This is my beater. It used to be my first ever road bike, when I wanted a road bike but could only afford a 50 dollar ebay bike. I rode it like mad for the last 3 years, and now that I'm away overseas this year, my dad uses it to ride to work every day. It was an average 10-speed when it started off, with stem shifters and cracked tires, but through every single ten-speed I found on Melbourne streets, the bike got better tires, a better seat, better brakes, and the most important change, a wonderful 3-speed Shimano internal hub that I found on a girls bike on the street that I live. It is the most cutest and functional little 3-speed, and it was such a joy to throw away that old deraillleur, tighten up that chain.

I found a matching set of tires, some cheap white leather-type bar tape that seems to contrast well with the black bike, removed the pealing decals, cleaned every last nook and cranny, put some toe clips on.

Oh I'll stop but I really could go on forever. This originally was labelled "Sportsworld" which I assume was some big sports department store. I'll tell you one thing, they don't make department store bikes like this anymore.

PS- The best thing about 10-speeds as beaters is that if something breaks, ride around your block a couple of times and you'll find a replacement part.