{Part 3} How I Ruined Myself on Upright Bicycles: Quantity and Modifications

*If you're just beginning this, please see Parts 1 and 2.
After giving up on the Pashley Princess Sovereign and any hopes of living remotely near "stuff," I happily moved on to riding the Hillborne. He was faster than any bike I'd owned for some time, I could go much longer distances, but had the benefit of being able to still ride him to the store or places that were relatively close to home. He was my all around bicycle, and I needed nothing more.

1976 Schwinn Suburban

The problem was that I still wasn't over the idea of having a city or upright bicycle. When I was wearing a skirt or dress, I just didn't want to have to hike my leg over the diamond frame. I experimented with various vintage models such as a Schwinn Suburban, a Motobecane, a Triumph, a Raleigh Lady Sports, and more. Some I enjoyed more than others, but ultimately, they all went by the wayside. It's not that they weren't good or solid bikes, but whether it was the amount of restoration, the fit, or something else, it just seemed there was always an element (or several) steering me away from each of those bicycles.

Then, one day as I was searching for a part for the Hillborne, I happened upon an advertisement for a Pashley Poppy that a shop in Texas was having a hard time selling. The owner had discounted the bike so drastically that I fully believed it would be completely idiotic on my part not to purchase the Poppy. If all else failed, I would ride her for a bit and then sell her to someone who would appreciate her. It was a win-win situation.

Enjoying the Pashley Poppy modifications

After the Poppy arrived, I wasn't happy with the handlebar set up. I felt squeezed into the ride area and decided to experiment with a pair of handlebars I'd tried out on the Hillborne. They were a perfect match. The Poppy was like a lighter version of the Princess Sovereign (because it lacked the racks, lighting, skirt guard, etc) and I happily rode her all around. I really enjoyed this bike, perhaps more than any other bike I had gathered. There was something about this one that was a nice combination of weight and speed, classic and modern, and she was really a great fit for the upright bike category with her slight modifications, at least for me. Soon after the Poppy arrived, we moved and I was able to use her as was intended. Finally, we were in a location that I could use this sort of bike - just what I had been wanting.

It would appear that I had reached what I had been looking for - a kind of bike utopia one might say. However, when we went on vacation a few months later, I had the opportunity to finally test ride the Public Bikes I had been reading about for months, which only brought trouble to the equation. I told Sam I would sell the Poppy and in its place, keep the J7 from Public because I was excited about the swift nature and set up of the new bike. I believed I would be fine selling the Poppy - a bike I'd originally intended to sell anyway. After all, it was just a bicycle like all the others.

The J7 with the modified handlebars

When we got home though, I didn't want to sell the Poppy at all, but rather wanted to keep both bikes. I had made a promise, however, so I sold off the Pashley Poppy and turned my attention to modifications for the J7. I wasn't a fan of the non-classic looks of the handlebars, so I opted for a northroad style bar. Ultimately, this switch caused a change in the way the bike felt and rode, and I was experiencing pain while riding. It caused me to question whether or not a bicycle could be too upright and I ended up selling the bike to someone who would use it. It was yet another bike that was a good fit and rode well, but because I had to mess with the set up, it brought on a new set of challenges. Could I have returned it to its original form? Yes, but by this point it was tainted and I was convinced it just wasn't the right one. I have to admit, my mind sometimes works in mysterious ways, and in retrospect, there are moments when even I am confused by what I have done (or not done). All along there had been plenty of opportunities that would have enabled me to keep the bike I had, but somehow I kept pushing forward, always thinking the "right" one was just over the horizon.

I had truly reached a point at which I thought I just couldn't and wouldn't have an upright bike.  However, as had happened before, I knew that there are times when I would really appreciate having a loop or mixte frame of some sort. The search began for the ultimate upright bicycle, with high hopes of finding the one that would remain in the stable of bikes...(to be continued).

Part 4 can be found here.

Pondering a Third... and Fourth Bicycle

Just when I thought two was enough, I cannot help but think about more bicycles. I often wonder what is wrong with me. The two bicycles I have are great. Tony Stark (the Sam Hillborne) is a perfect long-distance ride. He's excellent, and in fact, built for touring. When we built him up last summer about this time, I wanted to be able to use him for shorter distances and longer rides, so he was outfitted with front and rear racks, and a larger-sized saddle bag. The Poppy has been ideal for in-town rides and has shown that she is reliable and easy to ride (sans the recent braking incident, which truly isn't her fault). She's not the best choice for longer distance rides, but that isn't what she was made to do either.

