Two City Bikes: Bella Ciao Superba and the Electra Amsterdam

It's taken a bit of time, but I am finally able to sit and write out thoughts on the borrowed Electra Amsterdam "La Fonda del Sol" and the Bella Ciao "Superba."  I should first point out that it is a bit of an odd comparison to attempt to contrast these two very different bicycles. However, I also think it's valuable to have something to compare to/with, so hopefully it will help me sort out my dilemma with the Bella Ciao, and perhaps provide some insight for others as well. (I should also note that I couldn't quite figure out how to ride two bicycle simultaneously, nor could I find anyone when I had time to ride the second bike, so some of the photos included are less than glamorous. My sincere apologies).

The Electra Amsterdam is a colorful beast (I use the term "beast" with an affectionate intention) with a 3-speed Shimano Nexus internal hub. It has a rear coaster brake and a front hand brake, providing enough stopping power for city riding purposes. It is also equipped with a rear rack, bell, battery powered tail light and bottle driven head light.

While riding this bicycle, I feel happy - literally, I can't stop smiling. It is almost as though it creates a good mood, even if I'm feeling a bit grouchy. It also rides large. What I mean by this is that it feels very expanded. The rider sits back (part of Electra's "flat foot technology," no doubt) and there is a lot of room between the saddle and the handlebars. It feels big, but comfortably so. The handlebars sit wide and I'm always relaxed when riding this bicycle. The saddle is comfortable for short distances and is made of a leatherette material. For longer rides, I find the saddle uncomfortable, but for sub-6 to 8 mile rides, it works just fine.

Even the Amsterdam's saddle is fun!

As stated in a past blog post, it's difficult to ride this bike and not get the attention of those around. I have to say that it certainly catches many an eye because it isn't the typical color scheme found on most bicycles. Whether this is good or bad for the rider depends on the individual. For me, I love the opportunity to talk to people about a bicycle, but I can also see how it could get to be a bit annoying if the rider is in a hurry to get a task done and someone is trying to ask about the bicycle. Although I tend to think I am a wallflower, I doubt I would find this so attractive if I were, so I suppose it is something each person must figure out for him/herself. At minimum, the rider should be prepared for the occasional comment from a passing car or other cyclist.

The rear rack is rated to carry up to 25 pounds (a bit over 11 kg). In all reality, for many this is not a high enough rating to use this to haul groceries and other heavier items. While it is doable, I would prefer a higher rating for instances when I have more of a full load to carry. For anyone wondering about the frame, it is made of aluminum and the fork of steel. I am not normally a fan of aluminum bicycles (particularly for a city bike), but this one seems to do the job without creating hand vibrations, which is my biggest concern with aluminum.

 The Bella Ciao and Electra are just about as different as two of the same "type" of bicycles can be in many respects. On the surface, they seem to be a similar bike, but when digging in the rider can definitely see and feel the differences. The Bella Ciao feels petite and bird like when riding. The handlebars sit narrower (coming in closer toward the body) and the seating position has the rider positioned more directly over the pedals. When riding the Bella Ciao I feel proper, for lack of better phrasing at the moment. I sit up high and more vertical, versus the relaxed position of the Electra. The saddle is made of leather, is narrower (and thinner), but is much more comfortable over longer distances.

Bella Ciao saddle vs Electra Amsterdam saddle

Both of the bicycles have rear racks, however, the Bella Ciao's rack is rated to carry up to 40 lbs (18 kg), which is nice because it's a bit more weight that can be transported. Not that I ever really carry 40 pounds of "stuff" with me, but it's nice to know that the rack can handle it if need be. I don't think I'd have ever guessed by looking at the two racks side-by-side that the Bella Ciao's handmade rear rack can carry more weight than the Electra. Which just goes to show that just because something appears stronger doesn't necessarily make it so. I do prefer the length of the rear rack on the Electra because it provides just enough space to be able to scoot things back a bit so that it doesn't hit my back while riding. I think it has to do somewhat the with rounded edge on the rear of the Bella Ciao rack. Looks-wise, I would give the point to the rack on the Bella Ciao. Put plain and simply, it's just daintier and prettier to behold.

