Bicycle Mechanics - Pinch me; I'm dreaming or I'm in deep trouble now

I just got Yorick a girlfriend. She is a Bianchi Brava about 12 years old with all Shimano 12-speed componentry. Even the pedals, which I have already replaced with a pair of Looks. The guy I bought it from had purchased it because he was riding with some roadie friends and needed a better bike than the one he was riding. Shortly after he bought it he was transferred down here, and it has been hanging in his garage ever since. It was used so little, the chain was only dusty and the gears were clean. Trust me, this guy never cleaned the chain, he didn't use the bike enough to dirty it!. I just changed out the dry rotted tires and tubes, cleaned the drive train and gave it a bath (sorry, I just can't say gave HER a bath). What a beauty! Celeste blue, the Bianchi standard. 95 bucks! Perfect fit. What do you think?

At first I thought the bars were taped with nylon strapping tape. Thank goodness it wasn't. It was something that looked just like it, but not adhesive. No padding at all, just this plastic ribbon that appeared to have nylon strands. Strange. I cleaned up the Scotch tape that was used to secure the brake cable for wrapping. Thanks Fubar on the tip to use WD-40. Worked like a charm. No, I didn't let any get on any other part of the bike.

OK, so why am I in trouble? I had already committed to a bike shop buddy to buy a Schwinn Voyageur from him for $50. I mentioned it the other day. It has some rust spots but is in otherwise decent condition. Shimano 600 10-speed group. Super Champion 40 spoke wheels. Heck, the Blackburn rack alone is worth $20-30! I will clean it up for an errand and freighter bike, a suitable use for a strong-backed beast of burdent. So I bought TWO used bikes today. I was only able to pull it off because Rainbabe went out of town this morning. I figure I was MEANT to have these bikes for all this to work out this way.

Unfortunately, this means I will have to get rid of 2 bikes. That will make this palatable to Rainbabe. So Murray and Salvation Army Schwinn will have to go. Sigh. Mike, I can't bear to part out the Schwinn. It is a very usable bike. I am going to offer it to a couple of friends then give it back to SA if nobody wants it. Somebody will get some good use out of it. Murray, too. Murray has a twin sister, Rainbabe's old bike, that probably has less than 20 miles on it. A couple of neighbor couples have said they might like to get bikes. Maybe they would like to start with these.

The Brava will be called Dolce. Brava is, after all, the feminine form.

What a great day!
Rainman

Rainman, how quickly you dispose of those which have served you so well.

Be you enamoured with the Binanchi, forget not those loyal steeds of name Murray and Schwinn. Being of local birth, they may now seem commely compaired with the exotic arousals of the Italian Bianchi.

May come there a day when the foreign beauty expires for the demands of this local and rough terrain. Then will you want for those loyals who you callously abandoned.

Oh, sure, make me feel guilty. Luckily, I haven't bonded with the Schwinn yet. It owes me more than I owe it. And I will try my best to make sure they both have good homes.

Don't forget, I still have Yorick, the faithful draught horse, the new ox (Babe? Was Babe male or female? But he is not blue), and Dolce, the Ballerina. :D
Rainman

What's that old saying--"When the cat's away the..." what?:p

Hey, Rainman, I thought I read somewhere on this bike forum, that you can never have enough bikes! ;) Ah, well, when Rainbabe finds out you bought ANOTHER bike, well... :D Besides, I don't think that it was THAT much of a hit. Just think you could be spending more on Golf Clubs, Martinis, and uh, Golf Cart rentals. That's definitely loads more than the bikes!

Man, I really gotta get more friends that have bikes. Maybe I can find some cyclist my height, so they can give me their bike-hand-me-downs! :)

Just the same, Rainman, I'd like to show my solidarity for keeping your bikes. More bikes for Rainman!!! :)

Oh, sure, make me feel guilty. Luckily, I haven't bonded with the Schwinn yet. It owes me more than I owe it. And I will try my best to make sure they both have good homes.

Don't forget, I still have Yorick, the faithful draught horse, the new ox (Babe? Was Babe male or female? But he is not blue), and Dolce, the Ballerina. :D
Rainman

TG, it is strictly a space thing. With Yorick, Dolce, and the Voyageur, I pretty much have every conceivable need covered except mountain bike (just wait). I hate to let the others go, but I have to be realistic. The old Schwinn was never intended as anything more than a laboratory for learning more complex bike repairs. I can use the Voyageur for that; it needs some TLC. And it is a much better bike with far better components to boot. It also fulfills Murray's roll of heavy freighter. Even better. Realistically, with the three bikes, I would only ever use the Schwinn and the Murray as a novelty. The tires would dry rot. They will be happier if they get homes where they will be used and appreciated. Even if I take them to the Salvation Army store, someone who can't afford anything better will be getting good bikes to ride. Maybe to work. That would be a very noble use

Hmmm, no, Babe will definitely not do for the Voyageur. He needs a French name. I will ask my bicycle commuting guru, Cambronne for suggestions.
Regards,
Raymond

Hi,

I appreciate people who donate to Salvation Army-type stores...
I just picked up an old Schwinn Traveler for $5, in pretty good shape, probably hardly ever ridden. I'm going to try it out for commuting; maybe later I'll get a newer used road bike.