Recent talks have me pondering the idea of mountain biking. Unfortunately, neither of these bicycles are particularly built for this task. The problem has been deciding whether or not I can overcome my fear of falling on giant rocks whilst mountain biking, and thus the decision of whether or not to purchase a third bicycle seems to be difficult. Call me a wimp, but while I'm not afraid of the hard work to get up the hills, the idea of tumbling down the mountain side doesn't particularly appeal to me. I already have a sometimes overwhelming fear of falling, so the idea that this could/would likely happen repeatedly on a mountain bike doesn't terribly excite me.

What does excite me is the accomplishment I would feel by overcoming a fear, and that it would be a type of riding Sam and I could do more often together (since this is his preferred cycling type). Plus, we live in the Rocky Mountains for goodness sake - shouldn't I be taking advantage of this?

Our best thoughts have centered around a Craigslist find. They aren't always easy in the summer time, but we thought that perhaps a several year old mountain bike could be the way to figure out whether or not I would actually do this type of cycling while not spending a small fortune on a new bicycle. We've seen several on CL for under $100 (some under $70), which seems the most likely choice. The irony in it all is that when I was actually riding a mountain bike several years ago, I never once considered taking it into the mountains. Go figure?

The fourth bicycle is one that I am simply obsessing over (and have for the last couple of years) and really have no reason to purchase other than "I want it," which is really no reason at all when one gets down to it. When we bought the Hillborne frame, I intended to use it for long distance rides but I'd like to slim him down for these rides (remove fenders, racks, excess bags, etc). Because of all the "stuff" I have added a good extra 10 lbs to him (sometimes more, depending on what I carry), which is unnecessary for the type of riding for which he's typically being used. Plus, it's added weight that definitely slows down the ride.  On one hand I think "get stronger," or "pedal harder," but on the other, I think a lighter ride would certainly assist in making longer rides more attainable. Somehow in my warped brain, I have convinced myself that the solution is to obtain a Betty Foy.

*Image from Rivendell

Any "extra" parts that could be removed from the Hillborne could be used on the B.F. (the fenders, racks, bag), which would eliminate some of the cost involved. I also have an extra set of Schwalbe tires in the right size, so that's yet another piece of the puzzle, and goodness knows there are always spare parts lying about this house for bicycles. Plus, we have an upcoming trip to California to visit family... I'm sure we could just make a (very out of the way) stop off to visit the good folks at Riv, right? I see the Betty as a bike that would be used for longer distance rides, but not necessarily for the super-long distance rides I'd make on the Hillborne.

While both of these bicycles are merely thoughts at the moment, it's fun to dream. Who knows? One (or even both) bicycles could find there way into the bicycle fold. Justifying the costs (or even coming up with the dough) can/will be the biggest challenge of all! The mental struggle to actually purchase the Hillborne was a huge deal. Other sacrifices get made to allow for such an expense, and I have to wonder if doing that again is worth it.

Near Miss

Over the long Memorial Day weekend, we here in the E.V.L. household decided to venture out on several short-stint bicycle rides. There's nothing particularly unusual about this behavior, but I learned something new about the Poppy. So, here's the short tale...

We were riding through the neighborhood and approaching a somewhat busy signal/intersection that we needed to cross to get to where we were headed. The light was still green for us to cross, so I shouted behind me to Sam, "Are we going to sprint through it?" To which he replied in the affirmative. I started to pick up speed, and just as I was closing in on the near side of the intersection, the light changed red. I attempted to squeeze on my hand brakes and discovered that they really don't stop on a dime (or a quarter, or even a toaster for that matter). Because I couldn't stop quick enough I had to quickly make a right hand turn and finally came to a stop in the parking lot next to the intersection. It was a little scary!

To be fair, the Poppy brakes are somewhat modified because of the handlebar set up I wanted on this bike and in order to utilize the inverse levers, some changes were made to the braking system. I've honestly never had to stop so abruptly on the Poppy prior to this minor event, as I tend to prepare for stops well in advance, but it caused me to think about the dangers possible with brakes that aren't necessarily working at their best. Normally the focus is on watching out for road debris or drivers who aren't paying attention, but in this instance, it was my own two wheels bringing about the problem. While no one was injured in this scenario, it could very easily have gone differently.