Both bicycles come with fenders and a full chain guard, however, only the Electra has a skirt/coat guard on the rear wheel. This is not a huge deal to me, but could make a difference for some. Also, adding a skirt guard to the Bella Ciao is possible, so it shouldn't be a deciding factor necessarily. The grips on these bicycles are different as well. The Bella Ciao has cork grips while the Electra has coordinating leatherette grips. Personally, I prefer the cork (both for its looks and comfort), but I think that each seem to go with their respective frames, and I don't find either offensive.

Bella Ciao cork grips vs Electra leatherette grips

The lights! Oh, the lights. This is probably one of the most difficult things for me about each of these bikes. I dislike both systems, but for very different reasons. On the Electra, the head light is powered by a bottle driven system. When the rider wants to turn on the head light, she simply flips the bottle so that it connects with the wheel, which generates the power to light up the head light. When activated, the bottle system creates a good amount of drag on this bicycle. The nice piece of this lighting system is that it's only "on" while one is riding the bicycle (thus, there is only a sensation of dragging while it is engaged), but the down side is that it's only on while one is riding the bicycle...meaning that when the rider comes to a stop at a light or stop sign (or for any other reason), the hub is no longer powered, which means that the rider is less visible because the light has turned off. In addition, the tail light is battery powered rather than connecting to the system that lights the front of the bike. Personally, I would prefer not to have to worry about carrying around extra batteries.

On the Bella Ciao, the lighting system is part of the hub and the rider simply flicks an on switch to activate the head light. In the case of the Bella Ciao, it also powers the tail light, preventing any need to replace batteries. While this system seems ideal, the hub on the Bella Ciao creates a drag (even when it isn't on), which I initially thought was only in my head. I had a reader contact me who also owns this model and expressed similar concerns. She ended up taking her bicycle to her local shop where she learned that the the hub is a lower end model and the head light is a halogen light (rather than an LED light). Between the two items, it causes a dragging sensation as well as requiring more juice to generate the power for this particular light. To summarize, even when the light isn't on, it is still creating a drag, and when it is on, it needs more power.

Both of these bicycles have rear coaster brakes. In the past, I have always had coaster brake bicycles and they never seemed to bother me. Over the last 1.5-2 years, however, I have not owned a bicycle with a coaster brake, and unfortunately is isn't something I have easily become used to again. Because I am so incredibly klutzy, and have to start with a particular foot in the "correct" position, using the coaster brakes hasn't been my favorite experience. I have found myself using only the hand brake, which in turn causes me to pedal slower if there is a good deal of traffic, or if I think I may need to stop abruptly.

There are other differences (that can make a big difference to some riders) such as the tires, the bell (the brass bell on the Electra is a replacement - it comes with a coordinating colored bell), the shifting systems (Sturmey-Archer vs Shimano) and the pedals, but really it all comes down to what works for the rider. Personally, I am conflicted about each of these bikes. I have owned an Electra Amsterdam in the past and I sold it for a reason - it just wasn't what I was looking for in a bicycle. I didn't like the saddle for slightly longer distances, and replacement saddles weren't working for me (though I have learned much about saddles since that time). I also didn't like that it was so difficult to attempt to stand up and pedal on it due to body positioning. That said, it was probably my most ridden city bicycle because it was easy to use and not horribly heavy. I do currently own the Bella Ciao and have considered selling it - but for different reasons. It rides well, is functional as a city bike, and is quite beautiful. However, I am not certain it is the right bicycle for me. There are days when I ride it and think, "How could I get rid of this?" and there are other days when I just don't feel comfortable on it and think that it could find a good home with someone who would appreciate it and ride it more regularly.

I haven't figured out the answer for myself just yet. There are certainly pros and cons to a decision to move on to another bike; however, I also know that changes could be made to the Bella Ciao to make it more appropriate for me. I could take off the coaster brake and replace it with a roller brake, I could remove the dynamo hub and opt for a higher end model or remove the system all together and use battery operated lights, but in the end I question the additional costs versus either keeping the bike as is or selling it to someone who is looking for this very type of set up. With any decision, I have concerns and wonder whether the pocket book can handle any choice I make. In time, I am certain the right decision will make itself known, and in the mean time, I have the great fortune of riding two very interesting city bikes a bit longer.

