On overlooked workhorses

Hello Everyone,

I originally wrote this email on March 13, 2015. The bike I'm talking about in this piece was badly mangled when the tires and pedals were stolen from it, a few months after this was written.

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I've written some glowing emails my bikes, both the elegant beauty that I got last year, and my recent ruggedly handsome addition. One could be forgiven for thinking that I had but these two bicycles. But that is incorrect. I actually own three bikes.

While my nimble hardtail is great for climbing and making tight turns, and my full suspension is amazing for descending whole mountains, about 90% of the time that I am on a bike is spent on a bike with no suspension at all. Every day, to and from work, I ride a mountain bike I converted to a commuter bike, with thin, almost bald tires and a fork that is now immovably rusted.

As a white, heterosexual male, I can obviously related to the plight of this commuter bike. It does the vast majority of the work, but doesn't get written about, and receives just a fraction of the attention of its more pampered brethren. Isn't that just the way? History is littered with examples of this.

However, as Spring slowly inches into view, my commuter bike is starting to make its needs known. Which is a nice way of saying it's completely falling apart. Salty winter roads and bike paths do a number on the steel parts of this bike, specifically, every important part of the bike except for the frame itself.

Since just about every steel part of the bike needs replacing, it would be tempting to chuck it and buy a new one, but that's not my style. I'm the type of person who enjoys fixing things so that they work correctly. (I'm also the type to ignore a problem until it goes away, but stay with me on this one.)

The reward for any workhorse is often more work. But rather than just pile it on, I'm going to replace the parts that are worn out and have this utilitarian, banged up, beater of a bike ride like new. When Spring is in full bloom, it'll be zipping along the bike paths, overtaking fancier bikes half its age. Workhorses aren't much for retirement.

wes

#Biking