Bike Swap

With Andre and Lee, who I know from .83 rides, and Colin and Michael from 2020, I rented a spot at the annual Seattle Bike Swap, but I realized last night as I gathered up stuff from my parts stashes that I wasn’t really in it for the selling; what I really wanted was to be able to get into the hangar at Magnusson Park early, while the other vendors were setting up, too, so I could avoid the crowds and have first crack at anything that caught my fancy.

But I had also resolved not to buy anything—except maybe a small pair of gloves for Mimi to use in tomorrow’s FHR—so while there were all sorts of lovely things that called to me—a set of Cyclotouriste tandem cranks for just $200.00, and one of those Mavic “starfish” cranks, (thankfully in a 172.5, or I wouldn’t have been able to resist)—all I picked up in the early going was some new 27” tires for the 420 bike ($4.00 the pair, not bad), a Shimano 600 front derailleur that might work with the Tournesol ($5.00, I’ll take it), and a Phil Wood front hub in a trade for table fees with the shop crew.

By about 10:30, the two things I most wanted to unload had gone: the battery-challenged NiteRider and that one set of LX thumbies, so I wandered outside savor the sunshine and when I returned back inside, fell completely in love with this Top Gear San Juan tandem, with SunTour roller cam brakes and bar-end shifters, perfect for my friend Andrew and his son, $350.00 ready-to-ride out the door.

I spent $5.00 on pedals and switched the trailer from the Miyata to the tandem, so I could carry the bike I rode there on home.

Top Gear rode great, and since Andrew sounded like he was going to want it when I called him, I’m glad I had the chance today to ride it.