Originally posted by meradi
Hi,

I appreciate people who donate to Salvation Army-type stores...
I just picked up an old Schwinn Traveler for $5, in pretty good shape, probably hardly ever ridden. I'm going to try it out for commuting; maybe later I'll get a newer used road bike.
That's great, meradi. Please keep us posted on how it turns out, and if you need any help with the bike, there are people here who probably can answer any questions.

How far do you commute? (You might want to post under the Commuting forum.)

Welcome to the forums!:)

I tried to donate the Schwinn to something called the Community Bike Project here. They don't have a phone so I just drove to the address. I could find no signs or doors on the 3 warehouse type buildings at the corner so I asked a couple of workmen loading a truck if they knew where it was. They didn't, but one said he needed a bike so I gave it to him. A guy at work said he would like to have the his and hers Murrays, so I am giving them to him. Rainbabe will be happy. Now if I could just get rid of the '92 Tercel taking up space in my driveway...

When Rainbabe got back home, I showed Dolce to her. She did NOT express sufficient admiration. I finally explained it this way. Picture a car enthusiast finding a dusty but otherwise brand new '57 Chevy with less than 100 miles on the odometer and buying it for $1000. That's how I view this bike. There appeared to be a glimmer of understanding, but she still doesn't get it. Sigh. I guess value really is in the eye of the beholder.

I have not told her about the Voyageur yet. I figure it will be better to get rid of the Murrays first so I will have achieved a net reduction of 1 bicycle. :D

There was a guy where I used to work that would practically pass out at the mention of a '57 Chevy in anything like drivable condition. He would have understood your metaphor.

About to test out the old Schwinn 10 speed...
The ride to school's only 4 miles about each way, though I hope to be able to ride more than that at least on weekends.
There's a bike trail running along the river here in town which I'm about to explore, which might prove a bit smoother than the bumpy roads.
Unrelated: I want to put a little flag on my bike; does it go on the left (I think I've seen them there before), and do I just insert the little bracket for it between the nut that holds the rear wheel on and the frame?
Thanks!
Brian

Originally posted by meradi
About to test out the old Schwinn 10 speed...
The ride to school's only 4 miles about each way, though I hope to be able to ride more than that at least on weekends.
There's a bike trail running along the river here in town which I'm about to explore, which might prove a bit smoother than the bumpy roads.
Unrelated: I want to put a little flag on my bike; does it go on the left (I think I've seen them there before), and do I just insert the little bracket for it between the nut that holds the rear wheel on and the frame?
Thanks!
Brian

I think you will be amazed at how smooth the Schwinn Traveller rides. If it is not the smoothest (though maybe the heaviest) ride you ever had, something is wrong.

Contact me if you have any repair or maintanance questions or need parts.

hey, meradi, I believe the bike flag goes on the left...but Rainman would probably be the officiando on this one. :)

Rainman, I would suggest getting rid of the ol' washer and dryer...all you need is a good solid tub and a clothesline. Space issue is solved!!! ;)

I've got this problem though...I too, have been looking at the Bianchi Brava. I just found it on the roadbikesreview.com, and the price was really tempting. I haven't found one used...I thnk I would need one with a frame in 48 or 49...me thinks...can't seem to find one used, yet.

My hubby doesn't want me to get one...even though he's considering on giving my bike to my son, and then getting me another/nicer mtb for my birthday. Okay, so I want that too...hehe...:D Guess the road bike will have to wait for a while...sigh...

Btw, I too need to make room in the garage for more bikes. However, the used Air Hockey MUST stay!!! :)

:)

You're right the Schwinn is rather heavy but it does ride well.
Extra weight will be good practice I guess, if I get a different bike sometime then I'll be much quicker.
Brian

OK, I did the quoting all wrong here, but you'll just have to figure out my parts.
Rainman


Originally posted by technogirl
hey, meradi, I believe the bike flag goes on the left...but Rainman would probably be the officiando on this one. :)[B]

Never did get a flag, but, yes, Meradi, they go on the left. Not only do they help drivers notice you, they make you visually wider so cars give you a bit more space.

[B]Rainman, I would suggest getting rid of the ol' washer and dryer...all you need is a good solid tub and a clothesline. Space issue is solved!!! ;)[B]

You know what they say about great minds! Or is that "grate" minds, you know, like AFTER the endo?

[B]I've got this problem though...I too, have been looking at the Bianchi Brava. I just found it on the roadbikesreview.com, and the price was really tempting. I haven't found one used...I thnk I would need one with a frame in 48 or 49...me thinks...can't seem to find one used, yet. [B]

I like my Brava much better than the new ones. If you can find an old one that would be great. This old on is head and shoulders above in quality - lugged construction, deeply embossed "B" on fork shoulder and "Bianchi" on little flats at the top of the seat stays, 105 component group, GORGEOUS agua (I'm not sure if it was called celeste then) paint job. The new ones are butt welded, not as pretty, and Sora-equipped. If I were buying a Bianchi new (which I still entertain, but don't tell Rainbabe) I would get a Campione which has a mixed Campy group or a Veloce with full Campy Veloce.

[B]...the used Air Hockey MUST stay!!! :)

Without question.