Hangin' with an Old Friend: The Electra Amsterdam

In recent weeks I have mentioned that I have a second city bike in my possession for a long term temporary period. This bicycle is the Electra Amsterdam La Fonda del Sol which is part of the Alexander Girard series. I actually owned an Electra Amsterdam 3i in late 2009 until mid 2010, and it's been like having an old friend around having the opportunity to ride this adorable bike.

Electra Amsterdam "La Fonda del Sol"

My first impression of this bicycle after having almost 2 years in between riding mine and this borrowed one was surprisingly the same: It's so much fun to ride. I think if I am totally honest, the thing I love most about Electra bicycles is the very thing that others might completely despise. I love that they are so colorful and that people always say hello to me, wave wildly as I ride by or they drive by, and that I have the opportunity to have random conversations with strangers about bicycles. It is virtually impossible for me to ride this bicycle and not have a stranger stop me to ask about it, tell me how cute it is, or hear about how a particular individual would love to have such a bike. It's also impossibly difficult for me not to smile while riding this bike... and, who doesn't want that?

She's a dirty girl from all the mucky icy snow gunk, but still quite fun!

Okay, so we've established that I am a fan of the funky color scheme on Electra bicycles, but what else is there to this bike? Well, the nice thing is that one of the updates to the Amsterdam is the addition of a front hand brake as well as keeping the rear coaster brake. While I have recently found coaster brakes to be awkward and somewhat non-functional for me to use (despite having no issue with them in the past), the addition of the hand brake is nice not only for those of us who aren't as comfortable with the coaster brake, but it also provides additional braking power.

My experience with the Amsterdam is remarkably similar to my memory of it - almost surprisingly so. The things that I loved about it then I still appreciate and the things that were slightly bothersome are still a bit of a pain, but it's nice to experience it all over again. I'm going to be doing a bit of a comparison of this Electra and the Bella Ciao very soon, so I won't go into a ton of detail here, but suffice to say I am enjoying riding this bike and remembering why I bought mine a few years ago. Although it's a completely different feel than the Bella Ciao, Pashley, or Public Bikes, I think it could be a nice option for the right person, depending on needs and ride distance. As for me, I'm happily having random conversations with strangers and experiencing a bit of nostalgia while riding this fun bicycle. It has been quite fun to find this old friend, and have the chance to re-experience the ride.

{Part 2} How I Ruined Myself on Upright Bicycles: The "Others"

*If you missed reading the first part of this post, please see here.
How I loved the online blogging/cycling community, and I regularly sought information from them (whether they were aware of it or not). Even though I was blogging myself, I thought of my blog as my own personal journal of events or thoughts, and not as something anyone would be reading. Really, who would want to get information from me, because what did (do) I know? While the (mostly) female bloggers I was reading were (are) a great source of inspiration, information, and motivation for me to continue to ride, looking back on it now, I think it also created an environment for me to wonder what else was out in the world in the way of bicycles. Knowledge is power, but in my case, knowledge created questions which led to doubt. Stuart and I had been moseying right along and were happy together, but perhaps a cruiser wasn't the best choice. I went to something I knew and that I thought I could manage to reasonably purchase: another Electra.

Phoebe, my former Electra Amsterdam 3i in Sunflower green

I spotted an Electra Amsterdam 3i in a local bike shop (which I would later name Phoebe) and was enraptured by her hideously wonderful chartreuse green/pink/baby blue color combination. While I often think of myself as a bit of a wallflower, there would be no hiding from anyone on this bike (of course, Sam will highly disagree that I am a wallflower - and he's probably correct). Everywhere I went this bike received attention. People would stop in traffic to yell out "nice bike," and women would smile and wave as I rode past. I have to admit, I kind of liked it. It was reassuring to have people acknowledging my bike, particularly in a community of mostly non-upright/city bike riders. It made me believe that I had chosen wisely... at least for a time.