While I know this problem can be remedied, I thought it was a good reminder to myself to be aware of our bicycles' limitations, and also to know our bikes well enough to be able to adjust in emergency situations.

Happy Tuesday! Ride safely out there.

Pashley Poppy Review and Some Thoughts on Its Modifications

I've now had the Pashley Poppy for a time (a couple of months), and while I did briefly discuss some changes that were made to the stock Poppy bicycle, it feels as though enough time has passed to provide a bit more detail about the changes that were made to the bike, as well as to better evaluate how it's working for my needs.

While our current living location isn't exactly ideal for any type of city bicycle, it has been useful for short rides, and the move to a new place looks as though it will actually come to fruition in a few short weeks. For now, it's useful on trips to the market, or to the very few close by places, but I think it's going to become much more useful after the move. When I think about being able to ride just about everywhere (except, of course, the trips to school), I find it difficult to believe that this is actually about to happen. It must seem strange to most people that I'm excited about moving to a place that's less than 10 miles from our current home, but truly, it's been a long wait and the convenience of the new location is quite exciting!

But, I digress... The Poppy has been a welcome addition to the fold, and with the changes that were made, it's been pretty ideal. The stock set up has short, close to flat handlebars with cork grips. I knew when the bike arrived that, at minimum, the grips would need to be replaced as they were both severely cracked, but after my initial ride with the original handlebars I felt like an adult attempting to ride a small child's bicycle.

Original cork grips, showing one of the smaller cracks

It was completely uncomfortable to me because it felt far too close between saddle and handlebar. I had no recollection of the Princess Sovereign model feeling this way. I don't think at that time I realized the difference a set of handlebars could make in the way a bicycle feels. I really didn't enjoy the ride on the Poppy the first time because of that crunched in feel, and I thought briefly that perhaps this bicycle would be another to go by the way side. However, after obtaining the mustache handlebars for the Hillborne, and realizing that the stretch was just too much for me on a bicycle that has an almost too far reach as it is, I thought it was worth trying these on the Poppy.

I hadn't seen a Pashley Poppy with mustache bars before, and while I initially thought it might be a strange look, they turned out to be a great option. The stretch the mustache bars provided between saddle and stem was just what I needed. The reach isn't so far that I feel overly stretched, but it provides enough room to feel comfortable, and even a bit racier than the standard set up (in my opinion). The ride itself feels more comfortable as well, though I suspect this is just a by-product of being in a more comfortable position.

Mustache handlebar set up on the Poppy

After the handlebar switch, I wasn't sure I liked the standard brake levers, nor the location I'd likely have to place the levers. While typically people who put mustache handlebars on a bike tend to use a similar style of brake levers, I really wanted to keep the upright feel of the bicycle. This was resolved by purchasing a set of inverse brake levers (Note: I didn't buy mine from Velo-Orange, however, they are the same brand) to be placed at the bar ends. This brought its own set of issues, as I didn't understand at the time that the levers wouldn't adjust the brakes, so there was absolutely no tension, or in other words, there was no ability to stop. This problem was resolved with a small tensioner Sam constructed to work with the other end of the brake cables. I have to say, I love these levers! Braking somehow seems easier, and while it may be entirely in my head, the set up really seems to be working.

Tektro inverse brake levers up close

The next decision was in regard to transporting goods via bicycle. For me, it is pointless to have this set up work so well if I can't carry anything with me. Initially, I thought I would put a rear rack on the Poppy, but after some thought, I decided that perhaps a large front basket made more sense.

Wald Woody front basket on the Poppy

Thus far, the basket has provided what I need. I can put two large reusable grocery bags in it, or a slew of other items, and the depth of the basket doesn't cause things to fall out while riding. I have still debated whether or not a rear rack is necessary, but thus far, this particular set up seems to be quite functional.

As for the ride with this set up, I am extremely happy. The ride is comfortable and functional. If there is anything that might feel strange for some, I would say that some might find that the basket is too close to the handlebars, making it a challenge to utilize every possible hand position. It hasn't been bothersome to me, however, as I mostly ride with my hands in the upright position. The brake cables are also to the sides of the basket, which, in super tight turning instances could create a bit of a tight squeeze.

