Two Wheel Fetish
I own seven bicycles, which is easily six more than anyone needs. Still, I use all of them regularly and count it a good day on which I ride at least three.
Although all of my bikes are steel, each is slightly different and every one has an application for which it is better suited than the others.
The Rodriguez tandem excels at carrying two riders. I use it to drop Mimi off or pick her up at school. Invariably, on the leg of the trip when she isn’t riding, some wag will call out, “Hey! You lost your stoker!” That was funny the first dozen times I heard it.
I have an orange Rambouillet, which is a classically-styled sport-touring rig. It’s ideal for Sunday morning rides and fair-weather commutes.
The 650B-wheeled Saluki is my faux-french randonneur and commuting bicycle. I also use it for heavy shopping runs and trips to the library.
I bought a Trek 420 for 10 bucks at a garage sale. Outfitting it with a sprung saddle, upright Albatross bars, and a front basket, it has become the “420 bike,” perfect for riding when stoned and to pick up a six-pack at the store.
The single-speed Quickbeam is my messenger-fantasy bike; I’m not gnarly enough to ride fixed, but I like racing around town in the “shiftless bastard” mode.
The Miyata Triplecross, powdercoated to anonymity, is my bombproof rain bike and late night downtown cycle. Too ugly to attract thieves, it still rides beautifully.
My Bridgestone XO-1 is the one real luxurious excess. I only ride it on the nicest of days and to places where I won’t have to leave it locked up outside.
Yesterday, I rode the 420 bike to yoga at dawn, the Quickbeam on some morning errands, the tandem to pick Mimi up at camp, the XO-1 on an afternoon spin to the park, and the Saluki to get orange juice after dinner. Now that was a really good day.
Although all of my bikes are steel, each is slightly different and every one has an application for which it is better suited than the others.
The Rodriguez tandem excels at carrying two riders. I use it to drop Mimi off or pick her up at school. Invariably, on the leg of the trip when she isn’t riding, some wag will call out, “Hey! You lost your stoker!” That was funny the first dozen times I heard it.
I have an orange Rambouillet, which is a classically-styled sport-touring rig. It’s ideal for Sunday morning rides and fair-weather commutes.
The 650B-wheeled Saluki is my faux-french randonneur and commuting bicycle. I also use it for heavy shopping runs and trips to the library.
I bought a Trek 420 for 10 bucks at a garage sale. Outfitting it with a sprung saddle, upright Albatross bars, and a front basket, it has become the “420 bike,” perfect for riding when stoned and to pick up a six-pack at the store.
The single-speed Quickbeam is my messenger-fantasy bike; I’m not gnarly enough to ride fixed, but I like racing around town in the “shiftless bastard” mode.
The Miyata Triplecross, powdercoated to anonymity, is my bombproof rain bike and late night downtown cycle. Too ugly to attract thieves, it still rides beautifully.
My Bridgestone XO-1 is the one real luxurious excess. I only ride it on the nicest of days and to places where I won’t have to leave it locked up outside.
Yesterday, I rode the 420 bike to yoga at dawn, the Quickbeam on some morning errands, the tandem to pick Mimi up at camp, the XO-1 on an afternoon spin to the park, and the Saluki to get orange juice after dinner. Now that was a really good day.
posted by Professor Dave at 10:30 AM
4 Comments:
This is kinda interesting (to me, anyway)... I also own 7 bikes, including an orange Rambouillet, a green Quickbeam, and a purple XO-1 (caliper brakes mark it as a '92... what year/color is yours?)
My others: a Brompton and a steel Swift Folder, a circa-1968 rod-brake black Raleigh DL-1 3-speed, and (the jewel in the crown, fairer even than the XO-1) a Moulton AM-2.
At least, that *will* be the jewel in the crown, when it finally gets delivered... I put down a deposit back in April, but they're still awaiting a shipment of the right tubing at The Hall in Bradford-on-Avon...
Dag, I just read your post about your Rambou getting swiped. MAN that stinks. Never had a bike stolen yet, but our house was burgled several times when I was growing up, and I had a prized collection of tools stolen out of my car once, so I'm familiar with the feeling...
My bikes live in a storeroom in our apartment building's basement, which is none to secure, so I'm planning to get several of these: http://www.velovision.com/cgi-bin/show_comments.pl?storynum=819
Hmm, that URL don't look right... how 'bout
http://www.torc-anchors.com/shed-shackle.php
there a lot of people who like to ride in a bike and take longs trips, in my case when this happen sometimes I take until 2 weeks to made one or two tours into the mountain.
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