bahy-si-kuhl

Bicycle, as it is stated in the dictionary is “a vehicle with two wheels in tandem, usually propelled by pedals connected to the rear wheel by a chain, and having handlebars for steering and a saddlelike seat”. I think there are two people to thank for giving us such a cool toy. First the Mesopotamian’s for inventing the wheel sometime around 3500BC. And Baron Karl von Drais in 1816 for putting two wheels on a frame with a steering column and a saddle. It was called a Draisienne. Look where we are today with them. Superlight bikes with carbon, titanium, and in some extreme cases bamboo and wood. Suspension technologies, that back then would have sounded ludarcis. And in a time where oil shortages seem inevitable, a renewed respect for what this machine can do for us. Not being able to ride one since last August has made me appreciate it even more. I’ve had a problem with my knee that won’t allow me to pedal. Thanks to a 24 hour mountain bike race for that one. I haven’t been able to get it fixed yet. Some unfortunate financial situations have put that fix on hold. It pains me to hear about guys outside riding, or inside on the trainer getting ready for the upcoming season. Einstein was quoted in saying “I thought of that while riding my bike.” He was referring to his theory of relativity. There are so many ways to get out and enjoy riding. You can spend a Saturday doing a century road ride with some buddies, take all day out in the sun, see the sights. You could shred the gnar out on your mountain bike, hucking off jumps, down drops, and epic singletrack. Getting together on a Sunday afternoon with your fellow cyclists, and racing your ass off for two hours or so. You could spend the day out at the jumps with your bmx bike. You could go out and just take a nice stroll down the greenway on your cross bike. It could be a nice urban ride touring different bars. Or you could just use it to get to the store. There are endless ways to enjoy cycling. If I were to pick a favorite way to ride a bike, it would have to be an all day epic on my mountain bike, some beers, good company, and sunshine.

However, my #1 favorite thing about bicycles is the mechanics side of it. How does this machine work? Bicycles, unlike automobiles are fully exposed. You can see how the entire mechanism works without having to lift a hood. The other night I was griping about how busy it gets in the shop and someone asked me “Andy, why don’t you get a job that isn’t so stressful?” I said, “because there is nothing better then the satisfaction I get when you fix a customers bike, and get a thank you, a smile, and one time a tear, for fixing their bike.” I have two favorite repairs from last summer. The first was a women who brought in(and I’m saddened I don’t have a picture and can’t remember the manufacturer.) an old custom made Italian frame with old Campy Record on it. It was pretty worn out. Old sew up wheels, worn out parts, and very dusty. We rebuilt the wheels, replaced parts, and made the bike look like new. When she came in to pick it up, she was speechless. She told me she could start crying. Crying!! Over a bike. That was awesome. She was going to let her daughter ride it around town. The second bike was an old Raleigh Chopper. Think of an old Schwinn Sting Ray. Thats what this looked like. It was a wreck. Suicide shifter broken, tires worn out, cables shot, wheels out of true, all the chrome was rusted over, everything out of adjustment. Customer said money is not an issue, so I went to town. Fixed the shifter, new tires, cables, cleaned and polished the chrome. The whole shebang. Customer came in and was stoked. He wanted his boys to experience this bike like he did when he was a kid. There is a picture of me on this bike somewhere, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to attain it. There were many other cool repairs we did last year, but those two stick out because of how happy the customer was to see their 35 year old bikes looking brand new. I can’t wait to see what transpires this coming cycling season.

Bicycles are cool and storied machines that will continue to evolve, and I plan on being there every step of the way. Here’s to bikes. Cheers!!