Cables surrounding the sides of the Wald basket

Thus far, the Poppy has been a joy to have and to ride, and I look forward to a lot more riding... who knows? There could be even more modifications to come!

It's a Beautiful Day

It's such a gorgeous day today. The sun is out and shining bright. The temps aren't the warmest they have been this winter, but it is still quite lovely.

I hope others are having a similar day and are able to get outside and enjoy it!

Though I know snow is on its way, it's nice to have these melted roads and paths to ride on without fear of ice (even if it is just for a time). I am definitely looking forward to some green coming our way in the next couple of months too!

Pashley Poppy First Impressions/Revisions

Since posting about the new bicycle obtained a few weeks ago, I've been busying myself with a variety of things... one of which has been making some revisions to the standard Poppy. Nothing has dramatically changed as of yet, but I thought I'd post some of my initial impressions and a couple of quick photos of the bike.

Stock image of the Pashley Poppy in blue
*Image from adelineadeline.com

When I received this bike in shipping, it was fairly well assembled, however, it did require some mechanical aptness to finish up the process. Luckily, there is a mechanically-inclined individual in house here, so it worked to my advantage. The worst part about the process is that the fenders were bent in shipping. While they have been somewhat straightened, I'm not sure they will ever be what they should have been in their original form. This is sometimes the price paid to have an item shipped over distances that are not realistically traveled in a timely manner by vehicle. Beyond the fenders, it was simply fitting and tightening the seat post in the seat tube, attaching the front wheel, and sliding the handlebar stem into place and securing it. Not too bad, considering.

When the mustache handlebars didn't seem to be working out on the Hillborne, I thought that perhaps giving them a try on the Poppy would be a good way to go. When I initially rode the Poppy I had a feeling of being too close in reach, so that extra stretch that was far too much on the Hillborne, might actually work out on the Poppy. To my absolute glee, they were a perfect match. After riding around on the bars with just bare metal for a time, I decided they were worth keeping, and went to work using some cloth tape, twine and shellac.

Poppy with mustache bars, cloth tape, twine and a coat of amber shellac

As you may have also noticed, I opted to get some inverse brake levers, as I thought they would work better with this style of handlebar. What I didn't realize with this small purchase, is that the brake cables were not set up to work with this style of lever, and there was no tension to the brakes at all. After a few rounds of conversation with local bike shops (which were not horribly helpful), Sam came to the realization that there was a simple fix with a dollar purchase at the local hardware store. Now, they are tensioned and work perfectly. We also shifted the gear shift lever down, so that when riding in the brake position, the gears are more easily shifted. It's definitely a different look, and I haven't seen one quite like it, but I think it works.

Here is more of a full picture of the Poppy with the new handlebars (I apologize for being on the "wrong" side of the bike while taking the picture, but it was a hurried moment in time).

Full view of the Poppy with new handlebars, brake levers, and cloth tape/twine

I am so happy with the ride on this bike now! In speculation stages, it seems so unlikely that a handlebar can feel so foreign on one bicycle, and yet be the perfect fit for another. I understand it has to do with the geometry and set up of each bike, but I am happy that while the original intention didn't work out, the situation balanced itself and the perfect match came together. The ride is thus far what I had hoped for, and it feels a little "racier" as Sam put it, a bit like the Raleigh Lady Sports. It will still not be a record speed breaker, but it feels good, and I'm anxious to put it to some tests to see how it feels over slightly longer rides.

While I'd still like to find some crocheted skirt guards, I think I may skip the rear rack for now, and see how the Wald basket, currently on Fred looks and works on this bike before making any more purchases. Until then, I'm looking forward to more rides on the Poppy, and putting those mustache bars to good use.

New "Princess" in the House

As an earlier not-so-subtle hint implied, I have acquired another bicycle... a Pashley Poppy. I sometimes wonder what is wrong with me and why I can't manage to simply steer clear of adding bicycles to the flock, but they really do just seem to find me. In this particular case, the Pashley had been gathering dust in a bike shop in Texas, and I was able to purchase it with a really incredible discount a few weeks ago. I almost couldn't say no... and I guess I ultimately didn't. In fact, I drove poor Sam insane with my daily, "But it's such a good deal!" and "So, how mad will you be if I buy this?" type of questions/statements. I finally decided to just go for it and deal with the aftermath later. I suppose I figured if all else failed, I would get to use it for a bit and then could likely sell it without much of a loss to someone else. And who doesn't want to pass along bicycle love?