Trial with a Brooks B-67 saddle on the Amsterdam

Phoebe had everything I needed. She was an upright bicycle (no hand pain), she had a bottle driven head light and battery operated tail light (I could ride in the dark), she was beautiful in her own odd way, and I could carry what I needed to between the rear rack and front basket I'd attached. Why would I ever want anything else? Between riding Stuart and Phoebe though, I began to experience pain in my spine and lower regions, so I experimented with a Brooks saddle to see if it would remedy the problem. I just couldn't make the Brooks work for me however, and after more reading online, more bicycle purchases, and even more riding, I determined that there was no fixing the problems with the Electra bicycles.

Pepper Potts, the Pashley Princess Sovereign on her first day home

The other online bloggers all seemed to have more expensive, European made bicycles, and I determined that my problems stemmed from buying a lower-cost bicycle (there were other factors involved, but ultimately I believed it had to do with the cost of the bike). After lots of debating, research and test riding, I ended up selling all of my bikes in order to purchase a Pashley Princess Sovereign. Finally, I had the bike I was supposed to have that would cure all of my ailments and that would, of course, bring world peace... or at least this was the high standard by which the Pashley would be judged and held accountable. In my mind at the time, a completely reasonable expectation.

Riding to meet a friend on the Pashley

I don't know that the Pashley and I were able to bring any kind of world peace (I'm guessing not), but we had great fun together. She was a heavier bike than the Electra Amsterdam (which was aluminum, rather than steel), and I often felt as though I was riding slow, but this would be the case with almost any upright bicycle. No matter what I did, I could never quite escape the feeling of that often (painfully) slow ride, and while I loved the Pashley, I realized that our location in the world did not provide me the ideal surroundings to be successful with an upright bicycle. All of the women I was reading about online mostly lived in large cities with lots of things close by. The only thing within a few of miles of my home was a grocery store, a 7-Eleven, and a few fast food chains - not exactly the prime location to justify this sort of bicycle. Since we couldn't sell our house, and we couldn't move, I had all but given up on the idea of riding an upright bicycle. All of the others seemed to be enjoying their upright bicycles, so why wasn't I? Sure, it was a good distance to get to anything, but I enjoyed being out on my bike. By this point in time, I had purchased and we'd put together the Rivendell Sam Hillborne, and I believed that it would have to be my only bike. Little did I realize that between my insatiable need to get more information, and a chance happening, I wasn't done with the upright bikes...(to be continued).

Part 3 can be found here.

Here and Gone, and Limiting "Stuff"

In preparation for a potential move, Sam and I have to clear out several bikes (as well as a lot of other "stuff"). If all goes according to plan, the new house we'd be moving into is about 600 square feet smaller then our current home (and we live in a small house as it is now), and it also has a one car garage (compared to the current two car). The one car garage isn't really a true garage, so it will become the art studio. Because the space is so limited, we've decided that at least three bikes between us must go. Sam is still working out which of his will go, but after some debate about which of mine should be sold, it made the most sense to sell Fred.

Fred posed for his listing shot. His basket was removed to be put on the Poppy.

It feels so wasteful to have purchased a bicycle such a short time ago that I just can't keep, but truly, of the three current bicycles of mine, he has the most limitations, or the least usefulness (depending on how one views the situation). So, yesterday, I put him up on Craigslist to attempt to get as much out of him as I could in a re-sell situation. He's basically a new bike, so I thought it was possible that it wouldn't be too bad a loss.

I had a strange, extremely low offer yesterday, to which I didn't bother responding, but this morning, I received an email from a woman who was very interested. She came to take the Om for a test ride, and it turned out to be a perfect fit for her. So, Fred has left the house to live in his new home in Denver. His new owner looked so happy riding him, and I hope it will be a good match for some time.

Letting Fred go was a bit therapeutic in some sense. Over the weekend I had to clean out my closet and eliminate a lot of clothing too that I have hung on to for no apparent reason. I couldn't believe how much excess I was clinging to. I shared with Sam that I was truly embarrassed to have so many large garbage bags full of clothing to donate, particularly when I had just cleaned out the closet a few months ago.

