So some friends of mine put on a "Bikes Not Bombs" drive today. In case you don't know what this is, it is an organization that takes old unwanted bikes, fixes them up, and provides them to local comunities as well as overseas to people who need them. It is a great cause and I was glad to go help them out today. We just took the bikes from people, made sure they were somewhat functional, took off the pedals and turned the bars/neck to make for easier shipment. A U-Haul from BNB then took them all away.
As expected, there was all kinds of bikes. Mostly newer stuff that was rather generic. Of course, there were a few gems. At least 3 REALLY nice road bikes that they put aside to do who knows what with...I think the one guy driving the truck would have a certain Fuji at his house that night...my friend called him an "Eco-Hipster".
There was also a pretty sweet yellow 70's Schwinn Varsity. I liked that one myself, but they didn't think anything of it. They had no taste!
Then, about 20 minutes before I left, a guy I know showed up with a bike he found near the dumpster at his condo complex. It was an 80's (I guess) Raleigh Super Record road bike. It was in pretty nice shape with some quality parts on it, but what caught my eye was the frame size. It was one of those huge bikes that only a tall guy like me could appreciate! The prior owner pulled the standard bars off and put on some of those low rise BMX/Cruiser bars and eye stabber levers on it. It was perfect! I pumped some air in the tires and took it for a spin around the parking lot. It fit me beautifully and I was in Heaven on that bike.
Man, I really wanted it!!! I asked my friends g/f (who was actually organizing the event) if I coould take that bike and give a donation and/or another bike in return, but she said no.
Oh well, it was bound to happen. I knew I would wind up pining for bikes there, but those are the risks I had to take. Now my new obsession is finding one of those that I can buy.
Dan
As expected, there was all kinds of bikes. Mostly newer stuff that was rather generic. Of course, there were a few gems. At least 3 REALLY nice road bikes that they put aside to do who knows what with...I think the one guy driving the truck would have a certain Fuji at his house that night...my friend called him an "Eco-Hipster".
There was also a pretty sweet yellow 70's Schwinn Varsity. I liked that one myself, but they didn't think anything of it. They had no taste!
Then, about 20 minutes before I left, a guy I know showed up with a bike he found near the dumpster at his condo complex. It was an 80's (I guess) Raleigh Super Record road bike. It was in pretty nice shape with some quality parts on it, but what caught my eye was the frame size. It was one of those huge bikes that only a tall guy like me could appreciate! The prior owner pulled the standard bars off and put on some of those low rise BMX/Cruiser bars and eye stabber levers on it. It was perfect! I pumped some air in the tires and took it for a spin around the parking lot. It fit me beautifully and I was in Heaven on that bike.
Man, I really wanted it!!! I asked my friends g/f (who was actually organizing the event) if I coould take that bike and give a donation and/or another bike in return, but she said no. Oh well, it was bound to happen. I knew I would wind up pining for bikes there, but those are the risks I had to take. Now my new obsession is finding one of those that I can buy.
Dan
