Early Spring Ride

We have watching and waiting for a while now. The weather app on my phone goes into overdrive about this time of year looking for warm and dry on a weekend. This Saturday was a little of both, meaning time to load up the bikes for the first Spring ride.

This time we picked an old familiar favorite: The Third Creek Greenway, a great one to take for kids and new-to-biking friends. And we had both. The chilly, damp morning was full of landmarks like the tunnel, a couple bridges, and even early spring flowers made the trip a good one for groups that stop and rest often, which we did.

As usual, the boys left us.

Our Beatle's Abbey Road album cover photo

Trilliums about to bloom

I have always heard this being called dogtooth violet, but Google says it is a Trout Lily

Mid-ride lunch at Subway

Two hours and six miles later, we finished where we started. Before heading home we noticed a new bike shop in the shopping complex. Bearden Bike & Trail opened that very morning and we had to see. A very nice store and staff with a real finger on the needs of the people using the greenway. They have racks out front, offer water for riders, and will even have remote repair services soon. If your bike breaks out on the greenway, they will come fix it for you! Cool! Though we were in a bit of hurry that morning, we will spend much more time checking out all the shiny bikes at the end of our next greenway trip.

Who Knew Bikes Were for Pavement Too? (Trek 1000SL)

Last year around Thanksgiving my son announced he "needed" a racing bike. After years of mountain biking, I knew better. Hours of nothing but cranking the pedals has never appealed to me, and I believe he is the same. He loves the thrill of jumping, skidding, and playing. Rather than tell him he is wrong, I suggest that he try a road bike before we commit the money involved. If one came up for sale at the right price (cheap of course), I might get it knowing I could resell it as soon as he realizes it was not for him.

Recently a small adult racing bike showed up on Craigslist at a surprisingly low price. The ad's photo showed a small framed UT orange Trek 1000SL that "desperately needed a tune up and has flat tires." Being Craigslist fanatic, I knew there is two main reasons for a price like this: an owner that has no idea what to sell the bike for and guessed at a price, or a bike so trashed that the owner is looking for an alternative to throwing it away. Guessing the latter, I woundn't be out much if I was lucky enough to be the one to get it.

I contacted the owner explaining that I thought the bike might actually fit my son and that we would like to take a look at it. 

Hours passed with no answer. Oh well, it must have sold. It wouldn't be the first time I missed a cheap Craigslist bike.

Later that day thought I would email the person again. (My hope was that the first person in line saw the bike and changed his mind.) Soon after I received an email back. The owner explained that she was surprised the I actually wanted the bike to ride, not just resale it for a profit... and she wanted us to have it.

The next day we met at a local McDonald's for the exchange. Julie explained to me that she had used the bike for exercise a few years back. But she was now simplifying her life and was getting rid of everything that did not have great importance in her life, the bike included. She said she knew that the bike was worth more than she was selling it for but she wanted it go to someone that would receive enjoyment and exercise from it.

After getting it home we realized I was wrong about the bike, neither ignorant owner or trashed. About 21 pounds, the bike had almost no deep scratches, something that we never find on the used mountain bikes we buy. It has a carbon fork and seat post. Sure it needed a tune up but all it really needed was air for the tires and a good cleaning.

Before his first test ride I made him ride his mountain bike first for reference. I wanted him to understand that the two bikes have VERY different jobs. No hopping curbs on this thing. If he wants to do that, grab the other bike. But if he wants to ride fast this bike should be the choice. And this thing is scary fast. After he got the hang of the "brifters" I had real trouble keeping up with him on our short ride. I regularly had to use the highest gears of my bike, him smiling and making race car sounds as he easily left me behind.

Only time will tell if he will stick to this kind of riding. But if he continues having as much fun as he did on his first ride, he will be passing many more riders than just his dad soon.

Project Underdog - Junk Bike Refurb

Whether good or bad, I have always been the kind of person that roots for underdog. When watching any sporting event and a team starts doing badly, something in the back of my brain takes over and pushes me to cheer them on, sometimes even when they are competing against "my" team. Don't know why, it just happens.

I find that I do the same for bicycles. When I see an unloved bike I just can't stand to leave it by the road sending it to its grave. This bike, that I picked up on Craigslist is a prime example. A 20" Magna. Yes, I know...

Yes, crummy brand. There is a lot of (surface) rust, yes the cables all need replacing, yes the fork is seized up. But it is solid, the wheels are straight, and I figure by throwing on a few old cables, a 1/2 hour with steel wool, some black spray paint on the handlebars/cranks, and I will have a bike that we can use to teach the neighborhood kids how to use gears. And I won't be too upset if it is treated the way kids typically treat bikes...badly.

Stay tuned to see the "after" photos to this "before."