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The Bike

I’m borrowing my neighbor’s vintage 1970’s Ross 10 speed to train and ride the 75 miles to the shore. It’s blue, heavy like an anvil, and spent the past decade in his basement. The bike is in good enough shape, needing only minor attention. My neighbor is the sort of guy who cares for his possessions. One might consider him meticulous. Once a year he wiped down the bike, oiled the chain, filled the tires with air, and then brought his newer mountain bike up to use for the summer. His home is a museum, his bike, a reflection of his personality. There’s a big old light attached to the handlebars taken from his previous bike, circa Johnson administration. The light is powered by a set up reminiscent of popular mechanics. A small generator driven by the rear wheel provides power to a first generation rechargeable battery stored in a homemade metal box clamped to the underside of the seat. That battery powers the light. There are two toggle stitches protruding from the metal box, but my neighbor doesn’t remember what he intended them to do. I’d like to cast off the set up, but I think that would hurt his feelings.

Maintainance on the bike: so far I’ve replaced the tires, inner tubes, rim tape, and now am about to change the rear derailleur shift cable. While the front tire was dismounted I removed cleaned and repacked the bearings. I think that should be all she needs to do the race. I’m also swapping the seat with a gel saddle I borrowed from another friend. That’s a matter of comfort for my lean ass.

I brought the bike down to the local bike shop thinking I’d have them do a once over, but they talked me out of it and recommended I rent a hybrid or street bike from them for the event. It was tempting, $30 for a hybrid that retails around a grand or $60 for a road bike that retails for more than my car. But, what would I train on? My thoroughly frustrating, never was any good mountain bike? Then, the day of the ride, pedal a totally foreign, yet high-end rental bike? No. I just wasn’t comfortable with that idea. The ballpark estimate the bike shop gave me to do the work was frightening, so I spent the past few days shopping around for parts. I have a little less than $50 tied up in the bike now, which is more than a rental, but I’ve got something decent to ride the next month