Here is a stock image from Pashley of the Poppy.

Stock Pashley Poppy set up

The frame is the same as the Pashley Princess or the Pashley Princess Sovereign; however, the Poppy has been painted in a more contemporary color (Pashley's terminology, not mine). In addition to the paint color change, the tires are the cream Schwalbe Delta Cruisers (rather than the black Schwalbe Marathon tires), the saddle is a Brooks B67s (rather than the B66s), the handlebars are a more flat bar (rather than the porteur or touring style handlebar on the Princess), the grips are a cork blend of some sort (rather than the black rubber standard of the Princess), it has a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub (rather than the SA 5-speed), and a partial chainguard (instead of the fully enclosed chainguard). The Sovereign also comes standard with a front wicker basket, while the Poppy does not (however, mine did come with the basket), and the standard kickstands are also a bit different. The Poppy's has what I would term a more "modern" looking Pletscher kickstand. There are other subtractions for this particular model. As you can see, there are no skirt/coat guards on this bicycle, no rear rack, no wheel lock, and no lighting system. In some ways, it seems like a stripped down model, but on the up side, the bicycle is also a little less than 10 pounds/4.5 kilograms lighter.

While the bicycle is fine as it stands, I will be making additions/changes to this bike. For example, I'm not fond of the handlebars on this bike, and while I had tried out a different style, I wasn't thrilled with those either, so, I will probably trade out for the mustache bars to see how they feel. If those don't work, I will find something more along the lines of the Princess models. There are also plans to add a rear rack because I need a place to carry items - nothing fancy, but something that will work for some light items, and I'm very tempted to hunt down some crocheted skirt guards for 26" wheels (which seem to be a bit more difficult to find).

As for the ride, well, I forgot how upright the Pashley is! I kept asking Sam, "Does this frame seem different from the Princess?" To which he kept saying, "No. It looks the same." I think I'd just forgotten how it was to ride this bicycle, despite the fact that it really hasn't been that long since I sold the Princess Sovereign. I even had to pull up a side-by-side picture of the two to ensure that I wasn't losing my mind.

Visual comparison of Pashley Princess Sovereign vs Pashley Poppy

While my reasons for selling the Princess Sovereign remain valid, I just couldn't turn down this awesome deal. It was never that I disliked the ride, but rather more of our current living situation (which has a possibility of changing in the relatively near future... but that's a post of another sort), and a desire to not house such an expensive bicycle that wasn't being used to its full potential. There really is no justification for purchasing the Poppy, other than knowing it was an extremely good deal, and well, I honestly just thought it was supposed to be mine... at least for now. Pictures of the Poppy are forthcoming, but for now, I just couldn't resist posting about the new "princess" in the house.

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.

Pashley Sold

As the title of this post reveals, the Pashley Princess Sovereign has been sold. I put the Pashley up for sale about three weeks ago, and though it received some local interest, I had a feeling it would more likely sell on a national stage because there aren't a ton of city bike riders in the area... at least not the kind looking to fork over a substantial amount of money for an around town bicycle. So, against my better judgment, I also posted the Pashley on E-bay. Within three days I had nearly two dozen people watching the bike. I was in shock!

To make a long story short, I accepted an offer from an individual who resides outside of Dallas, Texas. She seems very excited to get the Pashley, and I hope that Laura will ride the bicycle and enjoy her every bit as much (actually, more so, I hope!) as I did.

The delay in posting the news was mostly due to settling down the transportation issue, and I have been unsure as to whether or not the sale would actually stick. Laura hoped to have it shipped whole (without disassembling), and set about to find a means to do so from her end. As of late Tuesday, the Pashley was to be on her way to her new home... but, as luck would have it, the driver who was on his way from Idaho, fell into a nasty patch of ice and slid/rolled off the road. Thankfully, he is okay, but it's delayed transport for just a bit. I've been assured, however, that a new driver will be by within the next two days to proceed as planned.

