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Aug. 24th, 2009 11:08 pmI'm glad I didn't buy that IKEA shelf on Saturday, as I'm either going to spend almost $400 improving the bike I have, or spend about $300 on a mid-80's Miyata 210 (aka a mid-range touring bike) and then a bit of money changing out the handlebars/stem/brake levers.
Fuck it. The NYT is right (they recently had an article about the inflation of bike prices in Portland). When I was looking up info on Miyata 210 bicycles, someone said (recently) that they got one for $40. Oh god. I almost cried. NOBODY sells older road bikes for $40 in Portland unless they're a moron and/or it's just the frame, and it's scratched and rusty.
(Side note that is very bike-geeky: They make smaller brake levers for women's hands! *does the happy dance* I'll be able to brake while riding the brake hoods! Right now, I generally (unless going downhill/rather fast) ride on the part of my handlebars a bit back from the hoods, and then brake by...squeezing my "suicide" brakes. From the side. Hardly efficient, and it's making my hands hurt. Although I got gloves, and that helps. But yeah: the handlebars I'm getting at the shop? Slightly wider but shallower. It'll be so much easier to brake properly, riding the hoods, and I'm hoping my shoulders won't hurt so much on long rides.)
If I get the Miyata, I'm going to feel bad going into the shop again and canceling most of the work I had planned. They don't seem short on work though--they were slammed when I was there earlier, and they weren't going to be able to start on my bike until next Monday! But...still. Why do I feel so guilty? I'm still giving them business! Just not as much!
Speaking of bike touring, Shawn and I are doing an overnight-and-back trip Wednesday/Thursday. Woohoo. Haven't finalized where yet, but we can't go too far, because Shawn has work Thursday afternoon.
Tomorrow I'm looking at the bike and going to a bikeportland.org meetup. This weekend I'm going to a couple of parties and a bike move. Whee!
Last thing: The Miyata 210 was made as mixtes as well, but this one is a diamond frame. I've never had a "normal" top tube before, always had step-through frames. That'll be an interesting adjustment, I'll have to learn how to get on a bike all over again.
Fuck it. The NYT is right (they recently had an article about the inflation of bike prices in Portland). When I was looking up info on Miyata 210 bicycles, someone said (recently) that they got one for $40. Oh god. I almost cried. NOBODY sells older road bikes for $40 in Portland unless they're a moron and/or it's just the frame, and it's scratched and rusty.
(Side note that is very bike-geeky: They make smaller brake levers for women's hands! *does the happy dance* I'll be able to brake while riding the brake hoods! Right now, I generally (unless going downhill/rather fast) ride on the part of my handlebars a bit back from the hoods, and then brake by...squeezing my "suicide" brakes. From the side. Hardly efficient, and it's making my hands hurt. Although I got gloves, and that helps. But yeah: the handlebars I'm getting at the shop? Slightly wider but shallower. It'll be so much easier to brake properly, riding the hoods, and I'm hoping my shoulders won't hurt so much on long rides.)
If I get the Miyata, I'm going to feel bad going into the shop again and canceling most of the work I had planned. They don't seem short on work though--they were slammed when I was there earlier, and they weren't going to be able to start on my bike until next Monday! But...still. Why do I feel so guilty? I'm still giving them business! Just not as much!
Speaking of bike touring, Shawn and I are doing an overnight-and-back trip Wednesday/Thursday. Woohoo. Haven't finalized where yet, but we can't go too far, because Shawn has work Thursday afternoon.
Tomorrow I'm looking at the bike and going to a bikeportland.org meetup. This weekend I'm going to a couple of parties and a bike move. Whee!
Last thing: The Miyata 210 was made as mixtes as well, but this one is a diamond frame. I've never had a "normal" top tube before, always had step-through frames. That'll be an interesting adjustment, I'll have to learn how to get on a bike all over again.
