My bike is much like Albert Arkwright's broom; he'd had it for 10 years, and in that time he'd only changed the head 7 times and the handle twice.
I decided I needed to buy a bike with the view to maybe ride to work occasionally to get some exercise and to avoid having to join the circus that is the Frankston train line each day. A one way trip to the office equated to roughly 20km when you considered I could take the bike path to the beach, follow it along the beach to St Kilda, up to the Botanical gardens and ride the bike path there all the way to the city. I would hardly ever be on the road and, if I rode to work one day I could ride home another day so it would be totally manageable as well!
So, where does one find a suitable bike to purchase?
At the time I was receiving daily emails from online shops offering cheap deals and had seen a full suspension mountain bike for $89.95 (plus delivery). I decided to enter negotiations with my financial advisor to set aside a budget for the purchase and she agreed that we could well afford that amount. I was chuffed, I'd made a decision to buy something AND the wife had agreed.
As I was browsing the bikes on offer and weighing the options on their merits (is the red one too cliche, should I pay it safe and get the blue one) I came across a new possible recipient of my money. There was a pretty sick looking green dual suspension mountain bike on eBay that had a rear swing arm! I reasoned with the wife that, yeah, it is a bit more expensive at $130 (plus postage) but the componentry would more than make up for that cost. So it was agreed, eBay was the place to buy my new steed, besides, I've actually heard of the Huffy brand before as well.
Whilst awaiting pay day to arrive I found myself in Big W (ps Big W rocks) and discovered Spalding make mountain bikes as well. I was also pretty sure that the in store warranty and "quick release skewers" (?) would be well worth the price tag of $250, besides, we were already going spend $130 and this one didn't require a delivery fee.
Did you know that Lance Armstrong rode a "Trek" bike?
I found a shop just 3 suburbs away from home that sold these "Trek" thingees and, since the approval had already come through on the $350 for the Big W bike (shut-up, she won't remember that wasn't right!) why not spend a teensy bit more? The salesman asked me what sort of bike I was after, I thought it would have been obvious, I'm a big guy, I need a sturdy bike, therefore I need a mountain bike. I did make the concession to switch the knobbly tyres for some with a lower profile, and added into my shopping basket a set of lights and helmet. The salesman asked me if I was after some riding attire, I thought it would have been obvious, I'm a big guy, hell no do I need lycra!
So, with that complete I picked out my $800 Trek mountain bike (plus accessories)
What's all that got to do with a broom?
I told you I love my bike, and you've just learnt what a sweet deal I got on it but the bike I own today is a fair bit different to the one that I left the shop with some 7 years ago. In the time I've owned it my Trek has had the cable disks brakes changed to hyrdrolic (then back to upgraded cable), the wheels were switched out for low spoke count fast wheels (then to upgraded regular count due to impact with Taxi door). I bought a triple Dura Ace crank set with a 52 tooth chain ring for my Trek (then had to switch it for an Alivio triple with 44 as the chain stays didn't have clearance for the 52). New gears meant new gear levers, and a new rear cassette (why not!) and that rear derailleur will need to match the actuation ratio of the SRAM levers, and, since hitting that car door on Brighton road the saddle's seat rail is bent...
So, in that 7 years since deciding to become a pedalstrian, I have not only re-invented my humble pusshie, but also myself to some degree. My commute is now most days rather than the odd one-way trip, I have graduated from the bike paths to tackling the Nepean Highway, and it's not right without my proper cycling kit (although I do apologise to y'all for that one!) You may see me out on the road on the way to work, off to training, climbing some ridiculous mountain pass, or maybe at the beach doing a windtrainer session, you'll know it's me because I'm the one on the silver Trek, the one with the bullhorn handle bars.
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