Thanks DiegoFrogs. I have noticed that, as I go along, I am upgrading some things on her. So far, I have just added non-QS tire skewers, PDW Payload Rack, Reelight 770s, a Crane copper bell, and VO Hammered Fenders.

I truly hope that Lola holds up, since I bought her at PB (though due to another incident, they have since lost my in-store business), and not a "big box" store. I was discussing this exact same thing the other day with one of the mechanics at another bike store, and asked the mechanic what he truly thought of the quality of my Schwinn, and he said it was obvious that I purchased it an LBS, due to its' higher-grade components, and that it is sad that Schwinn has gotten the reputation that it has in this day due to its' deals with "big box" stores. However, I was looking on Schwinns website, and even they note the difference between the bikes they send out to department stores, and the ones that they send out to LBS - Schwinn Support.

I suppose, it is also the age-old adage that "one covets what one cannot have". It is funny, because before I fell in love with bikes (I was never really into them as a kid, because I had a horse & that took up most of my time & having a physical disability it was difficult for me to learn how to ride a bike & it wasn't all that enjoyable for me at the time as a child) as much as I am now, I never really gave them a second thought, although, I always loved the retro/European look of certain ones. So, before I knew about Linus, Public, Pashley, Oma etc., I went to my local PB to find a commuter, since I was going back to graduate school, and living in a downtown area where I could ride pretty much anywhere (Ann Arbor, although, I go to school in Ypsilanti and do not ride my bike to school, if you know anything of Ypsi then you know how I feel about it, it's just a personal thing, I am more comfortable living in A2), and when I saw Lola I immediately fell in love with her! Her swooping frame, her champagne with little pink stripes paint job, her upright seating position was/is EXTREMELY comfortable for my CP which has now slightly begun to affect my lower back, her pretty seat/handlebar grips, her 7-speeds for hills, and her overall European-style. Even though, she came home "bare bones", I just knew I would start "dressing" her up. I could just imagine me riding in my pretty lace dress with fenders, a skirt guard, a wooden rack, and retro/European lights ... all of which l acquired (I am still on the hunt for a skirt guard), and now, Lola looks like she belongs parked in front of a European cafe' awaiting for me to finish my coffee and continue on to the bookstore.

Anway, the only other thing I want for Lola (okay, I want lots!), is a new saddle and grips, but I'm unsure of whether to get Brooks or Velo Orange. I may just keep the ones she has, which look great, but I don't know if they give her a true European flair.

So, all in all, that is my rambling for today.