As for me, well, I hope to get a new pair of boots out of the deal, while saving the rest to

*Photo from Duoboots.com

make some additions to my newly acquired Raleigh Lady Sports. For now, I hang tight... waiting to bid farewell to Miss Pepper Potts.

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.

Pepper Potts and Tony Stark

They're not just characters in a comic book/movie - nope, not any more. After several months of debate on a name for the Pashley Princess Sovereign, and doing my best to come up with a fitting name for the Sam Hillborne, several weeks ago I decided on Pepper Potts (for the Pashley) and Tony Stark (for the Hillborne). It seems a little strange to give bicycles names that are tied together when they have very little in common, but I think it's fitting.

Pepper Potts in all her glory

Pepper Potts is a proper lady, doing her job, deferring the rougher stuff to Tony Stark. She is definitely no wimp, can hold her own, and is always dependable even in the tightest situations. She's fun, not too horribly crazy in her endeavors, but is stable and doesn't shy away from responsibility. Plus, a Pashley Princess had to have a 'P.P.' name, I think.

Tony Stark is ready to take it all on

Tony Stark is a workhorse, who is totally into himself (but we love him anyway). He's gorgeous, tough, can take some hard falls/knocks, and is always thinking of new areas to explore. The possibilities seem limitless with Tony, and I would dare say that he's up for anything you put in front of him.

Though I am aware I have thrown several human attributes/emotions on these bicycles, I think they are fitting and appropriate for the feelings I have about each of them. Now, after months of referring to these bicycles by their 'given' names, I have to retrain my brain to call them Pepper and Tony. I've been practicing for the last few weeks, but I think I may be in for a bit of a challenge! To Pepper and Tony! May they live long, happy, rolling lives helping me get where I need to go.

Columbus Day Quick Ride

Columbus Day is one that few have off from work, but because Sam works for a bank, he is one of those fortunate few. Even I don't have the day off from school, but while I was home this afternoon, we decided to take a quick ride over for some tortilla soup and naked burrito lunchy-type food via bicycle. I love these days when it's not brutally hot or cold out, and we can just enjoy a quick ride somewhere.

Sam rides a bike... 

The last shot I attempted to get of Sam riding behind me was mistakenly deleted, but this one kind of cracked me up because I also got a nice shot of the top of my head. It's not often one gets to see such things, and while I could've just cropped it out, it made me laugh, so I kept it. Regardless, the ride was beautiful and reminded me why I love to be outside, especially during Colorado's 'two weeks of fall' as we have come to call it. Winter will, whether we want it or not, soon be here.

City Bicycle Debate

The last week or so has brought about a lot of thought regarding my all around city style bicycle, which, at the moment, is my Pashley Princess Sovereign. I purchased this bicycle as a replacement for my Electra bicycles, which weren't as comfortable and couldn't seem to get me on as long of trips as I'd hoped to go on a city bike.

I've been riding the Pashley for awhile now; not an extremely long time, but long enough to know the things that work and the things that could use improvement. I should and will preface the following statements by saying that I really do love this bicycle, and it is an extremely comfortable bike to ride. It has everything I hoped to have on a bicycle from dynamo lighting, to baskets to carry goods in, to a fully enclosed chain guard. In theory, it is the perfect bicycle.

The problems that have arisen with this bicycle actually have very little to do with the Pashley itself, but rather with where we live. While I would love to be able to move to a more populated and bike friendly area, it just isn't possible for us at this time, and my bikes need to be functional to get me to the places I need to go. While the Pashley will and can take me anywhere I desire, there is a trade off that comes with riding this bike. The biggest trade is that it is very heavy, and while its weight is one of the qualities that allows comfort while riding, it also creates a slow ride; a very slow ride. With all the additions on this bicycle and carrying a locking chain and personal bag, her weight comes in at around 60 lbs. That's quite a bit for a bicycle!

Though I have no real issue with the weight of the bicycle, nor the slowness of the ride (it's actually something that's very fun, really), everything is a bit of a haul for us. The nearest places we typically go are at least 8-10 miles one way (except the local market, which is only about 2.5 miles one way). Those 8-10 miles aren't 'fun' miles either, but rather take us on a very busy, major highway with cars travelling at speeds in excess of 70 mph, a few fairly substantial hills, and a whole lot of nothing to look at other than dead weeds and speeding vehicles. When you're travelling slowly, it doesn't make for the most exciting of rides. I do my best to enjoy any time on my bikes, but that same trip, on the same long highway gets to be more of a chore than anything when the speed is slow and there isn't much to see.

