There was Marin, a mountain bike I bought used in about 1988. I logged a lot of miles, totally rebuilt her and repainted the frame in the 90s sometime, and gave her to Lucas when he was living with me. When the 2nd headset began to die, I put her out to pasture at the local Goodwill.
Dynasty is beat up, heavy and she never was top quality even in her youth but I love her. I bought this bike for $2 at a garage sale and reluctantly spent $40 more for new tires. I left the $2 sticker on the handlebars for years to dissuade thieves.
Notice the stem mounted shift levers and the suicide brakes (those lever extensions that you can kind of use from the top hand position). That's some fine 70s cheese. The brakes squeal like a banshee. Someday I will put new brake pads on and toe them in correctly. Some day.
I have ridden this bike everywhere. The 70s "ten speed" is the second most practical bike design ever, I think. The ten speed is a road bike with sensible geometry that favours strength over weight or speed. The front end, with a slack head tube and forks that put the front wheel an inch or two farther forward than a twitch performance bike, is stable and comfy. Dynasty is the best no hands bike I have ever had. I could eat cereal out of a bowl on this bike.
I should put fenders on her to complete her utilitarian perfection but that would break my "no fussing with this bike ever" approach. I did finally rebuild the bottom bracket when it began to feel like a cement mixer. It was the simplest thing I have ever done on a bike. One nut unscrewed and the one piece cranks stayed in the frame when I popped the bearings out. There wasn't a trace of grease left, as if it had never been lubed in the 30+ year lifetime of the bike. The races were badly pitted but I couldn't find new ones right away so I packed the bearings and it feels just fine. I'll ride it for another 30 years and we'll see.
Goodbye old friend
I think this old school hardtail rigid fork style mountain bike is THE most practical bike on the planet. Simple, tough and efficient. You can do anything on one. Nowadays you cannot buy a mountain bike like this it seems; the closest will be a "hybrid", probably with thinner slicker tires (which are fine).
My second old bike is Dynasty, a 70s style ten speed. She is a Free Spirit which was the Sears house brand.
I also aspire to be a Free Spirit
Notice the stem mounted shift levers and the suicide brakes (those lever extensions that you can kind of use from the top hand position). That's some fine 70s cheese. The brakes squeal like a banshee. Someday I will put new brake pads on and toe them in correctly. Some day.
I have ridden this bike everywhere. The 70s "ten speed" is the second most practical bike design ever, I think. The ten speed is a road bike with sensible geometry that favours strength over weight or speed. The front end, with a slack head tube and forks that put the front wheel an inch or two farther forward than a twitch performance bike, is stable and comfy. Dynasty is the best no hands bike I have ever had. I could eat cereal out of a bowl on this bike.
I should put fenders on her to complete her utilitarian perfection but that would break my "no fussing with this bike ever" approach. I did finally rebuild the bottom bracket when it began to feel like a cement mixer. It was the simplest thing I have ever done on a bike. One nut unscrewed and the one piece cranks stayed in the frame when I popped the bearings out. There wasn't a trace of grease left, as if it had never been lubed in the 30+ year lifetime of the bike. The races were badly pitted but I couldn't find new ones right away so I packed the bearings and it feels just fine. I'll ride it for another 30 years and we'll see.
No comments:
Post a Comment