tires. I've ridden it only a handful of times during the last two winters and it has essentially lived in my office. Today, I rode it down to lower campus for a meeting and discovered that I am woefully out of shape. Riding in heavy boots didn't help but still winded after a short ride back up the hill. This picture of the front tire is from 2011 when I first installed the studded tires. Maybe I'll start riding the bicycle when I get coffee as well as to lower campus meetings.
I do need to get a rack as this morning, I was sort of at a loss on how to carry my iPad down to the meeting. While on lower campus, I did ask the parking authorities if I would get ticketed if I parked the sidecar rig in motorcycle parking. The signs say "Motorcycles Only May 1 to Sept 1" but all of them have red curbs. They were surprised at the question and said that I won't be ticketed and the red curbs were so cars and trucks couldn't park there. The date restriction was there so they didn't have to bother to clear snow from the spots.
RichardM, exercise? C'mon, now you're making me look bad..... :)
ReplyDeleteAs to carrying stuff while on the bicycle, backpack?
As to the explanations from the campus police.....amusing. Works in your favor, but amusing.
I have the panniers for carrying stuff on the bike already but don't have a rack on this bike. I don't like to wear a backpack while riding a bicycle for the same reason as not using one on a motorcycle.
DeleteThe reason I used the bicycle this morning is I noticed the red curb at the motorcycle parking areas and suspected that they would use that as an reason for a ticket. Plus, I really needed the exercise.
Sweeet! Great deal and a great bike. Love the studded tires, too.
ReplyDeleteIt sure doesn't take long to get out of shape for the effort of hauling one's own weight up a hill. Winter is killer for activity and summer can be spend riding around on or in something motorized.
Best of luck on this and I'll be making my effort, too!
Make that "spent".
DeleteYou're right, not long at all. Just one year ago I ran the Equinox Marathon and now I get winded riding a bike up a small hill. Sad...
DeleteIt's kind of mean of the body to get out of shape so easily, when it takes so long to get fit...
ReplyDeleteNow the parking authorities will have to snow plow the motorcycle spot as well, when you get there with your hack.
Actually, I may throw in a shovel to clear snow when I want to park there, which isn't that often.
DeleteI tell people that the motorcycle is bad for my health as I usually opt for a ride rather than walk...
Heck RichardM, you've got enough ground clearance, and once it gets past four inches, they should be plowing....
DeleteWe'll see how things go this Winter. On lower campus, the motorcycle parking spaces are usually at the ends of the rows and not normally plowed with the rest of the lot.
DeleteIf I can make it out of the driveway, I shouldn't have any problem on campus.
That was a good score on the bike when you bought it, but sad the old couple couldn't use it like intended.
ReplyDeleteHave fun riding with the studded tires.
I know I am out of shape when the small hills make the legs burn.
I thought it was sad that they didn't use the bikes as they intended. I think it was one of those things that they got and set lofty goals of riding now that they were retired and had more time.
DeleteTo have more fun, I need to get into better shape.
Studded bicycle tires. I have lived this long and never seen such things. Neither has anyone in my office. To carry stuff on two wheels check out Aerostich Courier bags. Not cheap, waterproof and comfortable, and hard wearing.
ReplyDeleteThey've been around for decades but probably little need for them in KW. They work great on packed snow but haven't tried them on iceyet. Not sure if I want to do that test...
DeleteI've looked at the Aerostitch Courier bags but have never seen one "in person" yet.
Richard:
ReplyDeleteI also have a fairly new Mountain bike with not many miles as my old one was worn out. I used to ride all the time but I only rode once last year. We have too many hills here in Vancouver
I have been thinking of an electric model . . .
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
About the only thing I saw on our trip to Japan that I wanted to ship back home was one of the electric assist bicycles. They weren't sold in specialty shop but were available in the department store. Moderately priced, you saw people riding them everywhere.
DeleteEven if you think you've been pretty active there's nothing that proves how out of shape you are than trying to ride a mountain bike up a hill. (I did discover that riding a crossover style bike was easier and a street bike even better - if you're riding on pavement.) I'm ready to trade in my high tech mountain model, it's way too heavy.
ReplyDelete