My thought was to perhaps sell the Pashley (I'm actually cringing a bit and my stomach sinks just thinking of such a thing) and purchase another city bicycle, and I had a rather specific bicycle thought in mind. Since I love my Sam Hillborne so much for longer rides, I was thinking about getting a Betty Foy frame from Rivendell and making it into something more city-like, rather than for touring. Does this seem crazy? Perhaps.

*Photo from Rivendell

Basically, I'm thinking that I would purchase the frame from the sale of my Pashley, and then slowly buy the parts to build up an appropriate city bicycle, complete with dynamo driven lighting, internal 8 speed hub, baskets, and chain guard. In so doing, I believe I would have a comfortable city bike, with all the amenities I desire, that will also take me a bit quicker on the long rides required just to get into town. The down side to this option, obviously, is the sale of the Pashley. The other not so great part of this, is that I would be without a city style bicycle for quite awhile while the bicycle was being saved for and built up. I'm guesstimating that this would be somewhere between four months up to possibly a year or more.

I have also considered the idea of keeping the Pashley for the day when we will no longer live in our current surroundings, and simply saving up, bit by bit, to purchase the Betty Foy frame and parts. While this also isn't an ideal option, it may be the one that makes the most sense. So, what will become of my beloved Pashley Princess? Time will tell. For now, she sits waiting for the next ride, while I debate the pros and cons of life both with her, and the possibility of life continuing on without her.

Ride to the Auto Parts Store

Things are completely crazy for the next few days while I attempt to get everything done that is coming to completion. At least I'm feeling a bit better about abstraction. Last night, a small group of us decided to go to First Friday in Denver's Arts District to check out the sights and to get a feel for current ideas and art work. While in the car driving, I realized that my passenger side headlight was out, and though I knew I had a bulb at home, there was nothing I could do about it at the time. In addition, my interior light has been out for some time now, and since I spend a great deal of time driving in the dark from campus, we thought it would be a good idea to replace it. Since I was letting paint dry this afternoon, Sam and I decided to ride over to the auto parts store to get the interior bulb that was needed.

Waiting outside for Sam to purchase a bulb

I realize there is a bit of irony in riding our bicycles to an auto parts store, but if you consider that most people who are there are purchasing something for a car that isn't working, or has some kind of broken part, it doesn't seem that off the wall to me to be riding a bicycle to the auto parts store. Of course, there are no bicycle racks, so I amused myself by watching the traffic go by and admiring the bicycles.

Surly and Pashley sittin' in a tree, er, sittin' on cement

I feel as though the Hillborne has taken over as the most ridden bicycle in the house, but I do enjoy the Pashley too. I also realized how heavy it is today while we were riding. Good for building leg muscles, definitely. While waiting for Sam to return, I also noticed that I managed to get two goat heads stuck in the rear tire. Ugh!

Two goat heads (one barely visible lower on the tire)

I am such a magnet for these critters, especially this time of year when all the weeds are dying off and these thorns just end up in the shoulder where we're riding. I pulled them out, so I could test the durability of the Schwalbe Marathon tires.  As I was pulling them out, I looked up at the sky and was in complete awe of the strange cloudiness that had formed around us. It was beautiful and eerie all at once.

Cloudy Autumn skies quickly formed this afternoon

Sam finally managed to make it back outside, despite being told by two different assistant managers that they 'couldn't' ring him up.

Sam has bulbs!

We headed home, shaking our heads but laughing about the ineptitude of some workers. The ride home was pleasant, as we pedaled along, both of still being able to wear shorts during this gorgeous time of year.

Riding home (that nice bruise on the left leg from falling on the Hillborne seems to be healing nicely though)

After arriving home, my tires seemed to be in good shape, but unfortunately, Sam had also picked up a couple of goat heads, and his tires didn't fair so well. As soon as he pulled them out, the air came wooshing out quite audibly. I felt bad, but at the same time am grateful that I can trust the thorn protection of the Marathon tires. I think the extra money is well worth it to have the extra protection. And now, I have exterior and interior lights once again. I am very happy that I'll at least have a way to see my attackers in the late night parking lot now.