Eight of the ten bags full of clothes to donate

The two rules for cleaning out the closet were these: 1) If it hasn't been worn in the last year, it goes, and 2) If you're not going to wear it in the next year, say goodbye. With the exception of my wedding dress and a formal dress, I stood by those rules. There will be other eliminations coming in the near future, as we're realizing we'll have to take on a very minimalistic approach to living in order to make the potential new house functional. Everything from extra kitchen items to unused books to extra parts for various projects will need to go. We're trying to get a head start on it so as to not be caught off guard if this move actually transpires. While we may be jumping the gun a bit, regardless of whether or not we move, the extra things need to go. As someone who believes that excess is unnecessary, I'm ashamed of myself for allowing this to all grow into such a pack rats mess, particularly when there are others who could utilize these things. I have vowed that anything new-to-us coming into the house in the future will require an elimination of something else. Hopefully, this will help me to really think about purchases and not buy things simply because they are "a good deal."

Fred, and Back to School

Forgive me this indulgence, but I'm still obsessing about Fred. Today, I took a few pictures of him to attempt to better capture his fabulousness. I haven't yet decorated the basket (which I intend to do), and the tires are already quite filthy, but I still think he's beautiful!

Detail shot of lotus flowers and design

Detail in Om saddle

White tires - dirty, of course

Chainguard detail

Front half of Fred

Wald basket and Om bell

Snow is headed our way for tomorrow, but we'll go for a ride very soon, my Fred!

Tomorrow is the first day of the spring semester of classes. It will be a long day (12 hours of class related nonsense), but it will likely do me well to be back into a routine. Though I immensely dislike routine and any sort of schedule, I think I am in need of it for a bit. Today, I also received an offer to hang some of my art in a Denver show next month, so things are already moving right along.

Welcoming Fred

Last week I posted that a decision had been made regarding which Electra cruiser bicycle I intended to purchase: the Om. The end of December brought about a purchase (online, to save some money), and my choice was to be on its way. To make a long story short, some issues arose from the shippers end of things, and it wasn't looking promising. I found myself getting sad about not being able to get out and ride the new bike, and along with some other personal issues that have been developing, I was sinking into a pit of despair. I tried desperately to pull myself out of it, but by Thursday of last week, my dearest Sam came home to his depressed wife, sleeping in the middle of the living room in the dark, with three dogs taking full advantage of the situation by napping on top of me. I'm sure it was quite a sight.

Electra Om that should've arrived January 3-4

On that same Thursday evening last week, I was awakened by Sam standing over me asking for help to bring some things in to the house. It was his last day at his prior employer, so I assumed he was dragging more things home that he'd been gathering in the office over the last several years. When I stumbled outside, I was surprised to see not office stuff making its way home, but rather an Electra Om in the back of his little Honda. "Huh?" I couldn't help but think. I believe I was more confused than anything. Instead of going to celebrate his departure and new job forthcoming with his work cronies, he left early from work and went and purchased the Electra Om for me at a bike shop in Boulder. I swear, I have the sweetest husband ever.

Friday was a much better day. The sun was shining, the weather was, well, still winter, but at least it wasn't snowing, and we decided to go for a bike ride. It wasn't that all my problems were solved, but it really was great to be outside, to be with Sam, and to have some time together before he started his new job and I go back to classes.

Me and Fred, roaming Longmont with Sam and his Globe

While I forgot the locks for our bikes deeming it impossible to do all of the things we had planned, and my camera to take any decent pictures, we were able to get the above shot with my not-so-great camera phone.  The new Electra's name is Fred (officially, his full name is Right Said Fred after the kitschy UK Band of the early 90s), and he is an absolute joy to ride. He's also much more gorgeous than he appears in the photo here, and I do intend to add some decorative elements to the basket over time, but for now, he's a ton-o-fun and I am so grateful to have him around. The best part is, I really do get to "relive" my gift of Stuart, the Electra Daisy through Fred, the Electra Om from Sam. I feel as though I'm getting a second chance, and I don't intend to waste it!

The Choice is Made

Last week, I made my decision in regard to the debate about which bicycle was right for me. I had talked about how I really miss my Stuart and was going to attempt to recapture his spirit in another model. My decision was the Electra Om, over the Surf.

*Image from Derby Bicycle

The choice was made for this model because I just felt as though it was more "me," and I suppose that is really the only reason I can give. In addition, I was able to get this model at a discount of about 25% (and I received free shipping), which made it an even easier choice. I love the design on the fenders and think that they really make the bike something special.

*Image from emago.com

The only thing I wasn't really in love with on this bike was the tire color choice. While many of the Electra cruiser models have cream/white tires, they chose to put black tires on the Om. Why? I'm not sure. There is no black in the design color choices, and I think it would've looked better with the lighter color tires, so I will simply make that swap out myself, and have in fact already ordered the tires to make it here close to the same time as the bike.

*Image from amazon.com

The only reason I was able to get the bicycle so quickly was due to some Christmas money from my parents, the sale of several things I had sitting around (like several pair of shoes I wasn't using, a Brooks saddle, Brooks grips, the folding bike, etc), as well as the departure of the Raleigh. In some ways, it was a good way to clear out items that weren't being used, plus it had the added bonus of bringing back the Electra.

While I could have purchased the Electra locally, it would've been at a much higher cost, so it just didn't make sense, and I am happy with the decision. Now, I just have to wait patiently for the new bike to arrive.

Bicycle Regret: Can We Turn Back Time?

I am currently experiencing a bit of bicycle regret or remorse, and it hasn't been pleasant. Perhaps regret is the wrong way to word it because, as I've stated in the past, I truly believe that the only way to know what works for us as bicyclists is to try them out for a time. This can definitely be a very un-cost efficient way of doing things, but I know for me it is the only way I can know what works for me. During this past summer, I said goodbye to Stuart, my Electra Daisy bicycle.

It was quite traumatic for me. Typically, I don't attach so entirely to inanimate objects, but Stuart was special. Stuart was fun to ride, painted in the most fun colors, and best of all, he was the best gift I'd ever received. I literally cried the day I sold him. I felt sick, and I didn't want him to go away, but I believed it was all for the greater good. I've talked many times about the difficulty of the location of our home and how having a cruiser bicycle is impractical. I thought at the time that a higher end city bicycle was the answer. I couldn't see myself on any style of drop bar bike and thought that selling Stuart was all for the best. Even after purchasing and riding my Pashley Princess Sovereign, I knew it was the answer for my long distance rides. As much as I wanted her to be the ride, it just wasn't in the cards.

After all was said and done, I found a great road ride that didn't hurt me and that allowed me to go the distances I often need and/or want to travel via bicycle: the Hillborne (aka Tony Stark). After realizing that I could indeed ride such a bike, I wasn't entirely certain what I needed as the alternate short-ride bike... and, I started missing Stuart. Sure, he was a slow bicycle, and heavy, but that was part of his magnificence. He was steady and true, and I literally rode him all over the place.

So, now that I've discovered that it is possible for me to have a touring/road bike that I love and that will take me on longer distances, I can't stop thinking about my cruiser. I currently have Annabel Lee, a Raleigh Lady Sports, but she's just not the same as Stuart. She is much lighter and livelier, but it feels like a 3-speed road bicycle to me when I ride her. The position is more leaned forward, which assists with saddle/grip/pedal weight distribution, and this creates a more sporty feel. It's not that I dislike her by any stretch, but it doesn't have the same relaxed feel of my old Stuart.

Now, I find myself wanting to turn back time and kind of replace Stuart with another Electra cruiser. Is that wrong? In some ways, I feel as though I've come full circle and realized many things about myself and my bike needs and wants. At other times I can't help but think I'm completely insane to attempt to recreate the feeling of a past bicycle. At the moment, I'm debating between two different models. While I could get the Electra Daisy again and have "Stuart the 2nd," it almost feels blasphemous. So, I have two other options that are the same geometry, with different paint jobs. The first possibility I'm considering is the Electra Om.

*Photo from Derby Bicycle online

I love the girly colors of it, plus it is "Om" themed, which is something that I find enjoyable. Everyone needs a little peace and serenity in their lives after all, right? It also has a handlebar flower included with the bike. The picture truly doesn't do this bicycle justice. It is fun, it is pretty, and it makes me happy just looking at it. I do have a front basket I could add to this bicycle as well, so I wouldn't necessarily have to purchase one. The other model I am presently considering is the Electra Surf. 

*Photo from Derby Bicycle online

What do I love about this one? I love the 80s flash back as far as the color scheme is concerned. I really like the white tires, and it's not quite as girly as the Om (which is both a plus and minus, depending on my mood). As an added bonus, it has a front rack, so it would be one less accessory to want to add on. However, I've read that this particular front rack is highly unstable and has had many recalls. This model is also no longer being manufactured by Electra, so one would be hard pressed to find others of this kind wandering about town.

While I don't know which model to purchase, I am about 99% sure that I will indeed purchase an Electra cruiser again at some point in the very near future. Maybe I can't exactly turn back time, but I can take what I've learned and attempt to get back the bike that worked well for me and that I always enjoyed. Is it more wasteful than I would've preferred to be, definitely. But, as my mother always points out to me, I've never been one to learn the easy way, and sometimes the hard road helps me learn what works best.

Copy Cat: The New Raleigh Sports

I'm beginning to think I have no originality left in me at all. I'm not entirely sure how it happens, but I'm starting to see that it appears as though I'm constantly copying other bicyclists with their rides of choice. I swear, this is truly not the case.

It started with the Pashley Princess Sovereign. I had been longingly watching and reading about these bikes for some time before I actually took the plunge to buy one for myself. After all, it's not an investment that should be taken lightly. At the time, I never, ever, ever saw myself riding a road bike, and I was discovering that I was dealing with some unnecessary issues on my Electra bicycles (these were entirely personal body malfunction issues and not anything to do with the quality of Electra by any means). After lots of test riding and looking, I decided to sell my three Electra bicycles to be able to afford the Pashley that seemed ideal for my needs. I was so happy to get this bicycle and found myself riding anywhere within a reasonable distance. Reasonable distance was the key phrase as it turned out.

Pashley Princess Sovereign

I was becoming a bit disgruntled with not being able to go longer distances on my bicycle. Sure, physically I could have gone any distance I desired, but trips seemed to take an eternity and the weight of the bike was, at least somewhat, slowing me down. In the back of my mind I had secretly been wishing that I could ride a road bike, but with severe hand/wrist issues, I was fairly certain (due to past experiences of riding mountain bikes as road bikes) that this was never going to happen. Several months before I even started thinking about buying the Pashley I had come across the Rivendell Bicycle Works website and had browsed their selection of bikes, as well as looked through their many articles about the way most people ride. I've never thought of myself as "most people" though, so I put it out of my mind and went back to riding my fabulous Stuart. Sure, I had a road bike as a kid, but a lot has changed since I was ten. Every once in awhile, I'd be looking for something completely random and I'd end up reading about Rivendell bicycles. I started longing to have a touring road bike, but I didn't think there was anything road-style wise out there that would allow me to ride for more than a few miles without being in pain.

Sam Hillborne

Then one day it struck me: Why can't I ride a road bike? What is it that makes it physically impossible? I had read on some various bike forums that individuals who couldn't use drops often use flat bars or other bars, and so the wheels started turning. I went back to the idea of a Hillborne from Rivendell, but how would I come up with the money, and how on earth would I justify this expenditure? Ironically, just as I was in deep thought mode, I came upon a post on Lovely Bicycle about Velouria's newly built up Sam Hillborne. I'm not sure if one looks at it as the fates colliding, or as a strange coincidence, but it almost seemed as though things were coming together. Soon, I was starting my very own build with Sam (okay, so it was mostly Sam doing the building, and me picking a lot of pieces of the puzzle).

Sam building up the Hillborne

As if this little reliving of the past hasn't gone on long enough, I will get to the purpose of this long tale. It seems a new "copy" has made its way into my life. A Raleigh Sports ladies bicycle, ala S of Simply Bike has managed to find her way into our home. It's a 1972 (I'm told, though I will need to verify the information to be certain) Raleigh Sports model, in the oh so similar green color famous for that era of Raleigh bicycles. This bicycle will be the replacement for the Pashley (which has been sold, and a post on that matter is forthcoming) as my all around city bicycle. I met the sweetest older man who sold the bike to me, and who had bought this bicycle brand new for his now-83-year-old wife. She had been dealing with some issues with balance and decided that she wasn't comfortable riding it any longer.

Raleigh Sports in all her glory

While it does have several scratches on the frame, it really seems to be in fairly decent shape for a bicycle that's going on 40 years old.

Sample scratches on the Raleigh frame

I don't think I've seen such a clean chain, or hub on a bicycle of this age, well, ever. Pretty impressive, I thought. I was told by the owner, Bob, that he did spring time tune ups on this bicycle every year, which I think shows on the mechanical side of this ride.

Raleigh Sports very clean chain

Raleigh's quite shiny and clean hub

We went ahead and added the Brooks grips that were on the Pashley and the Brooks B67s saddle that was just sitting around, and I think they give it a nice look, without going over the top. There's also this fascinating little Raleigh emblem on the front of the handlebar stem.

Raleigh emblem on handlebar stem

I have absolutely no idea what its purpose is exactly, but it's kind of cute and I'm interested to figure out if it was merely decorative or had some actual purpose. Perhaps it was a basket hanger? I honestly don't know. The biggest issue will be that I need to get a rear rack and some sort of carrying device for groceries and such, as that is this bicycle's purpose. I have no doubt, however, that something suitable will be found in the near future. I look forward to taking it for a slightly longer ride than my test ride, and especially after adding the newer grips and saddle... if only this slushy snow would stop coming down.

They're Dropping Like Flies...

The title of the post seemed appropriate, as this morning, I awoke to several dead flies in the house. We've been busy redoing the floors in the living room and kitchen over the weekend (the royal "we" of course, as I've honestly had nothing to do with it), and I've been painting the rooms in hopes of getting things to look a bit cheerier and perhaps be a bit more relaxing. Anyway, the poor flies that had gotten in with all the open doors over the weekend, seemed to have died all at once over night. It was kind of sad, though I do understand flies don't live particularly long lives.

Yesterday, yet another bicycle left the fold. I said goodbye to Phoebe quite abruptly when a man came by to get her for his wife.

He was in a hurry, handed me the money, and off they went together. I can only hope that the bicycle will be well cared for, and I suppose I should have less emotional attachment to the bicycles regardless.

So, this leaves only one... DD is all that remains. Is there now room for another bicycle in the house? I don't know. I will say that last week I did go and test ride a Pashley Princess Sovereign in Denver. It was an extremely nice ride, and I think it could be something to consider. The problem is, for the moment, cost. Despite selling my two fabulous bicycles, I still need to round up some additional cash. Plus, I don't want to make a hasty decision and buy something I don't want or need. I feel I've done enough of that, and need to make wise decisions... But I have to say, who couldn't fall in love just from the looks of it?


Time will tell, and I suppose it means I need to get to earning some money... because I'm quite a bit short.

Farewell, My Stuart

This morning, I said goodbye to my beloved Stuart. I actually cried as I drove away from him. Perhaps it's a bit crazy to be so emotionally attached to a bicycle, but I can't help it. For starters, he was a gift from Sam, and I love that every time I ride him, he reminds me of Sam. Then, there's just the fact that he's so incredibly fabulous and adorable fun. Even as I was dropping him off for his new owner, a woman walked up to me and said, "I love your bike!" I didn't have it in me to tell her it was going to be her neighbors bike in the very next minute.

I will miss you dearly, Stuart. But, I know that it was also for the best. I hope your new home loves you as much as I do. xoxo